Hünkar Beğendi or Sultan’s Delight is one of my favourite Turkish recipes. It’s something I must have on my frequent trips there.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Hünkar Beğendi (Sultan’s Delight)
Hünkar Beğendi or Sultan’s Delight, is an old Turkish recipe going back a few hundred years. There are a number of stories that explain the beginnings of this magnificently named Ottoman dish, one of them includes Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III who was apparently visiting in the 19th century.
Whether the dish was created for a 17th, 18th or 19th century sultan, suffice it to say, said sultan was so ecstatic over it, they personified his euphoria in the name!
And how can you blame him? The contrast between the meltingly tender lamb, cooked in a simple but richly flavoured stew, and the smoky aubergine cheese sauce is simply exquisite! In fact, every time I make this, I swoon over the hot aubergine cheese sauce and it is a real battle not to keep dipping a spoon in for just another taste as I serve it up!
I’ve been to Turkey a handful of times and always make certain that I seek out this Sultan’s Delight. Over the years, it has come in many guises: a very red tomato based stew, meatballs over the beğendi and a couple of times, even with chicken, which isn’t uncommon.
Cooking Hünkar Beğendi at Home
Hünkar Beğendi is a very easy recipe to put together. There are 2 parts to the recipe:
- the lamb stew
- the beğendi, the smoky aubergine cheese sauce
The Lamb Stew
You can make the lamb stew well ahead of time, even the day before and reheat before serving. The lamb stew is so delicious that it can be a standalone dish served the way you would your usual stew: mashed potatoes, bread and dumplings.
I have made a couple of changes/additions to the recipe I learnt in Turkey. Instead of plain old tomato purée, I use sundried tomato paste, and I also add some mild chilli powder. Mild, because the stew isn’t spicy and we don’t want to upset that balance, but I can just imagine how good it would be spicy! Both these ingredients lend an amazing depth of flavour to the stew.
The Aubergine (Eggplants)
Even the beğendi can be made ahead and reheated. In fact, the aubergines need to be cooked first and left to cool, this step certainly wants to be made early on. Just like in Baba Ghanoush, a smoky flavour is rather essential to this recipe.
To achieve that, we roast the aubergines on an open flame until the skin is charred and virtually black. I do it on my gas cooker. If you don’t have a gas cooker, place them under a medium-hot grill (broiler) and grill for about 1 hour, turning them to blacken all around.
The Herbs
In speaking to people in Turkey about Hünkar Beğendi, I’ve noticed that there is one grey area: the use of oregano and thyme. The herb used is described as “kekik” and refers to both these herbs. Some people add them both, some people add just one or the other.
I prefer to use just oregano in mine, because I think that too much and certainly the stronger thyme can overpower the subtlety of the stew. But to each his own, and feel free to use a combination and decide for yourself. Just add 1 tsp of dried thyme along with the oregano.
As mentioned, you can make this ahead of time. Just cover with cling film, letting the film touch the surface of the sauce and refrigerate. When ready to serve, reheat on the stovetop on medium-low heat, adding a little milk to lighten.
Semi skimmed milk can also be used for the Beğendi, if that’s something that interests you.
The Cheese
In Turkey, they use the local cheese tulum or kashkaval in Hünkar Beğendi. Tulum is white and is made using goat’s milk and has a sharp flavour. These days though it is fairly common to find tulum made with cow’s milk or a combination of both. Kaskaval tends to be more yellow in colour and is made with either cow’s or sheep’s milk or a combination.
It is also found in the Mediterranean and resembles cheddar quite closely. While I can get my hands on both if I go online, I just go ahead and use a combination of parmesan and cheddar to get the flavour I associate with the aubergine cheese sauce.
How to Serve Hünkar Beğendi
I always serve Hünkar Beğendi with bread; to me, that’s the best way to soak up that lovely smoky aubergine cheese sauce and of course, the stew. All manner of flatbreads go well with this, as does the good old French baguette and ciabatta. My kids always ask for garlic bread when we make this.
Let’s get our aprons on!
If you like the recipe, don’t forget to leave me a comment and that all important, 5-star rating! Thank you!
