Cooking Lesson #900: SPOT-On Smoky Baba Ganoush

…from the Perspectives’ Kitchen

How you doin’? Perspectives developed SPOT, a Lebanese-style restaurant, for our Azerbaijan clients; it opened in Berlin, Germany. Got all that? Being that we didn’t feel all that safe in Beirut, we spent a couple of weeks in London where all the best Lebanese chefs immigrated to escape the Middle East turmoil. One of the dishes we came to love was Baba Ganoush for its bright, simple flavors and silky texture. After tasting the best that London had to offer, I updated this classic to appeal to European and American tastes.
 
The word bābā in Arabic is a term of endearment for 'father', while Ġannūj could be a personal name. The word combination is also interpreted as 'father of coquetry' or 'indulged/pampered/flirtatious daddy' or 'spoiled old daddy'. However, it is not certain whether the word bābā refers to an actual person indulged by the dish or to the eggplant (bāḏinjān or bātinjān in Arabic). Very old dish… very old history.
 
In my Baba Ganoush recipe, the eggplant is broiled until it is charred / blackened from end to end. After you scrape off all the char, the only thing left is the steamed lush, smoky flesh. I then purée with roasted garlic, lemon juice, tahini and cayenne. When served, I top it with a swirl of cumin-flavored olive oil, paprika, mint and fresh parsley.
 
I like to serve Baba Ganoush at summertime picnics and outdoor barbecues. It is a rustic spread full of smoke, garlicky piquancy, lemon and vegetable sweetness of the eggplant which complements grilled lamb and chicken. It tastes amazing on a soft triangle of homemade pita bread. Pita bread is pretty easy to make for home cooks and can even be made on the gates of a hot barbecue.
 
Prep time:  30 minutes
Cook time:  10 to 15 minutes
Yield:  2 Cups
 
Ingredients 
2 pounds eggplant
1/4 cup tahini (sesame)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
4 garlic cloves, mashed to a paste
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon  cumin seed, toasted until fragrant and coarsely ground
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon smoky paprika
1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon finely chopped mint
 
Homemade pita or chips for serving
 
Directions

1. Prepare a charcoal grill and bring to high heat or preheat the broiler.
2. Pierce the eggplants all around with the point of a paring knife.
3. Place the eggplant 2-inches from the heat source to roast. Allow the skins to blister and char, turning them with tongs until the entire surface is blackened and the eggplants are completely soft, about 10 to 15 minutes.
4. Set them aside until they’re cool enough to touch.
5. Slice the eggplants in half lengthwise and lay them skin side down on a cutting board. Carefully scrape out the flesh with a knife or spoon and put it in a strainer. Discard the burned skins.

Note: Do not rinse the eggplant flesh — it’s fine if a few bits of char remain.

1. Salt the eggplant flesh lightly and set it aside for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. Using the back of a spoon, press out the excess water.
3. In a food processor, process the eggplant, the tahini, lemon juice, garlic and cayenne, and a 1/2 teaspoon of salt to obtain a creamy purée.
4. Taste the Baba Ganoush and adjust the salt and lemon juice to taste.
5. Transfer the Baba Ganoush to a shallow serving bowl.
6. Just before serving, stir together the cumin and olive oil and spoon it over the Baba Ganoush.
7. Sprinkle the Baba Ganoush with the paprika, parsley and mint.
8. Serve with warm pita cut into triangles if desired or use crisp pita chips.

ChefSecret:  You can personalize my Baba Ganoush recipe and make it yours. If you like it salty, top it with olives. If you like a ton of herbs, pile it up with mint, parsley and basil. If you live for the smoky flavor, sprinkle with a little more smoky paprika.

Quip of the Day:  Did you know that a Lebanese fortune teller reads the future in the swirls of Baba Ganoush?
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Do you have a question or comment?  Send your thoughts to [email protected]. All recipes and cooking tips are posted on our website https://www.perspectives-la.com/covid-19-survival-guide.
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                                                                           ©PERSPECTIVES/The Consulting Group, LLC, 2024

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