Region
Kurdistan
Serves
5
Prep time
75 min
Tepsi is the everyday Kurdish family casserole — layers of sliced aubergine, potato, courgette and pepper around a flat patty of seasoned minced beef, all swimming in a garlicky tomato sauce with a touch of pomegranate molasses, baked in a wide tray. It varies house by house: Sulaymaniyah adds okra, Erbil adds red beans, in Mahabad dried plums sometimes find their way in. It is served with simple white rice that lets the tepsi sing.
Ingredients
• 400 g minced beef
• 2 large aubergines, 3 potatoes, 2 courgettes, 3 peppers
• 6 tomatoes
• 2 onions, 6 garlic cloves
• 3 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• Parsley, spices, olive oil
Instructions
1. Mix the beef with chopped onion, garlic, spices and parsley; shape into a round patty on a wide tray; bake 10 minutes.
2. Slice the vegetables, brush with oil and salt, grill briefly until softened.
3. Arrange the vegetables around the meat in concentric rings, alternating colours.
4. Make the sauce: dissolve the tomato paste and molasses in 2 cups water, add chopped garlic.
5. Pour the sauce over the tray, cover with foil, bake at 200 °C for 45 minutes.
6. Uncover for the last 15 minutes to brown. Serve with rice.