Stuffed Eggplant

This was a recipe that I came up with when I needed to use the eggplant in the refrigerator.  Lots of flavors. The tomatoes make the whole thing I think.

Ingredients

• 2 (1 pound) eggplants or 4 small eggplants
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 6 sprigs fresh parsley, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups fresh bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 cup chopped black olives
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon salt
• pepper to taste
• 12 slices tomato
• 1/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese
• 4 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cut eggplant in half, scoop out the pulp, leaving a 1/2 inch shell. Take the inside flesh that you just scooped out and chop finely. 
2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook chopped eggplant for about 1 minute. Stir in onion, garlic, and parsley, and cook until tender. Transfer to a large bowl, and mix in bread crumbs, 1/2 cup cheese, chopped olives, and lemon juice. Season with basil, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Stuff into eggplant shells.
3. Top stuffed eggplants with overlapping slices of tomato. Sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/4 cup cheese, and drizzle with remaining 4 tablespoons olive oil. Place on baking sheet.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes. May need to be cooked longer. Cook until eggplant is very soft.