Baba Ghanoush

Baba ghanoush is a Middle Eastern dip made of eggplant.There are several version of this,but basically the eggplant is baked or broiled and peeled and mashed with tahini and other seasonings.The spicier version is also called mutabbel in some parts of Middle East.There are several regional variations to baba ghanoush. Bhaingan bharta is similar to this in that eggplant is roasted/baked and mashed.I found this recipe for Israeli version of baba ghanoush and it turned out well.So here it is.

Ingredients:

Chinese/Purple Eggplant: 1 big
Parsley: 2-3 tbsp
Onion: 1 small
Tahini paste: 2 tbsp+
Lemon juice:2 tbsp+
Garlic: 1-2 cloves crushed

Salt
Chilli/Cumin Powder: as per taste

Preparation:

Bake the eggplant in a preheated oven at 450F for 25-30 minutes.You can directly roast on the gas as well.Baking may not give that earthy brown colour that we get when we roast on stove top.Also the smoky flavour will be lesser.Do as per choice.Once baked/roasted cool slightly.

Peel the eggplant/remove the charred skin and then mash it to a pulp in a bowl.Finely chop onions and parsley.Blend together parsley,eggplant and chopped and squeezed onions.

In a small bowl,blend together tahini paste,finely crushed garlic and lemon juice.Mix well and also add little water to obtain a creamy paste.Blend this mix with the eggplant mix along with salt and dash of cumin/chilli powder (optional) to obtain babaghanoush.

The colour varies from cream to light brown,depending on the addition of spices.I have followed the traditional method specified for mixing though all the ingredients can be blended together.Whatever method you use,it takes only minutes to make,except the roasting/baking time.

Serve with choice of chips,or can also be used as a sandwich spread or veggie dip or with pita bread.

After tasting the wonderful dip,lets peek into the kitchen of other runners and see their fare as we have successfully entered the halfway mark of the Recipe Marathon of Day #16:
) DK 2) Siri 3) Srivalli 4) Ranji 5)PJ 6)Medha 7)Priya 8)Bhawna 9)Raaji 10)Ruchii 11)Anu 12)Kamala 13)Roopa 14)Divya Kudua 15)Rekha 16)Divya M 17)Lakshmi 18)Raaga 19)LakshmiVenkatesh 20) Sripriya 21)Viji 22)Kamalika 23)Pavani 24)Karuna 25)Roochi