Monday, June 28, 2010

Baba Ganoush - Blue Monday



Baba Ganoush



Connor - the youngest of Oma's "Blue Boys"

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...Baba Ganoush is a vegetable dip that's very popular in the Arabic Middle East and other Mediterranean countries. It's a simple, inexpensive dish, and there are probably as many versions of it as there are kitchens in those countries. I don't mean to confuse the issue by posting yet another, but I wanted to record our family version of the dip in a spot where my girls can get to it when they need it. My version has a smoky flavor because it's grilled over an open flame, rather than being baked or broiled in an oven, as is the custom in some homes. This recipe also has some zip that comes from a fairly substantial addition of fresh lemon juice. There are several acceptable ways to garnish this dish. I tend to use what I have on hand, so, more often than not, I'll drizzle it with olive oil or sprinkle it with chopped flat-leaf parsley. When they are available I also love to use pomegranate seeds. I used to serve the dip with pita bread, but I have recently started to use still warm, freshly fried tortilla chips in their stead. It is not authentic, but it is delicious. Without further ado, here's the recipe for a dip or spread that is a wonderful accompaniment to a Middle Eastern or Mediterranean meal.

Baba Ganoush...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite

Ingredients:
1 large (1-pound) eggplant
3 cloves garlic
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste
3 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 to 1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Garnish:
3 tablespoons pomegranate seeds, or 1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, or 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions:
1) Prepare a charcoal fire or preheat a gas grill. Puncture eggplant in several places with a fork. Grill for 20 minutes, turning occasionally, until skin is charred and eggplant is soft.
Cool until it can be handled. Cut eggplant in half and scrape pulp into a sieve. Hold under cold and gently running water. Squeeze as much liquid as possible from pulp.
2) Combine pulp, garlic, lemon juice and salt in bowl of food processor. Process until smooth. Add tahini and process just to incorporate. Adjust seasoning if required. With processor running, add olive oil, cumin and pepper. Transfer to a small serving bowl, cover and chill for at least 30 minutes. Baba Ganoush can be refrigerated for up to 2 days. Garnish and serve. Yield: 2 cups.

You might also enjoy these recipes:
Red Pepper Hummus - One Perfect Bite
Black Bean Hummus - One Perfect Bite
Mexican Beer-Cheese Spread - One Perfect Bite
Hummus en Fuego - eCurry
Muhammara - Closet Cooking
Grilling Baba Ghanoush - Serious Eats

This post is being linked to:
Smiling Sally - Blue Monday

76 comments :

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Sounds wonderful Mary and perfect for a drizzle of olive oil with warm tortilla chips!

Diane said...

This sounds really amazing and I like the idea of the smoky taste. Diane

SmilingSally said...

Mary, your baby is darling; I love that head of hair!

I love new dip recipes, Mary.

Happy Blue Monday!

Cherine said...

My favorite dip!

Dream It Up Cookies said...

I love the baby, he is so cute!

Your Baba Ghanoush is just like mine, I only use one clove of garlic though and I add a tsp of plain yogurt if I have it.

Deb in Hawaii said...

I love baba ganoush and what a little cutie he is!

Unknown said...

I've heard the name before but never tried it. Going by the ingredients it sounds very nice.

Joyful said...

I love baba ganoush. The little baby is cute ;-) Happy Blue Monday.

Ana Powell said...

Connor is really sweet, lovely click.
Baba Ganoush, sounds really delicious.
Have a great week ♥

Priya Suresh said...

Baby looks choo chweet...baba ganoush is one of my fav dip, just love with some bread..

Allie and Pattie said...

Beautiful recipe Mary- but that gorgeous baby baoy just steals your thunder today :)
xoxo Pattie

Sushma Mallya said...

Lovely ganoush mary...and your kid is so adorable and very very cute..

xinex said...

The dish looks great but baby COnnor is such a cutie and so precious. Love that smile!..Christine

Angie's Recipes said...

The baby is so cute and looks so HAPPY!
Never made eggplant dip myself...looks very smooth and creamy.

Koek! said...

Mmm, one of my favourite, favourite things to eat! The baba's pretty edible looking too!

Jamie said...

He is adorable!

And I love the sound of your baba ganoush! I bet that grilling the eggplants adds wonderful flavor. It is about 20 years since I have made baba ganoush and you've put the taste in my mouth!

Salsa Verde said...

This recipe sounds fantastic and so appetising and little Connor is so gorgeous!!!
Love,
Lia.

Big Dude said...

