[Note from your editor: We use the Japanese eggplants here on the West Coast of the United States. They are excellent in taste. Since they are very small, there is usually nothing to take from the inside of this variety. So skip Vic's recommendation if you use the Japanese variety.
By the way, any more recipes out there? May be we should collect some and publish the "TRKNWS-L Weekend Cooker" ... ("Cooker" is the word a friend of mine used to use for a "cook" when he was learning English)
Here is the recipe that I use for one of my favorite Turkish dishes:
Here is a receipe which I have scanned into my computer from one of our cookbooks. I have been making this one at least ten years. Try it. The beginning text gives the origins of the dish. Try the modification that I included at the end of the receipe.
"There are many stories about the origin of the name of this dish. One
of them we heard while visiting Ankara, Turkey's capital. A long time ago
a Turkish Imam (Mohammedan priest ), known for his love of good food, surprised
his friends by announcing his engagement to the young daughter of a wealthy
olive-oil merchant. The friends did not know about her ability to cook.
But they presumed part of her dowry would include olive oil.
They were right. For her father gave the groom twelve jars, each one
large enough to hold a person, of the precious oil. After her marriage
the bride proved to be an excellent cook and each day prepared a special
dish for her epicurean husband. One of them, eggplant cooked in olive oil,
became his favorite. And he ordered that his wife prepare it each night
for dinner. This she did for twelve consecutive days. On the thirteenth,
however, the dish was missing from the meal. Queried about its absence,
the bride replied, "Dear husband, I do not have any more olive oil. You
will have to purchase some more for me." The lmam was so shocked that he
fainted. And since that day, according to the story, his favorite dish
has been known as Imam Bayildi, The Imam Fainted."
One modification. Instead of making three slits in the eggplants, etc.
hollow the eggplants out, but leave a firm outer edge . Take the insides
of the eggplants, chop them up, toss them into the pan with the other sauted
ingredients. Saute the new mixture.
Then stuff the eggplants with that mixture. I f you want to microwave,
I found that 15 to 20 minutes on medium works well . Actually, I microwave
for 15 minutes then I baste the eggplants with the liquid at the bottom
of the dish. I then cook for the remaining 5 minutes at high. You can tell
by looking when the outer edge is done. We slice it for serving.
23 Jul 94