Karnıyarık
Split eggplant stuffed with mince — the imam's meatier cousin, still an oil pot.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen.
- Prep
- 25 min
- Cook
- 45 min
- Rest
- None
- Total
- 1 hr 10 min
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Spice
- Mild
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Karnıyarık is fried or roasted eggplant slit and stuffed with a tomato-onion mince, then baked. It looks like imam bayıldı and is not vegetarian. Yoghurt on the side.
What you'll need
9 ingredients. Tap each one once it's out on the bench.
Ingredients
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Brown whole eggplants in oil until collapsed. Slit. Fry onion, mince, garlic, tomato and pepper. Salt, parsley.
25 min
Step 2
Stuff the slits. Bake at 190°C 20 minutes with a splash of water. Yoghurt.
20 min
Nutrition
Per serving · estimate
- Calories
- 417 kcal
- Protein
- 23.2 g
- Carbs
- 22.4 g
- Fat
- 27 g
- Saturated fat
- 6.6 g
- Fibre
- 8.8 g
- Sugar
- 12.2 g
- Sodium
- 647 mg
Calculated from canonical ingredient data (USDA FoodData Central averages and equivalent published tables). Estimates only.
Allergens
Informational only. Not a medical guarantee. Cross-contamination happens in real kitchens.
- No major allergens flagged in the structured ingredients.
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Nut-free
Adapt this recipe
The original recipe stays as it is. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are simple maths.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 13 November.
Substitutions
Beef → Lamb mince
A different perfume.
Tips
- Roasting the eggplant instead of frying is lighter and still correct.
- Lamb mince is a richer pot.
History & culture
A home tray and a lokanta plate. Rice next to it.
The split belly is the name. Related to the olive-oil eggplant family with meat added.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation.
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips.
How long does Karnıyarık take?
1 hr 10 min all in — 25 min prep, 45 min cook. Cook and rest follow the method. Leftover storage and optional extra waits are not included.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 4 trays. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Medium.
How spicy is it?
Mild.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Gluten-free, Dairy-free, Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
5 more questionsFewer questions
What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Oven.
How much salt do I put in?
The recipe lists Salt at 1.3 tsp.
What can I use instead?
Beef → Lamb mince. A different perfume.
Any tips from this recipe?
Roasting the eggplant instead of frying is lighter and still correct. Lamb mince is a richer pot.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
Similar dishes
İmam bayıldı
imam bayıldı
Eggplant collapsed in olive oil, onion and tomato — the imam fainted, allegedly, and there is no meat in the pot.
Easy
Moussaka
μουσακάς
Layered eggplant, spiced lamb and a thick béchamel — a Sunday tray, not a microwave yoghurt topping.
Medium
Gemista
γεμιστά
Tomatoes and peppers stuffed with herbed rice — oven vegetables that taste of summer if the produce does.
Medium