Imam Baildi — Stuffed Eggplant with Tomato and Herbs
Imam Baildi means "the imam fainted" in Turkish — legend says the religious leader swooned when he tasted this dish, either from pleasure or from the amount of olive oil used.
4tbspextra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
1large oniondiced
4garlic clovesminced
2cupscherry tomatoeshalved
1/4cupeach fresh parsley and fresh mintchopped
1tspdried oregano
Pinch of sweetener substitute
Salt and cracked black pepper
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Instructions
Preheat oven to 375F (190C). Halve eggplants lengthwise. Score the flesh deeply in a crosshatch without piercing the skin. Brush cut sides with oil, season, place cut-side down on a baking sheet.
Roast 20 minutes until flesh is tender. Cool slightly. Scoop out most of the flesh, leaving a 1/2 inch shell. Chop flesh.
Saute onion in olive oil until soft. Add garlic, cook 1 minute. Add tomatoes, eggplant flesh, sweetener, and oregano. Cook 8 minutes until thick. Stir in herbs. Season.
Fill eggplant shells with the tomato-eggplant mixture. Drizzle generously with olive oil.
Bake 25 minutes until tops are slightly caramelized. Serve warm or at room temperature.