This eggplant dish is one of the most famous dishes of Turkish cuisine. İmam bayıldı means “the imam fainted.” Legends abound as to how it got this name. Some say he fainted at the extravagant use of olive oil. Others say he swooned at its delightful flavor. Both will seem just as likely when you try this excellent recipe.
Imam Bayildi
Course: VegetablesCuisine: Turkey4 to 6
servingsImam bayildi means “the imam fainted.” Legends abound as to how it got this name. Some say he fainted at the extravagant use of olive oil. Others say he swooned at its delightful flavor.
Ingredients
Medium-sized, Italian-style eggplant — 3
Salt — 3 or 4 tablespoons
Olive oil — 1/2 cup
Onions, sliced thinly — 3
Garlic, minced — 6 cloves
Tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped — 2 to 3
Sugar (optional) — a big pinch
Lemon juice (optional) — 1 big squeeze
Salt and pepper — to taste
Water — 1 cup
Directions
- Using a vegetable peeler, remove strips of skin about 1 inch apart from the eggplant to form a striped pattern. Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise. Cut 3 diagonal slashes into the cut side of the eggplant halves. Sprinkle salt on the eggplant, working it into the slashes. Set the eggplant, cut side down, on paper towels and set aside for about 30 minutes to drain excess liquid.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 1/4 cup of the olive oil in a saute pan over medium flame. Add the onions and saute until just translucent. Add garlic and continue sauteing until onions are fully wilted but not browned.
- Stir in the tomatoes and simmer for 5 to 7 minutes until they are somewhat cooked down. Add optional sugar and lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Rinse eggplant halves off, pat them dry and place them, cut-side up, in a baking dish or casserole large enough to hold them in one layer. Top each eggplant half with some of the onion-tomato mixture, pressing some of the mixture into the slashes. Pour the 1 cup of water into the bottom of the baking dish. The drizzle the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil over the eggplant.
- Cover the dish with a lid or aluminum foil and place in the oven. Cook 40 to 50 minutes, or until the eggplant is fully tender. Remove from the oven, cool to room temperature and serve.
Imam Bayildi Notes and Variations
- Other possible additions to the stuffing: Chopped parsley, chopped dill, currants, cooked rice, toasted pine nuts, a pinch of allspice. If you would like a dish with meat in it, brown some ground lamb, beef or turkey and add it to the tomato and onion filling.
- Sometimes the cut surface of the eggplant is seared in hot oil to lightly brown it before stuffing.
- Imam bayildi can be finished covered on the stovetop over very low heat instead of baking in the oven if you like.
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