Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush

Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence and JoAnn Cianciulli

Show: Food 911Episode: Eggplant for Everyone

Rated: 4 stars out of 5Rate itRead users' reviews (18)

RECIPE
COMMENTS & REVIEWS(18)

Cook Time:
--
Level:
Easy
Yield:
about 2 cups

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Ingredients

2 medium eggplants, about 1 pound total
4 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1/4 cup tahini (sesame seed paste)
1 lemon, juiced
1 handful fresh flat-leaf parsley, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons chopped roasted pistachios, for garnish
Pita bread, cut into wedges, for dipping

Directions

Pierce the eggplants in a few places with a fork, so steam has somewhere to go when you cook them.

For a smoky flavor that will add depth to the finished dish, grill the eggplants on a very hot, oiled grill pan (or barbecue) until the skins are wrinkled and black, and the eggplants shriveled and soft; turning often. (If you prefer, roast the eggplants in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes.)

When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, split them open and scoop out the flesh, discarding the skin and as many seeds as possible.

In a food processor, combine the garlic, tahini, lemon juice and parsley; puree until smooth. Add the eggplant flesh; season with cumin, salt, and pepper; pulse several times to make a thick, coarse puree. Pour in the oil and pulse again to incorporate. Taste and adjust seasoning, as needed. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with chopped pistachios. Serve with pita wedges for dipping.

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Comments & Reviews

recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
Diana New York, NY 12-27-2009
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a little overpowering but good
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

i left out all the cumin and spices and used my own tahini and i thought it was way too overpowering. instead of 4 cloves of... garlic, i think just 1 would have been perfect. also, a little too much lemon. most importantly, i think just half of the tahini would have been right. (maybe home made tahini is just stronger than store bought?). i still enjoyed it but will be sure to make these adjustments the next time!Read more
recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
Yenime Ann Arbor, MI 12-08-2009
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Very tasty and Fast
Rated: 5 stars out of 5

I did not use baby eggplants but sliced a big one and grilled them with olive oil. Added one extra garlic clove. Did not have... ran out of tahini so I used the sesame seeds and made my own all at once. It was fantastic! Thanks! Read more
recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
LAURIE atlantic highlands, NJ 10-23-2009
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Thanks to the Middle Eastern Review!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

This is very good - but with changes per the person who offered up the authentic Middle Eastern baba ghanoush recipe! I used... Japanese eggplants, since I had some left from my garden, and split them and grilled on both sides on a cast aluminum stovetop pan. Did not add cumin and did not add olive oil (used the olive oil on top as suggested). S&P and a touch of smoked paprika to enhance the "smoked" flavor. Didn't measure the tahini or garlic - just added to taste and cut the lemon juice in half. Left skins on the eggplants (too small to scrape) and threw everything into a food processor. Came out delicious! Thanks for the advice!Read more
recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
Mohammed Troy, MI 08-01-2009
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Might be good but definitely not authentic!
Rated: 1 stars out of 5

This shouldn't be called Middle Eastern, because it's nothing the way it's made in the Middle East. There are a few... differences. We broil the egg plant or grill it for starters. No cumin, don't blend the parsley with the paste, it's only for decoration! Do not mix the oil in the paste either, put it on top right before serving. Pistachios is out, you already have parsley for decoration, pistachio will change the taste and doesn't make any sense, unless you want to be nouveau about it! The most important thing is to NOT use a food processor, it will be too watery. It's best to mash it in the mortar by hand, and that's how it's done in the Middle East ladies and gentlemen! :) Read more
recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
Kelly Sacramento, CA 09-05-2008
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Lemon Baba
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

I must have had a really big lemon because it had some big lemon taste. I really couldn't tast anything but lemon. Next time... I'll go easy on the lemon at first and add more if necessary.Read more
recipe Grilled Middle Eastern Baba Ghanoush
roberta Beverly Hills, CA 04-14-2008
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Pretty tasty AND easy!!
Rated: 4 stars out of 5

Just made this and is it easy. If you can't get all the seeds out it's no big deal. I didn't use pistachios because not a fan... in baba ghanoush. It tasted good, but i have it the refrigerator now to chill. Will definitely make for parties!!Read more