Imam Baildi Aka Stuffed Eggplant Aubergine Recipes

IMAM BAILDI AKA STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Cut ends off the eggplants/aubergines.
• Make an opening for the stuffing by using a sharp knife and slicing the eggplant from the stem end down to the other, make sure that you don't cut them all the way through.
• In a skillet, heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil over a medium heat.
• Fry the eggplant gently.
• If needed, you can add some more oil in the frying pan.
• Remove the eggplant from the skillet and place in an 8"x8" baking dish.
• Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
• Add the remainder of the olive oil to the same skillet.
• Sautee the onions and garlic in it until they are slightly golden being careful to not burn the garlic.
• You want the vegetables soft.
• Add the fresh tomatoes and half a cupful of water to the skillet.
• Add the oregano, sugar, more salt and pepper.
• Simmer covered, for 15 minutes.
• Remove stuffing from heat.
• Fill the eggplants with this stuffing.
• They will be slightly open as they don't need to be closed back over the stuffing mixture so be very generous.
• Bake for 4O minutes; basting them at least once.

TURKISH STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray large shallow baking dish with cooking spray.
• Scoop out flesh from eggplants, cut into chunks and reserve.
• Sprinkle inside of eggplant shells evenly with 1/4 teaspoon salt.
• Place upside down on paper towels; let stand 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, spray large skillet with cooking spray.
• Cook garlic and onion over medium-high heat until browned, about 10 minutes.
• Add tomatoes, reserved eggplant flesh and allspice.
• Cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until eggplant is just tender, about 10 minutes.
• Stir in parsley, lemon juice, remaining salt and pepper.
• Pat eggplant shells dry with paper towels.
• Spoon eggplant mixture loosely into shells.
• Place filled shells in prepared baking dish.
• Cover with foil and bake until shells are tender, about 40 minutes.
• Remove foil; sprinkle tops evenly with feta cheese.
• Bake for 10 more minutes, then serve.

MUSHROOM STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Halve the eggplant lengthwise. With a serrated spoon or a knife, scoop out pulp of eggplant, leaving about a 1/2" shell.
• Place shells on a lightly sprayed cookie sheet and bake in oven for about 10-12 minutes.
• While eggplant shells are in oven, finely chop the eggplant pulp.
• In a pan, over medium heat, melt butter. Add eggplant pulp, onion, parsley, salt, oregano, garlic and mushrooms. Cover and sauté, stirring occasionally, until eggplant pulp and mushroom are tender -- about 10 minutes or so.
• Stir in parmesan cheese and HALF of the breadcrumbs.
• Turn oven down to 350°F Remove eggplant shells.
• Spoon mixture into eggplant shells.
• Mix remaining half of breadcrumbs with melted butter. Sprinkle over filled eggplant.
• Place filled eggplant shells back in the oven bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.

IMAM BAYILDI (A STUFFED EGGPLANT RECIPE FROM ASIA MINOR)

Steps:

• Saute the onions in a little oil.
• Add the garlic, tomatoes, parsley, salt, and pepper.
• Cook until it comes together as a very thick stew (no liquid). Stir in mint.
• Cut the stem ends from each eggplant and cut eggplants in half lengthwise.
• Make 3 lengthwise slits, almost from end to end, cutting into the flesh about 1 inch deep.
• Heat 1/2 cup olive oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
• Add the eggplant, cut side down, and fry gently, until dark golden-brown on cut side.
• Turn over and fry on skin side a couple more minutes.
• 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).
• Preheat oven to 350°F.
• Hold each slit apart and spoon the vegetable mixture into each cavity.
• Arrange eggplants in a baking dish just large enough to hold them.
• Sprinkle with sugar, lemon juice, and drizzle with the remaining oil.
• Bake for 40 minutes, or until tender.
• Serve with lots of crusty bread.

BAKED STUFFED BABY EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Cut each eggplant in half lengthwise then make shallow cuts in cut side at 1/2-inch intervals.
• Brush cut sides with 1 teaspoon olive oil and place eggplants, cut-side down, on greased baking sheet.
• Bake for 15 to 20 minutes until tender with fork, remove from oven to cool and reduce oven heat to 350 degrees.
• In a large skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat until hot.
• Add garlic, onion and red pepper; sauté for one minute until tender.
• Next, add rice through tomatoes, stir together well.
• Scoop out eggplant pulp from each halve leaving 1/2-inch thick shells and set shells aside.
• Chop pulp, add to rice mixture and mix well.
• Spoon mixture evenly into eggplant shells, sprinkle with cheese, cover and bake for 20 minutes.
• Uncover and bake an additional 10 minutes or until lightly browned.
• Garnish with more fresh basil and feta cheese, if desired.

STUFFED EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) ( INDIAN )

Steps:

• Make a paste of all the ingredients for the stuffing.
• Slit the eggplants from the middle into quarters such that they do not separate.
• Stuff them with the paste.
• Finely chop the onion and fry it in the oil.
• Add the remaining stuffing ( if any ) to the oil.
• Add the stuffed eggplants and add water to just to cover the top of the brinjals.
• Cover and cook for about 15 mins or till the brinjals are soft.
• Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the eggplants.