Bulgarian Eggplant and Minced Meat Rolls
In the summer kitchens of Sofia, Bulgaria, these eggplant and minced meat rolls are a refreshing yet filling flavorful staple! Prep eggplants and bell peppers efficiently with the Geedel manual food chopper—no need for an extra veggie slicer. Sautéed eggplant slices are wrapped around savory minced meat and bell pepper filling, baked until tender, then drizzled with sour cream. It's savory with a hint of eggplant aroma, non-greasy for summer, and looks stunning at family gatherings!
Ingredients (Serves 6)
Main: 3 long eggplants (peeled, cut into 3cm-wide strips), 400g minced beef
Vegetables: 1 red bell pepper (seeded), 1 yellow bell pepper (seeded), 1 onion (peeled), 4 garlic cloves (minced)
Seasonings: 100g tomato sauce, 100ml beef stock, 3 tbsp olive oil, 1.5 tsp salt, 1 tsp crushed black pepper, 1 tsp dried oregano
Detailed Instructions
1.Prep eggplants & bell peppers with Geedel
Place eggplant strips into the Geedel vegetable chopper and spin a few times to get thin slices (about 0.3cm thick). Marinate the slices in salt for 10 minutes to remove excess moisture. Cut red and yellow bell peppers into chunks, add to the chopper, and spin 4 times to make thin strips. The vegetable chopper produces evenly thin eggplant slices that won't tear while sautéing, and bell pepper strips that soften and absorb flavor easily.
2. Sauté the filling
Heat olive oil in a pan. Sauté diced onion (chopped with the same chopper) and minced garlic until fragrant. Add minced beef and stir-fry until opaque. Toss in bell pepper strips, tomato sauce, beef stock, dried oregano, salt, and crushed black pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until the sauce thickens— the filling is savory and tender, not dry.
3. Wrap & bake
Sauté the eggplant slices in olive oil until soft on both sides. Lay one slice flat, place 1 spoonful of filling on one end, and roll tightly. Arrange the rolls on a baking tray. Bake at 180℃ for 20 minutes until the filling is fully cooked. Remove from the oven, drizzle with sour cream, and sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. It's visually appealing and packed with Bulgarian summer flavor!
Summary
The key to this Bulgarian staple is the Geedel vegetable chopper. It cuts eggplant into evenly thin slices that are easy to sauté and wrap, and bell peppers into fine strips that cook quickly. The eggplant rolls hold their shape without tearing, and the filling absorbs maximum flavor. Non-greasy and refreshing, it's a perfect summer choice for family gatherings— balancing appearance and taste beautifully!
