Sylvie: Yes, you can get peanut butter here in ethnic markets, and some of the supermarkets carry it too (although the American-brands are a bit pricey.) I bring mine back from the US, since I insist on extra-chunky and preferably, organic.
Well, first off you are a good sport staying awake till midnight, which is way past my bedtime. I think I would have to limit my guests to lunch to get them out early enough. My daughter is visiting me for the week and her favorite is Baba Ganoush-so I will make a batch for her.
My take on the ubiquity of those salty aperitif snacks is that all of that salt cuts the sweetness of the aperitifs that the French customarily have drunk, such as Martini and Ross, Lillet, kir, etc. Would work too with the sugary Coke or Fanta that those not imbibing would take.
Did you ever try vacuuming? Yes, I know it is rude, but we tend to be late eaters and have been at several restaurants (all over) where we know it is time to go when they bring out the vacuum. I guess the worst that could happen is that you have a clean floor!
Absinthe: Yes, I got my smoked salts at Central Market. My luggage reeked of smoke, by the way, and I had to quadruple-wrap it because I was afraid that airport security might think it was something else!
AH HA! That explains it. My 4 year-old son is actually a Parisienne at heart. The mere smell of peanut butter makes him gag. Kindergarten lunches will be a challenge. Maybe I will make him baba ganoush sandwiches.
I had the same late-night problem when I lived in Chile. For an 8:00 party, the Americans would arrive at 8:15 or 8:30 and leave by midnight or 1:00. The Chileans would arrive at 11:00 and stay until 4:00. I finally got to the point where I would just tell my guests that I had to go to bed and to please lock the door behind them when they left.
Thx for the recipe, I roast my aubergines outdoors on a coleman stove. Here Down Under one can bbq as an act of patriotism, so (unsolicited advice warning!) I roast the garlic as well. The bellicose garlic is sweetened and broadened in its taste, and is less prone to give offense. Also dry-roasting cumin and coriander seed, then grinding with rock salt, gives another facet to them, perhaps also kinder for yourself.
Hi Justin: Eggplant chunks can be salted and left to drain for about 30 minutes prior to cooking; this extracts some of the juices which can be bitter. However it makes it not easy to stove-roast the eggplant.
Then we nailed the method and ingredients you see here, and neither of us could stop scooping up more. When you get it right, baba ganoush is irresistibly smooth and luxurious, smoky, and savory.
In its most basic form, baba ganoush is made with eggplant, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic and salt. I found that adding a tiny bit of ground cumin, smoked paprika and fresh parsley takes it to the next level.
The next consideration is how to extract as much moisture from the eggplant as possible. Fortunately, our roasting method has already helped eliminate a lot of it. Just let the eggplant rest in a strainer for a few minutes and stir it to release even more.
For a full Mediterranean spread, serve this baba ganoush with herbed hummus or tahini sauce and fresh salads. I recommend Mediterranean bean salad, my favorite quinoa salad, or tabbouleh. Here are even more Mediterranean recipes!
Yes, it would be nice to know exactly how much roasted eggplant is needed. Also, mine came out a little bitter. I think possibly the first couple of eggplants I roasted were overdone. I turned the oven down to 400 and roasted for about 30 min. for the 2nd batch. Also, I may have put too much garlic in???
Tried this yesterday. It was excellent. Making another batch tomorrow.
First tasted it in Eygpt and loved it. Have tried many recipes and this is the best. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe.
Just made this. Fresh eggplant and parsey from garden (It is August and one of the reasons I grew lots of eggplant was to make baba ganoush) This recipe is spot on, though I cheated and threw everything in a bowl amd used my stick blender. Tastes juSt like the stuff I get from the mediterranean deli an hour from home. YAY! And THANK YOU!
Just made this. Fresh eggplant and parsey from garden (It is August and one of the reasons I grew lots of eggplant was to make baba ganoush) This recipe is spot on, though I cheated and threw everything in a bowl amd used my stick blender. Tastes just like the stuff I get from the mediterranean deli an hour from home. YAY! And THANK YOU! Oh, and my favirite go-to bread for this is King Arthur Golden Ficaccia. Takes epic to a whole new level!
