What is karnıyarık? Stuffed aubergine with minced meat

There is a smell that belongs to a Turkish kitchen around dinnertime: aubergines slowly softening in the oven, filled with spiced minced meat, onion and tomato. Karnıyarık is one of those dishes that fills the whole house with the promise of a real meal. Mum (anne) or grandma lines up the aubergines, slices them open lengthways and spoons the filling in generously.

At Yasemin we still make karnıyarık in that familiar way, fresh and 100% halal. But first let us explain exactly what it is, because the name alone causes confusion.

What is karnıyarık? (stuffed aubergine with minced meat)

Karnıyarık is a classic Turkish dish of stuffed aubergine with minced meat. The name literally means 'split belly': the aubergine is cut open lengthways, lightly fried, and then filled with a savoury mixture of minced beef, onion, garlic, tomato, pepper and parsley. It then goes into the oven until everything is soft and full of flavour. You eat karnıyarık warm, usually with Turkish rice (pilav) or bread on the side.

Karnıyarık, not karnıyarık otu

If you search online for 'karnıyarık', watch out for a confusing namesake: karnıyarık otu is something completely different. It is a herb, a plant used in Turkish folk medicine, and has nothing to do with this dish. If you are looking for the stuffed aubergine, 'karnıyarık' without 'otu' is the right word.

Karnıyarık or İmam bayıldı: what is the difference?

These two aubergine dishes are often confused, and that makes sense: both start with an aubergine that is cut open. The difference lies in the filling and the temperature. Karnıyarık contains minced meat and is eaten warm. İmam bayıldı is vegetarian, filled with only onion, tomato and garlic in plenty of olive oil, and is often eaten cold or at room temperature. In short: karnıyarık is the hearty, warm version with meat, İmam bayıldı the fresh, vegetarian one. Want to know more? Read our piece on what İmam bayıldı is.

Make it yourself or order it fresh?

Making karnıyarık takes time: frying the aubergines, seasoning the minced meat filling, stuffing them and then back into the oven. Lovely for a quiet Sunday, but not always doable on a weekday. That is why we make it for you. Yasemin delivers fresh karnıyarık chilled to your door, 100% halal and never frozen. Prefer it without meat? We also have a vegetarian version. Discover more of our meat dishes and vegetarian dishes.

Frequently asked questions

What does karnıyarık mean?

Karnıyarık literally means 'split belly', after the aubergine that is cut open lengthways to be filled with minced meat.

What is the difference between karnıyarık and İmam bayıldı?

Karnıyarık is filled with minced meat and eaten warm. İmam bayıldı is vegetarian, with onion and tomato in olive oil, and is often eaten cold.

Is karnıyarık healthy?

Karnıyarık is full of vegetables such as aubergine, tomato and onion, plus protein from the minced meat. How light it turns out mainly depends on the amount of oil the aubergine is fried in.

What do you eat karnıyarık with?

Karnıyarık is served warm, usually with Turkish rice (pilav), bulgur or bread on the side.