The Forbidden Love Story of Hünkarbeğendi: A Culinary Romance

Hünkarbeğendi, a beloved Turkish dish, has a fascinating history intertwined with romance. It’s said that the dish was born from a forbidden love affair between Sultan Abdülaziz and Empress Eugénie of France. The story goes that Eugénie, charmed by the Sultan, requested a dish of eggplant and lamb, which became the foundation for Hünkarbeğendi. The dish evolved further through the collaboration of Turkish cooks. Today, Hünkarbeğendi, a dish of tender lamb nestled on a bed of eggplant, is renowned as a culinary delight, recently crowned the best eggplant dish in the world by Atlas Travel. The dish embodies the cultural exchange and culinary creativity that have shaped Turkish cuisine.