🇱🇧 Lebanon · Food
Sheikh El Mahshi
By eatmundo · July 11, 2026
🇱🇧 LBAI-generated imageThis 'King of Stuffed Vegetables' features delicate eggplants filled with spiced meat and toasted nuts. It is traditionally served in a silky garlic-yogurt sauce that perfectly balances the rich stuffing.
Ingredients
check them off as you prepareHow to Make It
- 1
Peel the 1kg eggplants in alternating strips and fry them in a deep pan with 200ml oil until golden and soft.
- 2
In a large skillet, brown 500g minced lamb over medium-high heat until no longer pink.
- 3
Add the 2 finely chopped onions to the meat and sauté until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- 4
Stir in 50g pine nuts and cook until they turn a light golden color, being careful not to burn them.
- 5
Make a slit down the center of each fried eggplant and gently stuff them with the lamb mixture using a small spoon.
- 6
Prepare a sauce by whisking 1kg yogurt with 1 crushed garlic clove and 1 tbsp cornstarch until completely smooth.
- 7
Place stuffed eggplants into the sauce and simmer on low heat for 15 minutes, ensuring the flavors meld without the yogurt curdling.
- 8
Garnish with a handful of fresh cilantro before serving warm to guests who will truly appreciate this royal dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Sheikh El Mahshi?+
Sheikh El Mahshi is a Lebanese dish consisting of eggplants stuffed with spiced minced lamb and onions. It is simmered in a creamy garlic-yogurt sauce thickened with cornstarch and served hot, typically as a main course for lunch or dinner.
What is the best type of eggplant for Sheikh El Mahshi?+
Use small, slender eggplants known as 'baby' or 'Japanese' eggplants to ensure they fit perfectly in the pan and hold their shape when stuffed.
How should I prepare the eggplants before stuffing them?+
Peel the eggplants in alternating strips to create a striped appearance, then fry or bake them until they are just softened before cutting a slit for the filling.
Can I substitute the minced lamb with another meat?+
Yes, ground beef or a mix of beef and lamb is a common alternative, though lamb provides the most authentic, rich flavor traditional to the dish.
How long should the dish simmer in the tomato sauce?+
Simmer the stuffed eggplants in the sauce for about 20 to 30 minutes on low heat to allow the flavors to meld without the eggplants falling apart.
🇱🇧 LBAI-generated imageMundo Match
Dishes across the world that share Sheikh El Mahshi's core ingredients.
