We just came back from a visit to Lebanon and in the process captured a whole bunch of recipes straight from Mama’s kitchen. This Baba Ghanouj recipe is our first installment for now.
Baba Ghanouj is made by mashing roasted eggplants with Tahini paste, some garlic, and a bit of white vinegar to help lighten the color. It is served as a cold appetizer dip along with pita bread and some salted Lebanese pickles such as cucumbers, chili peppers and turnips.
Back in the old days and even occasionally today, instead of using a food processor folks use a wooden mortar and pestle to mash the eggplants its way into Baba Ghanouj. Mama said that she prefers to do it that way when she has more time. Don’t forget to use high quality olive oil to garnish the dip. Enjoy!
- Serves: 4
- Serving size: 4 tbsp
- 3-5 medium eggplants (3 lbs)
- 5 table spoons Tahini paste
- Juice from 1 freshly squeezed lemon
- 3 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1 table spoon white vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- Roast the eggplants in the oven on medium heat, or on a BBQ grill for about 30 minutes.
- While eggplants are still hot (not too hot so you don’t burn your hands), peel them and discard as much as possible of their seeds.
- Strain the water from the eggplants by placing them on a colander for about 10 minutes. This step is important so you don’t get a liquid Baba Ghannouj.
- Add eggplants and all ingredients in a food processor and let run for 2-3 minutes until you get a paste.
- Place Baba Ghanouj paste into a serving plate, garnish with any/all of the following: olive oil, chopped parsley, sumac spice or chili powder, salted pickles…etc
- Serve cold as an appetizer, with a side of Pita bread.
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Looks good I will try adding vinegar which I have not done & have always chared the Aubergine before removing the pulp
Looks awesome and the color is quite light. Never tried it with vinegar before I ought to test this. Thank you so much Mama!
If I recall, one should put some holes into the eggplants before putting in oven e.g. with a fork. Otherwise they explode. No?
Ya of course
Have to try this recipe.