Baba Ghanoush
Around my house we just call it Baba. Baba Ghanoush is a spread or dip make from roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice and salt. I often think of it as a first cousin to hummus, since the ingredients are so similar. I serve it as an appetizer with pita bread and fresh veggies. With eggplants still abundant at my local farm markets, Baba is being made more often now, before the season ends.
A vegan relative has been visiting from out of town and I made a fresh batch for her. I also made pita bread- posted the recipe a couple of days ago. It is such a classic combination. Also served some sweet pepper with it. If you haven’t even made Baba ghanoush, I encourage you to try it. It really isn’t hard to make at all. I do remove the seeds from the eggplant after roasting. I find it is bitter if I leave them in. So here is the recipe. Enjoy!!!
Baba Ghanoush
1 large eggplant
2-3 cloves garlic, crushed
1 t. salt
1/4 c. tahini
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. olive oil
Pierce eggplant with a fork several times and place in a baking dish. Bake in a 375-degree oven for 45 minutes, or until tender. When cool enough to handle cut in half and scoop out the seeds. Discard seeds. Scoop out the flesh and place in a food processor. Pulse several times until smooth. Add remaining ingredients and process a few seconds more. Serve chilled with pita bread.