And if you make the recipe, share it on any platform and tag me @azlinbloor, and hashtag it #linsfood
Lin xx
More Turkish Recipes on LinsFood
Hünkar Beğendi, a classic Turkish recipe
Ingredients
The Lamb Stew
- 900 g leg of lamb diced
- 2 Tbsp flour
- 1 tsp mild chilli powder
- ½ tsp salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 medium onions halved then sliced
- 1 green capsicum bell pepper, halved, then sliced in 1cm/half in strips
- 4 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 4 medium tomatoes roughly chopped, about 2.5cm/1 in
- 2 Tbsp sundried tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 500 ml chicken stock
Beğendi
- 4 medium aubergines eggplants
- 3 Tbsp butter
- 3 Tbsp flour
- 500 ml whole milk
- 30 g parmesan cheese grated
- 30 g medium cheddar grated
- salt and pepper
- 1 large handful fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
Let’s start by preparing the aubergines.
- Place the aubergines over an open flame on a metal trivet and roast for about 15 – 20 minutes, turning from time to time, until the skin looks burnt and the aubergines are soft to the touch. You could also just place a sheet of foil over the gas flame, instead of a trivet. Leave to cool.4 medium aubergines
While the aubergines are roasting, let's make the lamb stew.
- Coat the lamb pieces with the flour, the chilli powder, the salt and a little freshly ground black pepper.900 g leg of lamb, 2 Tbsp flour, 1 tsp mild chilli powder, ½ tsp salt, freshly ground black pepper
- Heat the olive oil in a heavy bottomed saucepan over high heat, add the lamb and sugar and brown the lamb pieces for 5 minutes, turning the lamb frequently.3 Tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp sugar
- Lower the heat down to medium and tip in the onion slices and fry for 2 minutes, again, stirring frequently.2 medium onions
- Add the garlic and capsicum (green pepper) and cook for a minute, stirring.4 cloves garlic, 1 green capsicum
- Now add the tomatoes, tomato paste and oregano and stir for 30 seconds to mix everything thoroughly.4 medium tomatoes, 2 Tbsp sundried tomato paste, 1 tsp dried oregano
- Add the stock and bring to boil.500 ml chicken stock
- Lower the heat right down, cover and leave to simmer for 1-1½ hours, until the lamb is cooked right through and beautifully tender.
Let’s make the Beğendi.
- The aubergines should be fairly cool now, scrape out the soft pulp and place in a chopper. Throw away the skins.
- Chop or blend to a smooth purée and set aside.
- Now, let's make some Bechamel Sauce. Melt the butter in a medium sized saucepan over medium heat.3 Tbsp butter
- Add the flour and whisk with a small whisk or wooden spoon for 2 minutes until the roux has thickened, is bubbling and gives off a lovely cooked aroma.3 Tbsp flour
- Slowly, add the milk, whisking continuously. Be careful, the first drip will splutter.500 ml whole milk
- Cook the bechamel sauce for 4-5 minutes until it thickens to the consistency of custard.
- Take it off the heat and stir in both cheeses until they melt. Shouldn't take more than a minute.30 g parmesan cheese, 30 g medium cheddar
- Now, stir in the aubergine purée, a pinch of salt and some freshly ground black pepper until it's all completely mixed in and you have a beautiful aubergine cheese sauce. Check the salt and add more if necessary.salt and pepper
- Stir in half the chopped parsley.1 large handful fresh parsley
To Serve
- You have 2 choices: serve the whole lot in a large platter or divide everything into individual plates. Whatever you go with, pour the smoky aubergine sauce onto a plate and top with the lamb stew.
- Scatter with the other half of the parsley and serve with plenty of bread.
This certainly is one for my son to take back on his next visit, but does it freeze? Regards
Kept separate, they both freeze well but be sure to let the saran wrap sit on the cheese sauce, to prevent freezer burn and skin.
My stomach started grumbling as soon as I saw the photo, and after reading all about it, my desire to eat this dish immediately became almost unbearable! I will definitely make it as soon as I can!
Lol, I look forward to you labbing it!
This looks really delicious, and I haven’t ever made anything like it. I love trying new foods, so I can’t wait to try this recipe!
This looks fantastic! Very different from things I normally eat but when it looks this good I am all down for trying.
That’s a lot of flavors packed together in one tasty dish! I am not familiar with this dish but if there’s a possibility to replace the lamb with something else, what would be the best choice? I do not eat pork or beef either.
Well, if you eat chicken, that would work rather well. Or make the stew vegetarian and replace the lamb with beans, garbanzo and zucchinis.
Oh my this sounds good. I’ve never heard of Hünkar Beğendi before. The pics look really amazing. I’ve never tried lamb before either but I should would try this recipe.
wow, this recipe looks delicious. I would want to try this at home
I’ve never heard of the tulum cheese before. It sounds delightful as does this dish!
Never had this before sounds good. Ill have to make it for the family one night!
Let me know how it goes!
This looks really good. I’ve never tried it, but I certainly would!
Thank you Amber!