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The History of Baba Ganoush, and a Recipe

  • Appetizers & starters
  • Dairy Free
  • Gluten Free
  • Nut Free
  • Vegan
  • Vegetarian

A plate of baba ganoush with homemade pita during a cooking vacation with The International Kitchen.We’ve talked before about eggplant and what an amazing vegetable we think it is, and one of my favorite preparations is in baba ganoush. Also spelled baba ghanoush or baba ghanouj/ganouj/gannuj, this eggplant spread is ridiculously easy to make and exceedingly tasty.

Originally a dish of Levantine cuisine (more on that here), its etymology is a bit opaque. “Baba” is an endearment and also the Arabic word for father, while ghanouj means “spoiled” or “pampered.” Why an eggplant spread is named “pampered father” is anyone’s guess, but it matters little, as it is delicious under any name!

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Recipe for Baba Ganoush

  • icon for prep time 90 minutes
  • icon for servings 8 servings
  • icon for cooking method Roast
  • icon for cool time 70 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 2 large eggplant
  • 1/2 cup tahini
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. First, prepare a charcoal grill to cook over low (or indirect) heat. Place the eggplant away from the flames and allow to roast slowly. (A large eggplant may take 60-70 minutes).
  2. Allow the eggplant to cool to room temperature, then peel it and place the pulp in a food processor.
  3. Add the tahini, garlic, and lemon juice and process for 1 minute. Add salt to taste.
  4. Serve it drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with a bit of fresh chopped parsley, and homemade pita bread.
  5. #You can make the eggplant in the oven, simply roast it for about an hour at 350 degrees, but it’s better if you roast it on the grill to get the characteristic smokey flavor.
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