Eggplant Sauce

Chicken may be used instead of meat. Serve with plain rice steamed in the Persian manner  or the quick and easy boiled and steamed rice . The eggplants are usually deep-fried, but in this instance it is as good to broil or grill them, as they get stewed as well. If you don't fry them, it is not really important to salt them.
- large onion, chopped
- Vegetable oil
- 1 pound lean lamb or beef, cubed
- 2 dried limes , cracked or pierced with the point of a knife, or the juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tomatoes, peeled and chopped
- Pepper
- ½-1 teaspoon turmeric (optional)
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- â…“ cup yellow split peas
- Salt
- 6 small eggplants (3½-4 inches long), peeled and cut in half lengthwise
Instructions:
- Fry the onion in 2 tablespoons oil in a large saucepan until golden. Add the meat and brown it on all sides. Add the dried limes or lemon juice, and tomatoes. Cover with 2½ cups water and add pepper, turmeric, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Simmer gently for 1 hour, then add the split peas and cook for 20 minutes. Season with salt when the split peas have begun to soften, and add more water occasionally, if needed to keep the meat covered.
- Brush the cut side of the eggplants generously with oil and cook them, on the cut side only, under the broiler or on the grill until browned. They do not need to be entirely cooked, as they will cook further in the stew.
- Add them to the stew, and cook, covered, for 30 minutes longer, or until the eggplants are very soft.