• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Palestine In A Dish

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • About Wafa
  • Work with me
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Index
  • About Wafa
  • Work with me
  • Subscribe
×
Home

Published: Sep 20, 2023. Modified: Sep 25, 2023 by Wafa Shami. This post may contain affiliate links.

Sheikh el Mahshi

Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe·5 from 3 reviews

Sheikh el mahshi recipe consists of small eggplants roasted or fried and then stuffed with spiced cooked meat and onions mixture, baked in a delicious tomato sauce. This dish is served on a bed of white rice.

I grew up eating this dish during summer, the season for bitinjan battiri. Bitinjan Arabic for eggplant, is a special type of eggplant that comes from a village near Bethlehem called Battir, the name battiri refers to the village’s name.

Their pale purple-looking eggplants are known to be the best in the area. This dish is one of my favorites and is a great addition to any dinner party.

“Battir is not only famous for its eggplants. In 2014, the village was recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO for its stoned agricultural terraces and their 2,000-year-old irrigation system.”

Sheikh el Mahshi baked in a casserole at the table.

What is Sheikh El Mahshi? 

Sheikh el-mahshi, also known as "Sheikh al-Mahshi," is popular within Middle Eastern cuisine and consists of stuffed eggplants that look more like eggplant boats. The term "sheikh" in Arabic can be roughly translated to "sheik" or "leader," and "mahshi" means "stuffed." Therefore, "Sheikh el Mahshi" essentially means "stuffed sheikh" or "stuffed leader."

Some also believe that sheik el mahshi translates to the king’s dish of all mahshis, perhaps because this dish is stuffed with meat only, versus the other mahshis, which are stuffed with a mixture of meat and rice. Having a meat filling would make this dish more of a delicacy.

The eggplants in this dish are not fully hollowed like in any other mahshi vegetables such as stuffed zucchini (kousa mahshi), but rather only length sliced from the top which makes it less time-consuming to prepare. The traditional way of preparing the eggplants requires deep frying, but I prefer the baking option.

Sheikh el Mahshi is often served as a main course and is enjoyed in various countries across the Middle East, including Lebanon, Syria, and others. It is a delicious and wholesome dish that showcases the rich flavors of the region's cuisine. Vegetarian versions of this dish, where the meat is omitted or substituted with other ingredients like mushrooms, and other vegetables are also popular and widely enjoyed.

Jump to:
  • What is Sheikh El Mahshi? 
  • Equipment
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Storage and Reheating
  • Pro Tips
  • FAQ
  • MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES
  • Sheikh el Mahshi

Equipment

This post may contain affiliate links.

Baking Sheet – To roast eggplants
Pot – For cooking the meat and onions separately
Casserole Dish – For baking sheikh el-mashi

Ingredients

Sheikh El Mahshi Ingredients
  • Eggplants – any medium size eggplants known as Italian eggplants.
  • Medium Onion – White onions or sweet onions works best with this dish.
  • Meat – minced meat, ground beef, or lamb works well with this recipe. You can also use a mixture of half beef and half lamb.
  • Spices (allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and pepper) – Spices give the meat a tasty flavor.
  • Meat or vegetable broth – to mix with the tomato sauce
  • Tomato Paste or fresh Tomato Sauce
  • Sea Salt
  • Toasted Pine Nuts – optional

Instructions

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Roasting Eggplants

Eggplants on a baking sheet before grilling

Step 1 | Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and lightly grease the baking sheet. With a sharp knife slice the eggplants lengthwise from the top while keeping the stem intact.

Eggplants on baking sheet after grilling

Step 2 | Arrange eggplants on a baking sheet brush with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt. Bake for 20-30 minutes and until eggplants are softened. Set aside.

Prepare The Meat Stuffing

Sauted Onion in a pot

Step 1 | In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, heat neutral or olive oil, add chopped onion, and sauté until caramelized.

Sauted Onion with Meat and toasted pine nuts in a pot

Step 2 | Add ground lamb or beef, break meat with the back of a spatula, then add ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Sauté until meat is browned and fully cooked.

Stuffing Eggplants

eggplants stuffed with cooked meat mixture.

Step 1 | Fill each eggplant with the meat mixture, about 2-3 tablespoons each, and continue until all eggplants are filled.

Eggplants stuffed with meat mixture in casserole with tomato sauce

Step 2 | Arrange eggplants in a rectangular Pyrex or a casserole. Pour tomato sauce at the bottom and over the stuffed eggplants, cover in foil, and bake for 30 minutes.

close up photo to sheikh el mahshi on a casserole

Substitutions and Variations

  • Adding slices of green bell pepper on top pairs well with this dish.
  • Fresh tomato juice can be used instead of tomato paste.
  • Add minced or sliced tomatoes over eggplants.
  • You can omit the tomato sauce completely and use meat broth instead.

Storage and Reheating

  • Sheikh el mahshi can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the fridge.
  • You can reheat sheikh el mahshi in a small pan on the stovetop or in the microwave, add 1-2 tablespoons of water if it's too thick before heating.

Pro Tips

  • You can test eggplants for softness with a fork during roasting.
  • You can toast pine nuts under a broiler for 2-4 minutes, or in a skillet heat neutral or olive oil and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.

FAQ

1. Can I make this dish vegan?

Yes, you can substitute the meat with portabello or cremini mushrooms, chop them thinly, and saute them with onions as in step 2 in preparing the stuffing.

