Mama's Oh-So-Savory Lamb and Eggplant Casserole

The basis of this recipe came from my 4th grade teacher's mother who was Armenian, and I've been making it for over 50 years. It is easy to put together, but the longer the stovetop step simmers, the better the casserole will be when served. Leftovers are yummy! You could serve this over rice, if you like, with a green salad. I just serve it in pasta bowls with crusty bread, butter, and a nice glass of red wine. Enjoy!

• Preparation Time: 35 mins
• Cooking Time: 60 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 385 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 2 pinches dried oregano
• salt
• 2 pinches paprika
• 1 ½ teaspoons garlic, minced
• ⅛ teaspoon dried mint
• 2 large stalks celery, sliced
• 1 (1 pound) eggplant, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 1 large sweet onion, coarsely chopped
• 2 pinches ground dried rosemary
• 3 tomatoes, coarsely chopped
• 1 lemon, juiced, or to taste

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Place eggplant in a colander set in a bowl or the sink; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and toss to coat. Let eggplant stand for at least 1 hour. Rinse off the bitter liquid and excess salt and drain well.

Step 2

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Stir in onion and celery; cook and stir until onion has softened and turned translucent and celery is fragrant, about 5 minutes.

Step 3

While vegetables are cooking, combine ground cumin, oregano, rosemary, paprika, mint, salt, and black pepper in a small bowl or mortar and pestle and mix well; this is the lamb seasoning (see Cook's Note). Set seasoning aside.

Step 4

Stir eggplant cubes and garlic into the vegetables in the skillet, mixing well, and cook for an additional 5 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes and sprinkle with half of the lamb seasoning mixture. Reserve remaining seasoning. Stir gently and cook for 5 minutes more.

Step 5

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease a 2-quart casserole dish.

Step 6

Pour chicken broth and half the can of tomato sauce into the skillet and simmer for 10 minutes; add a little water if the sauce starts to get dry. Transfer the sauce to the prepared casserole dish.

Step 7

Return the skillet to the stove over medium-high heat and heat the reserved tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Place ground lamb into skillet and sprinkle with remaining seasoning mixture. Brown lamb in the hot oil, stirring frequently, until the meat is evenly browned; it should look like imperfect meatballs.

Step 8

Gently transfer the lamb to the casserole dish, pushing it down into the vegetable mixture so that it is at least partially submerged. Stir fresh lemon juice into the remaining tomato sauce and pour the sauce over the casserole.

Step 9

Bake uncovered for 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending upon how tender you like your vegetables.