Servings: Servings: 4 to 6

1 lb. of Italian sausage 1 lb. of Italian sausage
2 garlic cloves--finely chopped 2 garlic cloves--finely chopped
1 medium onion--finely chopped 1 medium onion--finely chopped
4 small Japanese eggplant or 1 large eggplant 4 small Japanese eggplant or 1 large eggplant
1 cup chicken stock 1 cup chicken stock
1 cup + ½ cup crushed tomatoes--divided 1 cup + ½ cup crushed tomatoes--divided
1 tsp. ground allspice 1 tsp. ground allspice
3 tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley 3 tbsp. chopped flat-leaf parsley
½ lemon ½ lemon
¼ cup bread crumbs ¼ cup bread crumbs
2 tbsp. raisins 2 tbsp. raisins
3 tbsp. pine nuts 3 tbsp. pine nuts
1 cup grated Pecorino Romano, 1 cup grated Pecorino Romano,
olive oil olive oil

Hollow out each eggplant with a melon-ball cutter, working from bottom end and leaving about ⅓ inch eggplant flesh along interior walls.
Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Fry pine nuts, stirring frequently, until golden, about 3 minutes, then transfer with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Sauté onion and garlic, stirring occasionally, until golden, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer ½ cup onion mixture to bowl with pine nuts. Add stock, tomatoes, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ tsp. pepper to skillet and simmer, uncovered, while stuffing eggplant.
Add meat, allspice, cheese, bread crumbs, raisins, 1 tsp. salt, and ½ tsp. pepper to bowl with onion mixture and mix well with your hands.
Stuff eggplant with meat mixture, being careful not to pack tightly. Transfer stuffed eggplants to skillet with tomato sauce and simmer, covered, carefully turning once, until rice is cooked through, 50 minutes to 1 hour (cut 1 in half to test).
If sauce is watery, transfer eggplant to a plate and boil sauce, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 3 to 5 minutes, then adjust seasoning if necessary. Return stuffed eggplant to sauce. Squeeze lemon over dish and sprinkle with parsley before serving.

Cut into discs and can be served as an appetizer  Cut into discs and can be served as an appetizer