2. What other types of eggplants I can use for this dish?

You can use the small rounded eggplants, mainly found at any South Asian or Middle Eastern grocery stores.

Can I make this dish with any other vegetables?

Yes, zucchini or squash can work with this recipe.

Sheikh el mahshi over rice on a plate

Click here to subscribe to my newsletter and receive free and new recipes right into your inbox!

If you made this recipe I would love it if you could give me a 5-star rating and leave a comment below.

I also would like to hear about your experience making it, snap a picture and tag me on Instagram or Facebook.

MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES

  • Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips and Strawberries
    A Simple Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips & Strawberries
  • Manakeesh featured photo
    Zaatar Manakeesh (Zaatar Bread)
  • Musakhan plate consists of roasted chicken over flatbread covered with caramelized onions and sumac.
    Chicken Musakhan
  • Qalayet Bandoura Yakhni
    Qalayet Bandoura Yakhni a Simple Hearty Tomato Stew
Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
close up photo to sheikh el mahshi on a casserole

Sheikh el Mahshi

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Wafa Shami
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 60 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
  • Method: Stove and Oven
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Print Recipe
Pin Recipe

Description

Sheikh el mahshi recipe consists of small eggplants roasted or fried and then stuffed with spiced cooked meat and onions mixture, baked in a delicious tomato sauce. This dish is served on a bed of white rice.


Ingredients

Units Scale

For Roasting Eggplant

  • 6-8 Italian eggplants
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt

For Stuffing

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil or neutral oil.
  • 1 medium sweet onion diced.
  • ½ pound minced or ground beef or lamb or a mixture of both.
  • A pinch of ground cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper.
  • ½ teaspoon allspice
  • ½ teaspoon sea salt
  • ¼ cup pine nuts

For Casserole

  • 1 cup meat broth
  • 1-2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ¼ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
  • ¼ teaspoon allspice
  • 1-2 diced tomatoes

Instructions

Roasting Eggplants

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F, and lightly grease the baking sheet. With a sharp knife slice the eggplants lengthwise from the top while keeping the stem intact.
  2. Arrange eggplants on a baking sheet brush with olive oil and sprinkle sea salt.
  3. Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until eggplants are softened.

Prepare Meat Stuffing

  1. In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, heat neutral or olive oil, add chopped onion, and sauté until caramelized.
  2. Add meat over sauted onion, break ground meat with the back of the spatula, then add ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the meat is browned and fully cooked.
  3. Add toasted pine nuts to the mixture.

Stuffing Eggplants

  1. Preheat the oven to 350F.
  2. After eggplants are safe to handle, with your hands hollow a pocket in each eggplant and fill with the meat mixture, about 2-3 tablespoons each, and continue until all eggplants are filled.
  3. Arrange in a Pyrex or a casserole (9x13).
  4. In a separate cup mix warm meat broth with tomato paste, salt, and allspice (you can use a blender) then pour all over and around the stuffed eggplants.
  5. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  6. Serve hot over a bed of white or vermicelli rice.

Notes

  • You can test eggplants for softness with a fork during roasting.
  • You can toast pine nuts under a broiler for 2-4 minutes, or in a skillet heat neutral or olive oil and sauté for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent them from burning.

Did you make this recipe?

Share a photo and tag us— we can't wait to see what you've made!

More All Recipes

  • Lemon olive oil dressing - featured photo
    Lemon and Olive Oil Dressing Without Garlic
  • Lemon blueberry cookies - featured photo
    Lemon Blueberry Cookies
  • Beets and kale salad - featured photo
    Beets and Kale Salad
  • Dubai Chocolate Strawberries -Feature photo
    Dubai Chocolate Strawberries

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yasmeena says

    September 25, 2023 at 6:47 pm

    I must try this looks really delicious and I love your detailed instructions.

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      September 25, 2023 at 9:22 pm

      Enjoy and let me know how it'll turn out.

      Reply
  2. Laila says

    September 25, 2023 at 6:53 pm

    Looks delicious, where I grew up we make the same dish but with zucchini and in yogurt sauce.

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      September 25, 2023 at 9:21 pm

      Yes, the one with zucchini is a different dish, we call it ablama.

      Reply
  3. Riham says

    February 18, 2024 at 7:46 pm

    This is becoming one of my most favorite recipes. Thanks for sharing such great authentic food.

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      February 18, 2024 at 7:52 pm

      Awesome, thank you.

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star


Primary Sidebar

Wafa in the kitchen
Screenshot

Marhabah and welcome to my site. I’m Wafa founder, creator, and food photographer behind Palestine in a Dish. Here you’ll find authentic-traditional Palestinian recipes and more modern which are inspired by my Palestinian kitchen flavors. My blog is all about my mother's authentic recipes that I grew up eating.

Read More

Popular

  • Pistachio chocolate bar -feature photo
    Pistachio Chocolate Bar
  • lamb chops feature photo
    Cast Iron Lamb Chops
  • Za'atar Fries - Featured photo
    Za'atar Fries
  • Banana bread - feature photo
    Chocolate Chunk Banana Bread

Footer

Footer

↑ back to top


About

  • Contact Wafa
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter



Socials

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Copyright ©2025 Palestine In A Dish

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Last Updated on September 25, 2023 by Wafa Shami