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Eggplant-wrapped, meat-based, tomato-topped, traditional Turkish dish
In season: Summer · Autumn
CALORIES
GI
POTASSIUM
FIBER
1 piece (medium) of Islim kebab (120 g) has 168 calories. That works out to 140 calories per 100 g. It contains 9.8 g of carbs, 10.2 g of protein, 9 g of fat and 2.6 g of fiber. Its 0.7 µg of B12 covers 30% of the Daily Value. Its glycemic index is 40 (low), so it raises blood sugar slowly.
İslim kebab, a traditional Turkish oven dish, is made by wrapping browned meatballs or pieces of meat in strips of eggplant, then baking the bundles with tomato and green pepper. The parcels are often secured with toothpicks and served with their tomato sauce.
Soft, silky eggplant and savoury meat make it a hearty main course, usually eaten hot at home or in Turkish restaurants. Rice or bulgur pilaf is a common accompaniment; a spoonful of yoghurt or a crisp salad also balances the rich sauce. It combines vegetables with meat and provides about 8.5 g of protein per 100 g. For a lighter version, roast the eggplant with less oil and serve it with salad rather than a large portion of pilaf.
Selected: 100 g
140
KCAL / 100G
Carbs
8.2g
· 3% DV
Protein
8.5g
· 17% DV
Fat
7.5g
· 10% DV
Fiber
2.2g
· 8% DV
DV is the share of the daily value covered, on a 2,000 kcal reference diet.
Calories come from: Carbs 24% · Protein 25% · Fat 51%
Vitamins
B12
0.6µg · 25% DV
B3
2.1mg · 13% DV
B5
0.6mg · 12% DV
B6
0.18mg · 11% DV
Minerals
Phosphorus
95mg · 14% DV
Selenium
6µg · 11% DV
Zinc
1mg · 9% DV
Sodium
210mg · 9% DV
Medium
How many vitamins, minerals and how much fiber this food carries per calorie. A high score means a lot of nutrition for few calories.
Medium
An EatBetter score computed from fiber, protein and calorie density. A high score means staying full longer on the same calories.
Both scores are calculated per 100 g and do not change with the selected portion. The satiety score is EatBetter's own calculation, not a clinical measure.
GLYCEMIC INDEX
GLYCEMIC LOAD
Accounts for portion size — a more realistic measure than GI alone.
To burn the 140 calories in 100 g:
🚶
Walking (5 km/h)
🏃
Running (8 km/h)
🚴
Cycling
🏊
Swimming
Times are calculated with the MET equation for a 70 kg adult. Actual burn varies with your weight, age and pace.
NOVA 2
Minimally Processed
1. Unprocessed
2. Minimally Processed
3. Processed
4. Ultra-Processed
NOVA classifies foods into 4 groups by industrial processing. NOVA 1 (unprocessed) is the healthiest.
No known major allergens
Vegan
— Not suitable
Vegetarian
— Not suitable
Gluten-Free
— Not suitable
Dairy-Free
— Not suitable
Mediterranean
✓ Suitable
Paleo
— Not suitable
Whole30
— Not suitable
DASH
— Not suitable
Keto
— Not suitable
Low FODMAP
— Not suitable
SATURATED
2.3g
MONOUNSATURATED
3.1g
POLYUNSATURATED
1g
Omega 6:3 ratio 3.7:1
Below the ideal 4:1 — a good omega balance.
Islim kebab is a Turkish baked dish in which meatballs or pieces of meat are wrapped in strips of eggplant and topped with tomato and green pepper. The bundles are usually secured with toothpicks and cooked in tomato sauce.
To make Islim kebab, soften long eggplant strips, wrap them around cooked meatballs, and secure each bundle with a toothpick. Add tomato and pepper on top, arrange the bundles in a baking dish, and bake with tomato-based sauce.
Islim kebab can be made with either meatballs or small pieces of meat, though the meatball version is common in home cooking. Choose pieces small enough to wrap neatly in eggplant and cook until tender.
Usually, yes: the eggplant strips are fried until pliable so they wrap around the filling without breaking. For a lighter preparation, roast or grill the strips instead; they may be less rich and have a slightly different texture.
Islim kebab is commonly baked with a simple tomato or tomato-paste sauce, often loosened with water and seasoned. Pour it around the bundles so the eggplant and meat stay intact while the sauce flavors the dish.
Islim kebab belongs to Turkish cuisine, but there is no single, firmly established regional origin that accounts for every version. Recipes vary between households, especially in the choice of filling and the way the eggplant is prepared.
Serve Islim kebab with rice pilaf, bulgur, or bread to make use of its tomato sauce. A plain yogurt side or a fresh salad also works well alongside the rich eggplant and meat.
Yes, you can roast or grill the eggplant strips instead of frying them. Soften them until flexible enough to wrap around the filling, then bake the assembled Islim kebab with its sauce as usual.
Yes, you can assemble Islim kebab ahead and keep the covered dish refrigerated until you are ready to cook it. Add the sauce shortly before baking to keep the eggplant bundles from becoming overly soft.
Store leftover Islim kebab covered in the refrigerator and eat it within a few days. Reheat it in a covered oven-safe dish so the eggplant stays moist, and make sure the meat is hot all the way through before serving.
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Nutrition data compiled from USDA FoodData Central and scientific sources.