potato and eggplant layered 2-d meatloaf

In math jargon, 2-d means "two-dimensional", as in "flat". This is basically an Armenian dish, with minor bob modifications. The original is a layer of ground beef, a layer of potatoes, a layer of sliced tomatoes baked in the oven. The mother-in-law put the potato slices on top of the meat, but the new sister-in-law says put the potatoes on the bottom so they suck up the flavor from the meat and spices (gravity, you know). We imported nora for the spice control on this variation with eggplant to make the dish a little more interesting and because bob is always looking for new ways to use eggplant. And since the tomato slices on top seemed a bit minimalistic in the original, he thought loading up a layer of chopped tomatoes would increase the coverage. Whichever variation of this you make, it is delicious.

ingredients

meat group
2 lb ground veal/beef mixture
1 large white onion
1 clump parsley (2 c), cleaned and chopped
2 t salt
1 t allspice
1 1/4 t sweet (Middle Eastern) red pepper powder
1/4 t cumin
1 t black pepper
veggie group
4 medium potatoes (Yukon golds, for example)
4 small eggplants or equivalent
13 plum tomatoes (approximately of course)
liquid group
1.5 c water
2 T tomato paste
1/4 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 t allspice
1 t lemon juice
periferals
2 8.5 x 11.5 inch glass/porcelain baking pans or equivalent
1 hour, 400º F

instructions

  1. Slice the eggplants lengthwise about 1/8 inch thick. Salt and stack in a colander and let sit a while. Then rinse.
  2. Mix all the meat group ingredients together evenly.
  3. Spray veggie oil in baking dish(s).
  4. Clean (and peeling is better probably) and slice potatoes about 1/4 inch thick. Layer the bottom with the potatoes, then the eggplant slices.
  5. Press the meatloaf mixture evenly on the next layer.
  6. Chop the tomatoes and layer them next.
  7. Combine the liquid group ingredients and pour over the previous layers.
  8. Bake at 400º F for 1 hour.

notes

  1. If you omit the eggplant, this is okay, and still delicious. A version of this called potato and meat bake appears in Secrets of Cooking etc.
  2. The original really should be here too because it is really good. Armenian comfort food.
ptegmtlf.htm: 7-aug-2001 [what, ME cook? © 1984 dr bob enterprises]