There's a little hole-in-the-wall Egyptian place near Knoxville that serves baba ganoush and we've wanted a good recipe for it. Thanks for sharing this one, it sounds delicious.

Regina said...

Love it Mary.
And such adorable little one.

Have a wonderful week!
" Regina "

Martha said...

Another winner!

From the Kitchen said...

The baba ganoush looks delicious but is seriously upstaged by adorable Connor! What a joyful age he's at--all smiles and cuddly. Thanks for sharing him!

Best,
Bonnie

susan said...

Mary-Your "blue boy" could not be any cuter! I love anything with eggplant and have never tried this. I just love the sound of the name :). I'll be trying this! Thanks.

JEANNE said...

Good morning Mary, I have been so busy with my grands including getting ready for them. Today, quiet is suddenly just fine with me. Smile.

Did I ever tell you the cherries were fine and I pitted them and put them in the freezer. This morning I am making cherry preserves, finally. My daughter and I made black raspberry preserves yesterday. The black raspberries grow wild on the side of the mountain which is my yard. Delicious!!!

Your dip sounds awesome. I have eaten it but making it is another world to me. It is no wonder you have so many followers Mary. You are an amazing cook.

Your little guy is adorable Mary. I miss having babies around. I am waiting for great grands. Smile.

Have a wonderful day.
Hugs, Jeanne

Rachana said...

The baby is so cuteeeee :-)

Baba Ghanoush looks so delicious. I love it.

Debbi Does Dinner Healthy said...

Excellent recipe! I so want some! You never fail to amaze me with your beautiful photos, thanks!

Joanne said...

I love a good baba ganoush. So funny about the pomegranate addition. I was JUST talking to my friends about making a pomegranate version of hummus. We weren't sure the flavors would work together, but since you've mentioned making something similar, I'm way more confident in it!

Sweet Southern Prep said...

Yum! My mouth is watering as I write this. Thanks for a great recipe!

Unknown said...

I love Baba Ganoush, but have a hard time finding really good ones. This looks easy enough to make and I love that you do it on the grill!
And Connor is ADORABLE!!

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Oh, Connor is precious! Look at that adorable little blue boy! Mary, he's a heart stealer for sure. The recipe is nice, but Connor steals this show!

XO,

Sheila :-)

Becky K. said...

Oh that Connor is just tooooo cute!

Have a happy Monday!

Becky K.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Mary, That's one cute little boy you have there. :) The eggplant recipe looks delish- No one but me here likes eggplant, but this looks sufficiently disguised so I can try it out on the rest of the family. It looks like a lovely summer lunch treat. Thanks for sharing- Betty

Anusce@Ciao-Chow said...

I love love baba ganoush!
You shoudl try to make Kashke Bademjun ( it is a Persian dip also made with eggplants). You will love it!

Anonymous said...

I named my dog Mulligatawny (Molly for short), and the next animal to get stuck living with us just might get the handle Baba Ganoush. (Maybe call him/her Bobby Joe for short.) Cheers!

Susi's Kochen und Backen said...

I've had Baba Ganoush once at a restaurant many years ago and did not care for the bitterness. However, your recipe sounds delicious so maybe it is time to try it once again and see if my taste buds have evolved.

Jeannie said...

Such a cute little boy! And that dip sounds exotic! Must be delicious judging from the ingredients though some of it are not very familiar to me.

PranisKitchen said...

the vegettable dip looks so delicious
connor looks so cute.. how old he is

Chef Dennis Littley said...

I love baba ganoush! I need to make it for my girls next year and get it on our salad bar...they love hummus, I know they will enjoy that too!
thanks for the recipe!

Monet said...

I adore hummus, and we make our own often, but I also love Baba Ganoush. I can't wait to give it a try!

Adventures in Domestic Cooking said...

Everything you make looks perfect!

Kim, USA said...

Oh my gush, he is so adorable!!


BM~Centipede

Beau @ SomethingEdible.com said...

I made flatbread on the grill last week that coulda used some of that baba ganoush. Looks great!

DailyChef said...

Great recipe! And what a beautiful child :)

Tasha said...

Oh my, Connor is such a cutie! Your Baba Ganoush sounds fantastic!

Joe Ambrosino said...

Baba, humus, tabbouleh and falafel- one of the most ordered meals in a restaurant I worked in Mary--that's exactly how we made it.

Pecados da mesa said...

Hello Mary;

I love baba ganoush.
I am árabe!

Kiss!
Maria Paula -BRASIL-

Baking is my Zen...sweet nibbles for the soul said...

Look forward to trying the dip...love dips.

Carmen

The Blonde Duck said...

