Baba Ghanouj - Arabic Mezze

Baba Ghanouj  is an Arabic Starter or Mezze. I can bet you were served it when you had a meal at a Middle East cuisine Restaurant... but you never remembered the name.... 
This mezze is prepared with roasted Eggplants and usually served with Arabic Bread - Pita, you just scoop the dip with pita and eat by hand: it's a traditional way...

INGREDIENTS: 
Servings: 4

800-900 eggplants
half a lemon
1 tbs Tahina
1 garlic clove
salt
3-4 tbs EVO oil + EVO oil for decoration 


What is TAHINA ? It's a sesame seeds paste. You may find it in the ethnic groceries. Don't try to taste it... it may ruin the idea of adding it to the dish: it has a very strong taste! But it's a must for this dish!!!


1. Wash the eggplants and put then in a pan.

2. Puntcure the eggplants with a fork all over.

3. Cook the eggplants in the oven at 250C for 1 hour.
4. Cool them down.

 

5. Peel the eggplants and squeeze them well to remove the excess of their juice.


 6. Put the eggplants, lemon juice, Tahina, squeezed garlic and EVO oil in a mixer bowl and chop all the ingredients well.
7. Add three pinches of salt to the mix and stir. Try if you need more salt to your taste.
8. Serve Baba Ghanouj in a bowl in traditonal shape of a doughnut.
9. Pour some olive oil inside the "doughnut" to season the dish.
Note: In the Middle East they usually decorate the dish with the pomegranate seeds....  

Enjoy!!! 

 

Note: I served my Baba Ghanouj with the Pita bread, you will find the recipe HERE.