“Imam Bayaldi” – The Imam Fainted

Imam Bayaldi

 

This classic Eastern Mediterranean dish is claimed by Muslims, Christians and Jews, and is eaten in Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, and other locations. In the days of our grandmothers, the eggplant was fried until soft and then slit open and stuffed with a pepper, onion and tomato mixture.

Nowadays, we find that roasting the eggplant not only decreases the amount of oil, but also lends a beautiful char taste to the finished product. Topped with garbanzo beans and feta cheese completes the protein — though it may not qualify as imam bayaldi anymore.