Stuffed Eggplant with Lamb and Pine Nuts

Ingredients

• Four 1-pound eggplants, halved lengthwise
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for brushing
• Salt
• Freshly ground pepper
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 pound ground lamb
• 3 tablespoons pine nuts
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• water
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon tamarind concentrate
• One 1 1/2-inch cinnamon stick

Steps

1. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Arrange the eggplants in a large baking dish, cut sides up. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake in the upper third of the oven for about 20 minutes, until browned.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the cinnamon, cumin, and paprika. In a large skillet, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the onion and half of the spice mixture; cover and cook over medium heat, stirring a few times, until softened, about 7 minutes. Add the lamb and cook, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains, about 4 minutes. Pour off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat in the skillet. Stir in the pine nuts, tomato paste, half of the parsley, and 1 teaspoon of the sugar; season the lamb with salt and pepper.
3. Spoon the filling onto the eggplants. In the small bowl with the remaining spices, combine 1/2 cup of water, the lemon juice, tamarind concentrate, remaining 2 teaspoons of sugar, and a pinch each of salt and pepper; pour into the baking dish. Add the cinnamon stick and cover the dish with foil. Bake for about 50 minutes, basting twice with the pan juices, until very tender.
4. Transfer the eggplants to plates or a platter and discard the cinnamon stick. Pour the pan juices over the eggplants, sprinkle with the remaining parsley, and serve.