Minted Baba Ganoush Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Lightly oil a baking sheet.
• Halve eggplants and brush cut sides with olive oil. Place face-down onto the prepared baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool, about 30 minutes.
• Scoop flesh out of skins and place in a mesh strainer. Discard skins. Press down on flesh to remove liquid or drippings. Transfer eggplant flesh to a food processor. Add lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cumin, and chile powder. Drizzle olive oil on top of everything. Blend well, 45 seconds to 1 minute.
• Mix in plain yogurt and season with salt. Serve with a sprinkle of paprika over top for garnish.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 190C (375F). Using a sharp knife, make several deep cuts in the eggplant and place the garlic pieces inside. Place on a baking sheet and bake until soft, about 40 minutes. Allow to cool. Remove the eggplant skin and discard.
• Transfer the eggplant flesh and garlic to a food processors. Add the tahini, lemon juice, olive oil and salt to taste and process until smooth.
• Transfer to a serving bowl and sprinkle with the mint. Serve at room temperature.

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Prick the eggplants all over the surface with a fork. Place on the direct heat side of the grill or directly on to the coals, close the lid of the grill and char on all sides, turning once the skin begins to darken and crack, about 5 minutes per side. When the eggplants have softened through, remove to a resealable bag and allow to steam for a few minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the eggplants and discard the skin and most of the seeds.
• In the meantime, make the tehina. Break up the garlic cloves into a blender or food processor, leaving them in their papery skins. Add the lemon juice and salt and blend into a pulpy purée. Press the mixture though a strainer set over a bowl containing the tahini. Whisk to combine; the mixture will thicken and seize up. Whisk in the ice water, smoothing out into a loose sauce.
• Add the cleaned eggplant to a blender or food processor while still warm. Pour in all the tehina and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt and lemon juice if needed. Serve with olive oil drizzled over the top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. Cut eggplant in half lengthwise. Place cut side up on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil over cut sides. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and paprika. Bake until dark golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Remove eggplant from pan to a wire rack to cool., Peel skin from eggplant; discard. Put flesh into a food processor and pulse to mash; transfer to bowl. Stir in tahini, lemon juice, garlic and and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spoon into serving dish. Drizzle with additional olive oil. Sprinkle with parsley and additional paprika.

Steps:

• Grill the whole eggplants over the flame of a gas stove or on a rack set over an electric cooktop until the skin is charred all over, a couple minutes each side. Put the eggplants in a large bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap to steam for 8 to 10 minutes. When cool enough to handle, remove the charred skin and discard, reserving any liquid in the bowl.
• Roughly chop the eggplant flesh and put in the bowl along with any reserved eggplant liquid. Add the tahini, lemon juice, yogurt and garlic, then season with salt. Mash with a fork until thoroughly combined. The dip can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
• Transfer the dip to a serving dish and top with pomegranate seeds, crushed walnuts, parsley leaves and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve with pita bread for dipping.