Turkish aubergine in tomato sauce

This classic Turkish dish has its roots in legend. Quite a few theories circulate around its name, which literally translates to ‘Imam fainted’. Some say the fried aubergine with the tomato sauce and onion filling was so ridiculously good that the Imam fainted. A counter argument to this theory is that the Ottoman cuisine of the time was so lavish with meat, eggs, dairy, animal fats, nuts and dried fruit, that this relatively simple dish could hardly qualify to make an Imam — who would be u