Syrian recipe when vegetables are at their best

In Syria we used to eat a lot of vegetables in the summer, when they are plentiful and not too expensive.

Almahashi is one of the most common Syrian summer dishes, and it tastes delicious. It is traditional, especially in Aleppo and Damascus. The only difference is in which herbs are used.This recipe is from Damascus.

The dish contains a lot of vitamins, so it is very healthy.

It can be difficult to find small zucchini, but you can use bigger ones and cut them in half.

Ingredients:

(For five)

1 kg zucchini

1 kg aubergine

1 kg paprika

400 gr rice, rinsed

400 gr minced meat

¾ dl (half coffee-cup) oil

½ tsp salt

½ tsp black pepper

½ tsp cumin

2 tbsp tomato purée

3 dl (2 coffee-cups water

2 tsp safflower (or turmeric)

1½ coffee-cups tamarind (optional)

Stock:

2 tsp dried mint

2 cloves garlic

Method:

1. Mix together rice, herbs and meat with half a cup of oil.

2. Wash zucchini, paprika and aubergine well. Remove the insides with an apple-corer.

3. Stuff the vegetable ”shells” with the meat/rice mixture. Do not fill more than ⅔ full, so that they do not burst.

4. Place the stuffed vegetables in a pan and add water, tomato purée and salt.

5. Simmer gently for about half an hour. Remove the vegetables.

6. Add the crushed garlic. Sprinkle chopped mint over the liquid.

Serve the stock in a bowl alongside the vegetables. It tastes really delicious. A salad tastes nice along with it.