Ishbel - here is the "other" history of the origin of the name of this dish ... as best as I can remember it.
The Imam was a very wealthy man, the majority of his wealth was in his vast stores of olive oil. He married and his new bride made this dish for him ... and he loved it so much he asked her to make it for him every night. After several days he came home one night and she had not prepared it for him. When he asked her why she said it was because she was out of olive oil. He "swooned/fainted" because she had used up all his olive oil and he was thus bankrupt!
Regardless of the "history" - I love this dish!!!
The Imam was a very wealthy man, the majority of his wealth was in his vast stores of olive oil. He married and his new bride made this dish for him ... and he loved it so much he asked her to make it for him every night. After several days he came home one night and she had not prepared it for him. When he asked her why she said it was because she was out of olive oil. He "swooned/fainted" because she had used up all his olive oil and he was thus bankrupt!
Regardless of the "history" - I love this dish!!!