Baba Ghanouj
This is a delicious version of Baba Ghanouj and lovely with the pomegranites but also without if not in season.
Ingredients
4 pounds Japanese eggplants (14 medium)
1/4 cup plus 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons tahini
1 tablespoon coarsely chopped garlic
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Kosher salt
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Set the eggplants on a large baking sheet and rub with 1 1/2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Broil 8 inches from the heat for about 15 minutes, turning them every 5 minutes, until charred all over and soft inside. Transfer the eggplants to a large bowl and let cool.
Discard the stems and peel the eggplants. Coarsely chop one-third of the eggplant. Put the remaining eggplant in a food processor. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of olive oil and the lemon juice, tahini, garlic, cayenne pepper and 2 teaspoons of salt and puree until smooth. Transfer to a medium bowl and fold in the chopped eggplant. Garnish with the chopped parsley and serve. Add pomegranites if in season!
Make Ahead
Baba ghanouj is best served when freshly made, but it can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
Notes
Rounder varieties of eggplant can be used in place of the slender Japanese type called for here, but instead of broiling, they should be halved lengthwise, oiled and roasted, cut side down, in a 400° oven until the flesh is soft.
~Food and Wine