Baba Ghanoush recipe

Hands-on time: 40 mins. to 60 mins.
Baking time: 20 mins. to 30 mins.
Total time: 60 mins. to 1 hrs 20 mins.

Yield: 2 cups

1 large eggplant (about 1 pound)
3 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup tahini paste
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
3/4 to 1 teaspoon salt
chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Wash the eggplant and char the outside. You can do this on a grill, or directly over the flame on a gas stove. Turn the eggplant so each section of its skin gets blackened and crusty.

2. After the skin is charred, transfer the eggplant to a pie plate and bake it for 20 minutes, until it's quite soft. Remove from the oven and cool.

3. Place the unpeeled garlic cloves in a small baking dish with the olive oil. Roast the cloves for 10 minutes in the oven with the eggplant until golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool; peel the cloves and save the olive oil.

4. Peel the eggplant and put the flesh in the bowl of a food processor. Add the tahini, lemon juice, salt, roasted garlic, and the oil in which the garlic roasted.

5. Puree the mixture until smooth; taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more lemon juice or tahini as desired. Serve at room tmperature with chopped parsley and a drizzle of olive oil on top.

Nutrition information: Serving Size: 1/4 cup, 75g Servings Per Batch: 8 Amount Per Serving: Calories: 68 Calories from Fat: 42 Total Fat: 5g Saturated Fat: 1g Trans Fat: 0g. Cholesterol: 0mg Sodium: 223mg Total Carbohydrate: 6g Dietary Fiber: 2g Sugars: 2g Protein: 2g.

* The nutrition information provided for this recipe is determined by the ESHA Genesis R&D software program. Substituting any ingredients may change the posted nutrition information.

Tips from our bakers:
If you're trying to keep the kitchen cool and not use the oven, cook the eggplant on an outdoor grill, and transfer it to a metal pie plate after the skin is charred. Put the garlic in oil and place it on the pan, close the lid and let them finish cooking through.

Recipe and photograph provided courtesy of King Arthur Flour.