Cook's Hideout: Imam Biyildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)

October 03, 2015

Imam Biyildi (Turkish Stuffed Eggplant)

Blogging Marathon# 57: Week 1/ Day 1
Theme: Eggplant Dishes from here
Dish: Imam Biyaldi
We are back to our regular 3 days a week blogging this month. My theme for this week is 'Eggplant Dishes' and if you follow my blog you know my love for eggplant and there is no way I would miss this theme. Valli gave us a list of eggplant dishes to choose from, so for the next 3 days I will be posting 3 eggplant dishes from around the world.
Turkish Stuffed Eggplant
The baby and the big eggplants you see in the below pictures were picked fresh from the farm and the long Japanese eggplants are from my backyard garden. All these fresh eggplants were a great inspiration to cook for this theme.

First up is Imam Biyildi, a delicious Turkish dish. There are quite a few stories behind the origins of this dish: Some say the Imam swooned from delight when his wife served this to him. Others recount how he had married an olive oil heiress and thus received a liquid dowry; when he realized how much of the commodity went into her cooking, he fainted in horror :-) :-)
Vegetables are often prepared in this way in Turkey, slow simmered with copious amounts of olive oil, and these dishes are called zeytinagli - 'olive oil foods'. They are usually eaten cold or at room temperature and are served as part of a summer mezze.
Turkish Stuffed Eggplant
This is a slightly lighter version and uses much less oil. Eggplant is baked until slightly tender then stuffed with softened onions and tomatoes and then cooked till very soft. It is usually served with pita or rice.
Turkish Stuffed Eggplant
Recipe adapted from NYTimes recipe:
IngredientsServes 2
Eggplant - 1 medium
Onion - 1 medium, thinly sliced
Garlic - 3 cloves, finely minced
Chopped tomatoes - ¾cup
Parsley - 2tbsp, finely chopped
Fresh Dill - 1tbsp, finely chopped
Fresh Basil - 1tbsp, finely chopped
Lemon juice - 1tbsp
Sugar - 2tsp
Salt & Pepper - to taste

Method:
  • Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
  • Slit the eggplants down the middle, being careful not to cut through the skin. Place on the baking sheet and bake for 20minutes until the skin starts to shrivel.
  • Remove from the oven and transfer to a colander with slit side down, set on a baking sheet or right in the sink. Allow to drain for 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, heat 1tbsp olive oil in a large lidded skillet and add the onions. Cook for 5~7 minutes on medium heat until the onions are tender.
  • Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
  • Remove from heat and transfer to a bowl. Add the tomatoes, herbs, salt to taste and 1tsp sugar and 1tsp olive oil.
  • Turn the eggplant over and place it in the pan, cut side up. Season with salt.
  • Fill the slit with the onion-tomato mixture. Mix 1tsp olive oil, 1tsp sugar, 2tbsp water and 1tbsp lemon juice. Drizzle this over and around the eggplants. 
  • Cover the pan and cook over low heat. Cook gently for about 45minutes to 1 hour, checking the pan for liquid and and basting from time to time with the liquid in the pan, and adding more water to the pan if it becomes dry.
  • By the end of the cooking time, the eggplants will be very soft and the liquid in the pan slightly caramelized. Allow to cool in the pan and serve at room temperature. Serve over rice or with pita.
Turkish Stuffed Eggplant
In other good news, my blog has been included in the 'Top 50 Indian blogs' by Rebatezones.com. I'm at #37 and among the crème de la crème of Indian food bloggers. Here's a infographic for you: Top 50 Food Blogs In India
Rebateszone.com

 
Lets check out what my fellow marathoners have cooked today for BM# 57.
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13 comments:

  1. My god Pavani, those pictures are so so sinful!..what a lovely way to cook brinjal..though I have cooked brinjal only in our andhra style, I am so tempted to make this..those purple colour is making me go crazy!..congrats on much deserved feature..

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  2. Congratulations for ranking #37. Coming to the themes, I knew this would be one of your Therese the moment I saw the announcement of this month's themes. Turkish eggplant looks delicious & interesting facts to know about how the dish got its name 😊

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  3. Turkish stuffed eggplants sounds so tempting and the pics looks very beautiful.Congrats for being in the top 50's girl.Kudos !!

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  4. Congratulations Pavani! I was so looking forward to your eggplant knowing your love for eggplants. The dish is amazing and thanks for sharing the history.

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  5. I knew you would have eggplant recipes this month. The harvest looks great! And congratulations on making the list.

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  6. Congratulations Pavani...you rock dear.
    The eggplant dish is similar to the way we Sindhis make ..just that we deep fry them and these are baked...delicious to the core, this was one of my fav. Dishes till I became allergic to eggplants.

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  7. Wow, this alluring imam biyildi is calling me, that last click is very tempting..ultimate eggplant dish. Congrats Pavani for featuring one among the top 50 Indian food blogs.

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  8. Congrats Pavani. You rock.
    As for the eggplants why am I not surprised you ar edoing them:D
    Delicious egg plant

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  9. Imam Biyildi looks delicious and tempting.

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  10. the presentation is gorgeous. Congrats and so nice to see other BM made the list also!

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  11. Congratulations!! And I cannot imagine you not posting under this theme:) Stunning clicks.

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  12. looks scrumptious..I haven't drooled this much before seeing a eggplant dish..a must try recipe..

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  13. Congratulations Pavani...it's so well deserved. And I love your eggplant....gorgeous

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