For Hünkar Beğendi, the name already sets expectations. It means “the sultan liked it,” and refers to a much-loved Turkish comfort food that pairs a rich meat stew with a silky, smoky eggplant purée. The dish comes from the Ottoman palace kitchens, where eggplant was used with confidence and care, and where simple ingredients were turned into something elegant and deeply satisfying. Even today, it remains one of the most recognizable examples of classic Ottoman cuisine. In my

There are evenings when I want the comfort of a proper stew but don’t have hours to let it simmer on the stove. This is the recipe I reach for on those days. The pressure cooker does the slow work for you, turning beef tender in a short time, while mushrooms and carrots soften into a rich, savory sauce. It fills the kitchen with a familiar smell and feels grounding by the time you sit down. A small spoon of butter stirred in at the end gives the stew a gentle richness that ma