Recipes

Baba Ghannouj (Mashed Eggplant Dip)

  • Serves

    makes 3 cups

Mashed Eggplant Dip (Baba Ghannouj)
JAMES OSELAND

Across the Levant, eggplants are grilled and mashed to make baba ghannouj, a silky, delicious dip for flatbreads and vegetables. Charring the skin of the eggplant imbues the pulp with a smoky flavor, while incorporating full-fat Greek yogurt accentuates the dip's sumptuous texture and tartness. This version, from chef Fouad Kassab's family in Ain el Delb, Lebanon, is topped with fresh mint and a shower of ruby-red pomegranate seeds. It first appeared in our October 2014 issue with the story Home for the Harvest.

Ingredients

  • 2 lb. eggplants, halved lengthwise
  • 13 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tbsp. tahini
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup plain, full-fat yogurt
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 14 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 14 cup pomegranate seeds
  • Mint leaves, for garnish

Instructions

Step 1

Heat oven broiler. Place eggplant cut side down on a baking sheet; prick all over with a knife. Broil, flipping once, until skin is charred and eggplant is tender, 20–25 minutes. Transfer eggplant to a colander set over a bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Let cool; peel. Place lemon juice, tahini, and garlic in a food processor; let sit 10 minutes. Add reserved eggplant, the yogurt, salt, and pepper; pulse until slightly smooth and transfer to a shallow dish. Using a spoon, make a well on the surface; drizzle with oil. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and mint.

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