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Baba Ghanoush - Eggplant dip

And 5 years before, I hated eggplants! I hated everything about it, the texture especially when you bake it, its so gooey….and now 5 years since, I love eggplant!! I love baingan bharta (made in India, where the eggplant is roasted on gas, then cooked further with spices), I love fried eggplant, I love everything made with eggplants now. No wonder it is called King of Vegetables (in India, and recently I found out, even in Turkey).

This is a simple dip made with few ingredients, I think it is a middle eastern side dish/appetizer. Its fantastic. My turkish friends also make a salad in a similar way, I have to get that recipe. Till then enjoy this recipe.

Or if you dont wanna make it, just go to your closest Arabic store, and buy a can of this eggplant dip, and then simply add lemon juice, olive oil and garlic. Dip pita and enjoy!

Ingredients:

1 big Eggplant (baingan as called in India), (roasted in oven, peel off the skin slowly, then dip in cold water with a few drops of lemon, then squeeze out the water, and mash it up)
about 2-3 tbsp tahini (sesame seed paste),
salt,
mint, parsley (for additional flavor and garnish)
lemon juice,
garlic grated,
olive oil

Mix all the above in a bowl, and serve with roasted wedges of pita bread or naan (indian oven bread). Thats it!

April 2nd, 2007