FULL
RECIPE FOR HÜNKAR BEGENDI-THE VEAL STEW
Ingredients:
For the Veal Stew:
1 kg boneless veal leg
2 (~250 g) onions
4-5 garlic cloves
2 tbsp pepper paste
2 (~350 g) tomatoes
2 (~400 g) bell peppers
¼ cup olive oil
2 tbsp (25 g) butter
1 1/4 cup water
½ tbsp. salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp flaked red pepper
2 cardamom pods
For the Eggplant Purée (The directions on Hünkar begendi, Part-2)
2 (~900 g) large eggplants
4 tbsp (50g) butter
3 tbsp flour
1,5 cup milk
1 dry daphne leaf
1 cup (~100 g) aged kasseri cheese or mozzarella
1 tsp salt
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp grated nutmeg
Directions
THE VEAL STEW
PREPARATION
Wash the veal meat and strain the excess water
Dice the veal into 2 cm cubes
Discard the hard and chewy pieces of the meat
, set aside
Peel, wash, and dice the onions and garlic cloves, then, set aside
Wash the red and green bell peppers
Discard their stems and seeds. Then, dice the bell peppers and set aside
Wash the tomatoes.
Peel the skin and dice the tomatoes.
Then, set aside
COOKING
Pour ¼ cup of olive oil into a medium-sized pot
Set the stove to medium-high heat
Add 25 g of butter into the pot
Then, add the onions and stir for 1 to 2 minutes
Add the veal and stir for 10 to 15 minutes, until the colour of the meat turns brown
Then, lower the heat to medium-low and add 2 tbsp of pepper paste, the tomatoes, 1 ¼ cups of water, and 2 cardamom pods
Cover the pot with a lid and cook for 40 to 45 minutes
Once the meat becomes softer, add the bell peppers, ½ tbsp. of salt, ½ tbsp. of flaked red pepper, and ½ tsp of ground black pepper; then, cook for 20 to 25 minutes more;
Make sure, meat becomes very soft and the excess water evaporates almost completely!
SERVING
Make sure both the stew and the Purée are at same serving temperature!
Serve the Veal Stew hot and fresh!..
Set a stage with the eggplant purée
Then, place the veal stew on top of it!
Make sure, there is a circle of the Eggplant Purée that remains visible on the plate
Drizzle the delicious broth of the Veal Stew over the dish
Garnish the Hunkar begendi plate with fresh parsley and tomato slices and baked peppers
Share this delightful dish with your family and special friends, proudly!
Remember, this elegant dish was invented to please the Sultans of the past…
So, enjoy experiencing a SULTAN’s FEAST!!
…
With pleasure!
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