Surprise your family or guests with this wonderful appetizer. It is a Middle Eastern dip made from roasted eggplant. It's then mixed with herbs, spices, lemon juice, tahini paste and olive oil. Use pita bread, fresh veggies, a crusty bread or crackers as
2 - 3 medium eggplants, about 3 lb. total (Japanese Eggplants, if you have them)
2 - 3T. olive oil
1/3 c. tahini paste (sesame paste)
2-3 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed into a paste
1/2 c. freshly squeezed juice of 2 about large lemons
kosher salt or smoked seasoned salt, to taste
2-3 t. sugar, optional
freshly ground black pepper
cold water
Garnish:
olive oil
chopped fresh parsley
herbes de Provence
paprika, if desired
pita or flat bread, chips or crackers, or veggies
Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
Rub the outside of the eggplants with olive oil; poke the eggplants several times with a fork; place eggplants in a foil lined roasting pan or baking sheet. Roast the eggplant until the skin has charred and the interior is tender and a knife pierces the flesh easily, 15 - 30 minutes; cool briefly.
Peel and seed, as much as you can, the cooled eggplants; scoop out flesh and roughly chop; transfer to the bowl of a food processor.
Into the processor bowl add tahini paste, garlic, lemon juice, sugar, paprika if using, salt and pepper to taste, and a few teaspoons cold water. Process the mixture making a coarse paste, adding a bit more water as needed to allow the mixture to blend.
Chill until ready to eat. It tastes best after spending a little time in the refrigerator.
When ready to serve, spread it in a pretty bowl; even out the top to hold a swirl of oil. Drizzle on the oil, then sprinkle on herbes de Provence, fresh parsley and a little paprika, if desired. Serve with pita or other flat bread, French bread, veggies, hearty chips or crackers.
** Eggplants can be grilled directly on a BBQ grill as well.