As for step 3, I put the roasted eggplant in the strainer, which itself goes into a large mixing bowl. Instead of only pressing on it for several minutes, I set several large cans of food on top of it and let it press out the eggplant over the space of a half-hour. I got WAY more liquid out of the eggplants than I did the first 2 times when I made this recipe (where I followed step 3 to the letter).
I like the recipe, I use a food processor which works out really well. I may try using fresh basil instead of parsley since that is the only spice plant I have growing on my deck. You ever tried using basil before?
I just made this recipe tonight and it turned out fantastic!! I have always loved Baba Ghanoush as I grew up with an Egyptian father but never really made it from scratch. Love it and will definitely make again!
Danielle
I am choosing to eat healthier laterly and decided to give this recipe a try because I envisioned that this baba ganoush may go well with drier cut meats. Made this recipe twice already and I absolutely love it! Your recipe is so easy to follow and I love how creamy delicious it is! Also, it is true that it tastes better the next day.
Yummy! Really like the method. So much easier to cut the eggplant in half and roast, rather than roast whole and peel off the skin. Will make again, soon. My only regret is that I discovered your recipe at the end of eggplant season.
People of the Mediterranean sure love their dips! From Greek tztaziki to hummus, muhammara, and, of course, baba ganoush! I mean, what better way to kick-start your dinner than a creamy, dreamy dip and some homemade pita to go with it?!
It came out beautifully. Roasting the eggplants on the gas burner did not take as long as I thought and the smoky flavor makes all the difference in the world. I did not have sumac, and went with smoked paprika. I plan to make this for the upcoming 4th of July gathering. Thank you so much for this recipe!
This baba ganoush is so very good! My daughter loves baba ganoush, but local restaurants blend it to be smooth and very lemon flavored. She loves this so much that I have been making it twice a week. When she takes it to work, her employees gather round like little birds to have some. The word spreads quickly and soon her office is full! Double recipe from now on. Thank you for providing these authentic recipes.
Next, blend up the dip. Traditionally, baba ganoush is mixed together without a food processor. However, I like mine silky smooth. I find that the easiest way to achieve this texture is with a few quick pulses in the food processor.
I love to serve baba ganoush as an appetizer or snack. I garnish it with a drizzle of olive oil, chopped parsley, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of smoked paprika. Then, I set it out with pita bread (or pita chips) and crisp veggies like peppers and cucumber slices for dipping.
Fantastic creamy texture. Lovely combination of flavours. I added a little Pirri-Pirri sauce right at the end, instead of chilli flakes which gave it just a nice hint of warmth on the tongue too. Thoroughly reommend this recipe. Note I also used a hand blender as I do not have any other time and it was abosultely fine.
Similar to falafel, the exact origin of baba ganoush is hotly debated. This eggplant-based dip is enjoyed in several parts of the Middle East, including Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, Armenia, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Syria, Yemen, and Turkey. Several variations and flavor profiles exist. You can learn more here.
I made this for a baby shower along side some hummus and veggies as something the vegan parents could eat but also be appealing to the omnivores. My husband licked the bowl of the food processor and gave it high praise. It was super easy to make, definitely going in the rotation
Great recipe :) Never did Baba Ganoush before and it turned out beautifully! My 12y old fussy eater and my 14y old gourmand eater both loved it, so did I and my husband. I peeled aubergines before slicing them so the aluminum wrap step was not needed. This recipe will definitely be added to the selection of favorites :)
I love this incredible roasted eggplant dip with tahini and garlic! This easy baba ganoush is truly one of my favorite ways to eat eggplant. If you love hummus, you must give this eggplant dip a try!
You can serve the baba ganoush right away or refrigerate for up to 5 days. It actually improves in flavor over time, making this an incredible make-ahead meze (or appetizer). Serve it with our quick flatbread, homemade pita bread, veggies, or pita chips (see how to make them below the recipe).
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