Rick Stein's lamb-stuffed aubergines with Manchego cheese recipe

• 4 Aubergines, each weighing about 275g
• 6 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 Medium onion finely chopped
• 4 Garlic cloves, finely chopped
• 1 Large red pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1.5 tsp Freshly ground cumin seeds
• 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 tsp Freshly ground nutmeg
• 1 tsp Pimenton dulce (smoked sweet Spanish paprika)
• 1 Large pinch of crushed dried chillies
• 500 g (17.6oz) Minced lamb
• 6 tbsp Tomato sauce (ideally freshly made)
• 100 g (3.5oz) Manchego cheese, coarsely grated
• 1 Good pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat the oven to 200C/gas 6.
2. Cut each aubergine lengthways through the stalk, then score the flesh in a tight criss-cross pattern, taking the knife through the flesh down to the skin, but taking care not to cut through the skin.
3. Place them side by side on a baking tray and drizzle each half with 11/2 teaspoons of the oil, season with salt and bake for about 30 minutes or until the flesh is soft and tender but not browned.
4. Meanwhile, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil in a large non-stick frying pan.
5. Add the onion, garlic, red pepper and spices and fry gently for 10 minutes.
6. Add the minced lamb and fry for 3-4 minutes or until all the meat is lightly browned.
7. Stir in the tomato sauce and leave to simmer for 5 minutes.
8. Remove the aubergines from the oven and increase the temperature to 220C/gas 7.
9. Using a dessertspoon, carefully scoop most of the flesh out of the baked aubergine halves, leaving the skins with a layer of flesh about 1cm thick.
10. Stir the flesh into the lamb mixture with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and some pepper to taste.
11. Spoon the mixture into each aubergine shell and sprinkle with the grated cheese.
12. Bake for 9-10 minutes until golden brown.

olive oil, onion, garlic, red pepper, cumin seeds, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, paprika, chillies, tomato sauce, manchego cheese, salt

Taken from www.lovefood.com/guide/recipes/12888/rick-steins-lambstuffed-aubergines-with-manchego-cheese (may not work)