İmam Bayıldı (Stuffed Eggplant in Olive Oil)
İmam bayıldı is a jewel of Ottoman olive-oil vegetable cooking (zeytinyağlılar): tender aubergines stuffed with caramelised onion, tomato, garlic and parsley and slowly cooked in extra virgin olive oil. It has a very low glycemic index (clinically reviewed estimate ≈25) and is an ambassador of health and longevity.
Glycemic index
Glycemic load
Calories
Protein
💡 Smart Nutritional Guidance
Consumption advice
It is traditionally served cold or at room temperature; eat it with a fork as a light vegetarian dinner without bread and enjoy its mellow olive-oil juices.
Best preparation methods
Roast the halved aubergines in the oven instead of deep frying them; aubergine soaks up oil like a sponge, and oven cooking keeps it light and kind to your arteries.
Important Nutritional Note
Nasunin in the aubergine skin, oleic acid in the olive oil and allicin in the garlic form a triple shield that protects artery walls from oxidation.
Nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per typical portion (200 g) |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 80 kcal | 160 kcal |
| Protein | 1.5 g | 3 g |
| Carbohydrate | 6 g | 12 g |
| Available carbohydrate | 3 g | 6 g |
| Fat | 5.5 g | 11 g |
| Dietary fibre | 3 g | 6 g |
The typical portion is approximate, for comparison purposes.
Comparison & smarter alternatives
Among the foods in Turkish dishes with a glycemic index (7), it ranks 1 (lowest first). This is one of the lowest-GI foods in its group.
Smart alternatives from the same family:
Frequently asked questions
Why is the dish called 'İmam bayıldı' (the imam fainted)?
The Ottoman tale says the imam fainted from how delicious it was, or at the sight of how much fine olive oil had gone into it!
Is İmam bayıldı suitable for diabetes and keto?
Yes, it is ideal: its glycemic index is very low (≈25), its calories are modest and its fats are unsaturated and good for the body.
What is the nutritional value of a typical portion of İmam bayıldı (200 g)?
The portion contains about 160 kcal, 3 g of protein, 11 g of healthy fat from olive oil and 12 g of carbohydrate (6 g of it fibre).
Reviewed by the WiBo Health medical team · Last reviewed 13 October 2026
Disclaimer: This guidance is for nutritional lifestyle orientation and does not constitute a diagnostic medical device under EU Regulation MDR 2017/745.