I've always wondered what that was!

Pie said...

That sounds delicious.

Happy Blue Monday.

My <a href="http://www.thisismyblog.info/>Blue Monday</a>.

♥ Kathy said...

awww he is so cute Mary! Happy Blue Monday :)

pigpigscorner said...

awww connor is so cute!!! I love Baba Ganoush, so rich and creamy!

Juliana said...

Oh Mary, I love baba ganoush, but never tried to make at home...thank you so much for the recipe :-) The baby is adorable!

ann said...

I love baba ghanoush. I love the idea of your pomegranate seeds too! How inventive. Thanks and have a great week.

ann

Eliana said...

I just got back from vacationing in Turkey and Greece and had tons of this stuff. It's so delicious. And this recipe is reminding me of the wonderful time I had.

Miss Meat and Potatoes said...

I love that you don't need to salt the eggplant. AND the amount of lemon juice - always a good sign in any recipe. I am planning a mediterranean menu for a Texas summer night soon. And I will be making this!

Katerina said...

It is so nice when you take a dish and just add your own personal touch on it. That's what creativity in kitchen should mean. Your version looks great!

Faith said...

Connor is such a little cutie! I'm glad you shared this, the smokiness sounds like it adds so much to this dish.

Jen_from_NJ said...

Your little "blue boy" is adorable! Connor looks extremely huggable :)

I love your "Blue Monday" recipe too. What a good idea to substitute tortilla chips!

Carole Poirot said...

Bonjour Mary, that sound so delicious and I like the idea of the more smoky flavour.

That picture of the baby is so sweet and cheerful. Just lovely.

Love from London x

Erica said...

That sounds really delicious.. will try it :)

Marice said...

perfect combination! :)

u may view mine here

Anonymous said...

Lovely recipe- and great pictures, both of them! I know this dip here as melitzanosalata...but it is the same thing! I love your posts- so informative.

M @ Betty Crapper said...

Love that dip. I'd probably eat it with a spoon, no chips/pitas required.

In answer to your question about mamey ice cream. I used mamey sapote from my father in law's yard. It grows in South Florida. I don't think mamey is widely available. Maybe you can get frozen pulp in the frozen food ethnic section.

Pondside said...

When I was growing up, in the 50's and 60's this was a party staple in our house. Other kids had that dip made from sour cream and onion soup mix, but my exotic mother made baba ganoush, tabouli, humus etc etc - we were so lucky!

Terrianne, Call me Ree said...

Hi Mary,

It's been a while. So good to see you again. Your Baba Ganoush looks delicious. I love hummus. I notice this features tahini like hummus and I'm wondering if the taste is similar?

I'll definitely be making this very soon. Your use of fried tortilla chips to serve with it also sounds fabulous.

P.S. What a precious little cutie pie!

Thanks.

Anonymous said...

hmmm, will have to try this one. Not sure about eggplant, though.

Connor is such a cutie! ~Karen

Maria said...

Love the dip, but REALLY love that last photo!

Linda Bob Grifins Korbetis Hall said...

what delicious blue post...
love that baby smile!

Anonymous said...

Baby!! Thats what my little person just yelled when he saw him. Very cute.
Baba Ganoush is always a favourite and I am yet to give it a go. I might try this one :-)

Susan Freeman said...

I spent three years living in Bahrain and I LOVE Baba Ganoush! I will give your recipe a try. Thanks!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Vegetarian Yogini said...

Do not know with what I fell in love more- the baby or the dish! Superb!

Gloria Baker said...

Dear Mary Im in love of Connor!! Is the most sweet boy I seen in times!! aah, mine twins are so big (have 16) I adore this baby, May adopt him?? (Im kidding!!) I know he has a Mom.

Is so cute!!!!

Lorraine said...

I love baba ganoush but have never tried to make my own. I am so glad you shared your family's recipe for it. It sounds wounderful:)

Chie Wilks said...

oh..he is so cute..anyway, thanks for sharing a recipe..i would love to make this for my baby someday

mine is here

L'Chicken said...

Yum!! That's my kind of recipe. And your grandson is scrumptious!!

-Josie

Momgateway said...

My friend Wilson was asking me if I knew how to make baba ganoush after eating at a Turkish restaurant. Thanks for posting, I'm excited I can share your recipe with him.

My Little Space said...

OMG, thank you so much for sharing this beautiful picture of your darling Connor! He's so adorable. Isn't it fun for having him here with us. <3 muakkk.... Btw, your baba ganoush sounds great as well. Have a nice day.
Cheers, Kristy

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