I just love Aubergines, cooked in any shape or form.
My first taste of the delectable 'Egg Plant' was during our first holiday in Turkey many years ago. This was the start of a great love affair with one of my favourite countries in Eastern Europe/Asia Minor.
Pictured below is my version of Imam Byildi, a dish of baked Aubergines, stuffed with minced lamb, garlic, tomatoes, onions, basil and a splodge of red wine, seasoned to taste with a soft cheese on top to finish. If you haven't tried this before there are lots of recipes on-line for your perusal. Some of the recipes are meatless but adding meat makes it more filling.
My take on Imam Byildi, all ready to pop under the grill to melt the cheese.
On reflection, I put extra cheese on this after I'd taken the picture, but it is personal preference, I use feta cheese or mozzarella.
Folklore.
One folk story behind this dish was that, when the Imam's wife prepared it for him, he became so ecstatic that he fainted!
Imam Byildi literally translates as 'the imam fainted'.... My husband didn't faint when he tried my recipe, however he did say it was very good and had a second helping !
Another story that was widely believed, that, a local Imam married the daughter of a wealthy olive oil merchant and part of the wedding dowry was twelve jars of olive oil.
Each day thereon, the dutiful wife made his favourite dish for him.
On the thirteenth day the twelve jars of olive oil had gone, on learning this he was so distressed that he fainted.
ALTINKUM in Turkey, Asia Minor
This was our first experience of Turkey and what a beautiful country it is, stunning beaches and verdant pastureland, with goats in abundance from the highly bred
Angora Goat.
It's coat is woven into the most expensive Cashmere fabric
Then there are the ubiquitous Mountain Goats which can be encountered in
Abundance all over the rocky terrain surrounding the villages and towns of Anatolia in the South West region of Turkey
Every corner you turn, these chaps can be seen peering down, whilst perching on the precarious rock faces lining the road sides through the Anatolia region
