Imam Bayildi (A Stuffed Eggplant Recipe from Asia Minor)

evelyn/athens's Note:

The story behind this dish is that the Imam (a Turkish official in the Ottoman Empire) fainted when his wife told him she'd used up all the olive oil in making this dish. Eggplant is an oil sponge, it loves to soak it up. Having said that, it is also very, very delicious, and if you allow the eggplant to drain well after frying them, you will still cut calories while retaining great taste. Great dish - vegetarian.

• Total Time: 1 hrs 10 mins
• Prep Time: 30 mins
• Cook Time: 40 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 1/2-3/4 cup olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 3 medium tomatoes, peeled and chopped
• 4 tablespoons chopped parsley
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh mint or 1/2 teaspoon dried mint, crumbled
• salt and pepper
• 2 medium eggplants
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Directions:

1. Saute the onions in a little oil.
2. Add the garlic, tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.
3. Cook until it comes together as a very thick stew (no liquid). Stir in mint.
4. Cut the stem ends from each eggplant and cut eggplants in half lengthwise.
5. Make 3 lengthwise slits, almost from end to end, cutting into the flesh about 1 inch deep.
6. Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
7. Add the eggplant, cut side down, and fry gently, until dark golden-brown on cut side.
8. Turn over and fry on skin side a couple more minutes.
9. Remove from oil (most of it will have been absorbed) and place on paper towels to drain for at least 15 minutes before proceeding with recipe (this gets rid of most of the oil- you can omit the frying step to cut calories and save time, but you will NOT have the same flavourful results, and the recipe will not be as authentic).
10. Preheat oven to 350°F.
11. Hold each slit apart and spoon the vegetable mixture into each cavity.
12. Arrange eggplants in a baking dish just large enough to hold them.
13. Sprinkle with sugar, lemon juice, and drizzle with the remaining oil.
14. Bake for 40 minutes, or until tender.
15. Serve with lots of crusty bread.

Reviews

[Elkaybee]

This was superbly delicious! I used less oil & added some red bell pepper & chopped mushroom. I have one half in the freezer ready. I rarely have eggplant as husband won't eat it. I shall definitely be cooking it more frequently after finding this recipe. Thanks

[Bugeah]

I did not like this very much. I think the mint is what I didn't like about this dish. It just seemed to add a strange flavor. Obviously there are lots of people who love this recipe; it just didn't suit me.

[enigma256]

Delicious and satisfying. Even my non-veg hubby was satisfied. Served with salad and crusty sourdough baguette. Also used much less oil than called for.