Stuffed Eggplants

Recipe by: Victoria Blashford-Snell, Brigitte Hafner | from The Illustrated Kitchen Bible

Cookstr

Course: Vegetable

Total Time: A Day Or More

Skill Level: Easy

Cost: Inexpensive

Photo by: Joey De Leo

Turkish legend says these eggplants once made a holy man faint, so they are called imanbayildi ("the holy man swooned"). Good with an herb salad and Greek-style yogurt.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

4 small eggplants
6 tbsp olive oil
2 large onions, finely sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground turmeric
½ tsp ground cardamom
Two 14.5 oz (411g) cans chopped tomatoes
½ cup golden raisins
2 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 tbsp chopped mint
1 tbsp chopped parsley

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (180°C). Cut the eggplants in half lengthwise and score the flesh of each in a crosshatch pattern with a sharp knife.

2. Brush the flesh with 4 tbsp of the oil. Place, cut sides up, in a roasting pan. Bake in the oven for 30–35 minutes, or until tender.

3. Let the eggplants cool. Scoop out and reserve the flesh, leaving a ¼ in (6mm) shell, being careful not to split the skins. Place on a serving platter.

4. Heat the remaining 2 tbsp of the oil in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes until softened. Add the coriander, cumin, turmeric, and cardamom and stir about 1 minute, until fragrant.

5. Stir in the tomatoes and their juices and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until reduced and thickened. Stir in the reserved eggplant flesh and raisins and cook for 10 minutes more. Let cool, then stir in the cilantro, mint, and parsley.

6. Spoon the mixture into the eggplant shells, and refrigerate for at least 1 day before serving.