Imam Bayildi

Description
A famous Turkish dish, its name means literally 'the Immam fainted' - some say at the deliciousness of the dish, others claim the poor priest was horrified at the amount of oil the dish used! I prefer the first theory!

Ingredients

 * 4 medium aubergines (eggplants)
 * 3 tablespoons olive oil
 * 1 onion, finely chopped
 * 2 garlic, cloves crushed
 * 1 green pepper (capsicum)
 * 1 red pepper (capsicum)
 * parsley, good handful chopped
 * 3 large tomatoes, blanched,skinned and coarsely chopped
 * ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
 * black pepper
 * salt
 * ½ – 1 teaspoon sugar
 * ½ lemon, juice of

Directions

 * 1) Heat oven to 190°C / 375°F / gas 5.
 * 2) Slice each aubergine in half lengthwise.
 * 3) Scoop out the flesh from the aubergines and chop.
 * 4) Blanch the aubergine shells in boiling water for 2 minutes then drain upside down.
 * 5) Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a pan and saute the onion until soft and golden.
 * 6) Add crushed garlic and fry for 2 minutes.
 * 7) Add parsley, chopped aubergine, tomatoes, green and red pepper, cinnamon, salt and black pepper and cook for about 5 minutes.
 * 8) Add lemon juice and sugar to taste.
 * 9) Arrange the aubergine boats in a baking dish and fill each one with the filling.
 * 10) Cover the dish with aluminium foil.
 * 11) Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes.