Eggplant Ground Beef Casserole

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds eggplant
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1 to 2 green chillies, sliced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 1/2 tablespoon red pepper paste
15 ounce can diced tomatoes
15 ounce can tomato sauce
1/2 teaspoon sumac
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
black pepper to taste
salt to taste

Directions:

1) In a large sauce pot, heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil.

2) Saute the chopped onion until soft about 2 to 3 minutes.

3) Add the garlic and green chillies and cook for about a minute more.

4) Then place the ground beef into the onion mixture and cook until browned. Season with salt and black pepper. (Make sure to break apart the ground beef so that its not all chunky)

5) Add 1 1/2 tablespoon of red pepper paste and mix into the meat. Then pour in the diced tomatoes and tomato sauce.

6) Season with sumac, cayenne pepper, black pepper and salt. Mix together. Cook for 5 minutes.

7) Wash and cut the eggplant into half moons about 1 inch pieces.

8) Add the eggplant to the tomato sauce. and mix together to coat.

9) Cover with a lid and cook for 15 to 20 minutes on medium high heat.

10) Do check on the casserole several times during that 20 minutes and mix.

11) Ready to serve!