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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Turkish Eggplant and Peppers with Tomatoes and Garlicky Yogurt

4 to 6 Servings

1 hour

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Köpoğlu is a classic Turkish meze consisting of silky eggplant and tender-crisp peppers, plus tomatoes that are cooked to concentrate their sweet-tart flavors, all finished with cool, creamy, garlic-­laced yogurt. There are many ways to prepare the dish; ours is modeled on the version we tasted at Giritli Restoran in Istanbul. Soaking prepped eggplant in salted acidulated water before cooking is a curious technique called for in many recipes for köpoğlu; we were pleasantly surprised by the results when we gave it a go. Soaking, we found, improves flavor by taming any bitter notes while also seasoning the eggplant throughout. Additionally, the pieces absorb some water during their soak, which in turn reduces oil absorption during cooking. Either bulbous globe eggplants or slender Asian varieties do well here, so use whichever you prefer. The meze requires easy assembly before serving: sautéed peppers and eggplant are plated, then topped with yogurt, followed by a fragrant sauce made with fresh tomatoes, garlic and paprika, finished with a sprinkle of parsley. Serve at room temperature with warm flatbread on the side for scooping and dipping.

4 to 6

Servings

Tip

Don’t forget to add lemon juice to the soaking water for the eggplant. The acid prevents the eggplant from discoloring. Be sure to dry the eggplant after draining; a gentle pat to wick away surface moisture is all that’s needed.

1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1½

    pounds eggplant (see headnote), peeled and cut into 1- to 1½-inch chunks

  • 1

    tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Reviews
EVELYN S.
July 1, 2026
LOVE
I love this dish! It makes my kitchen smell like I'm in Turkey!
Chantal T.
April 28, 2025
A hit!
This was so so delicious and worth all the steps (which aren’t all that complicated, just a little time-consuming) to prepare! That tomato sauce, in particular, is perfect. Savory, a little acidic, and umami with earthiness from the paprika. 10/10 will make again!
Caroline K.
January 9, 2025
Flavor bomb!!
Wow this was delicious and very easy to make. This could have easily been a main dish because the eggplant is so meaty and delicious. I served it with Turkish spiced chicken and the eggplant was the star 🌟 of the show. Will definitely be making this again. Thank you!
Bart S.
March 5, 2024
Authentic
I lived in Istanbul for three years. This is so authentic. Thank you we loved it.
Felix S.
July 23, 2023
Deliciously authentic!!
My wife is Turkish Aegean and I just came back from summer break in the Izmir region one week ago. This recipe was good enough to put in front of my Iron Chef of a mother-in-law and garner respect 🫡

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