Grilled Baba Ghanoush With Grilled Naan Recipes

GRILLED MIDDLE EASTERN BABA GHANOUSH

Steps:

• Pierce the eggplants in a few places with a fork, so steam has somewhere to go when you cook them.
• For a smoky flavor that will add depth to the finished dish, grill the eggplants on a very hot, oiled grill pan (or barbecue) until the skins are wrinkled and black, and the eggplants shriveled and soft; turning often. (If you prefer, roast the eggplants in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes.)
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, split them open and scoop out the flesh, discarding the skin and as many seeds as possible.
• In a food processor, combine the garlic, tahini, lemon juice and parsley; puree until smooth. Add the eggplant flesh; season with cumin, salt, and pepper; pulse several times to make a thick, coarse puree. Pour in the oil and pulse again to incorporate. Taste and adjust seasoning, as needed. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with chopped pistachios. Serve with pita wedges for dipping.

GRILLED BABA GANOUSH

Steps:

• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Using a fork, poke holes in the eggplant so steam will be able to release during cooking.
• Place eggplant on the preheated grill. Grill until skins are charred, about 30 minutes, turning occasionally. Transfer to a baking pan, cover, and let steam for 10 minutes.
• Using your hands, carefully remove the stem and the skin; the skin should be split open and peel off easily. Discard the skin and place flesh in a colander; let drain for 20 minutes. Press out any remaining moisture with paper towels.
• Place eggplant in a food processor. Add tahini, lemon juice, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, and cumin. Pulse until smooth. Add parsley and olive oil and pulse until oil is incorporated.

CHICKEN SALAD PITA WITH BABA GHANOUSH

Steps:

• Whisk the vinegar, mint, red pepper flakes, 1 clove garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the chicken and marinate about 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix the tomatoes, cucumber and the remaining 1 clove garlic in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the chicken until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1/2-inch-thick strips. Toss with the vegetables.
• Brush the pitas with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt. Grill, turning once, until marked. Place a pita on each plate and spread with baba ghanoush. Top with lettuce and chicken salad and drizzle with any juices from the bowl.

GRILLED BABA GANOUSH

Steps:

• Preheat a grill to medium high and brush the grates with olive oil.
• Pierce each eggplant all over 5 to 6 times to prevent splitting and help the interior cook all the way through. Place on the grill and cook, turning them every 5 minutes to make sure they're charred equally on all sides, until the flesh is very soft when pierced with the tip of a paring knife, 25 to 35 minutes (see Cook's Note). Transfer to a cutting board and let cool for 5 minutes.
• Peel each eggplant under cold running water, then return it to the cutting board. Finely chop the flesh and transfer it to a large bowl. Add the tahini, lemon juice, garlic and 1 teaspoon salt and mix well. Taste and add more salt, if needed.
• Transfer the baba ganoush to a serving bowl and make divots in it using a spoon. Drizzle with the 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle some sumac on top if using. Serve with pita. The baba ganoush will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

CLASSIC BABA GHANOUSH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375F. Cut each eggplant in half vertically and place on sheet pan. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40-45 minutes until very soft.
• Let eggplants cool before handling. Scoop eggplant flesh out of skins into bowl of a food processor. Add lemon juice, tahini, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Serve with pita bread or pita chips.

GRILLED MIDDLE EASTERN BABA GHANOUSH

Steps:

• Pierce the eggplants in a few places with a fork, so steam has somewhere to go when you cook them.
• For a smoky flavor that will add depth to the finished dish, grill the eggplants on a very hot, oiled grill pan (or barbecue) until the skins are wrinkled and black, and the eggplants shriveled and soft; turning often. (If you prefer, roast the eggplants in a preheated 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes.)
• When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, split them open and scoop out the flesh, discarding the skin and as many seeds as possible.
• In a food processor, combine the garlic, tahini, lemon juice and parsley; puree until smooth. Add the eggplant flesh; season with cumin, salt, and pepper; pulse several times to make a thick, coarse puree. Pour in the oil and pulse again to incorporate. Taste and adjust seasoning, as needed. Pour into a serving bowl and garnish with chopped pistachios. Serve with pita wedges for dipping.

NAAN

Steps:

• Combine the yeast and sugar with 1/4 cup warm water in a small bowl and mix well. Set aside until it begins to froth, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Meanwhile combine 2 1/2 cups of the flour with the salt in a large mixing bowl and mix well. Make a well in the center and add the yeast-mixture, yogurt, ghee or butter, warm milk and lemon juice, if using. Mix well with your fingers until it forms a sticky or shaggy dough. Add more flour if too shaggy or a little water if too dry.
• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. Place in a larger lightly-oiled bowl, tightly cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a draft-free place, such as an unlit oven, until doubled in size, 1 to 2 hours.
• If using a pizza stone/steel: An hour before baking, put a pizza stone or steel on the lowest oven rack and preheat to 500 to 550 degrees F. If using a cast-iron skillet/griddle, just before baking, heat the skillet or griddle on the stove over high heat until very hot, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Put some melted ghee or butter in a small bowl. Add the remaining flour to another bowl.
• Divide the dough into 8 balls. Dab each ball in flour, flatten on a lightly floured surface and stretch or roll into an oval shape, thinner in the center and slightly thicker on the sides. Don't worry too much about the shape; I love making various countries when I make my naan! Dust off any extra flour. Brush some ghee or butter on the top of each and sprinkle with nigella seeds if using (add a little more than you want as you will lose a bunch while charring).
• Transfer the stretched naan onto the hot stone or skillet. Cook until you see some bubbles on top, 2 to 3 minutes. Take it out with tongs and flash-cook over an open flame, turning it so that it gets a few brown charred spots on both sides. Spread with a generous pat of butter/ghee and serve hot. Repeat with the remaining naan.