Julia Childs Eggplant Walnut Dip Recipes

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) PERSILLADE (JULIA CHILD'S)

Steps:

• Peel eggplant and cut into half-inch dice.
• (If you wish, salt cubes with 1/2 t salt, let drain for 20 minutes, then dry in a towel--optional).
• Film large (preferably nonstick) skillet with the olive oil.
• Saute eggplant cubes over medium-high heat for 4-5 minutes, until tender.
• Add minced garlic and toss for a couple of minutes.
• Add parsley only at the last minute and toss before serving.
• Fine alone (hot or cold) as a side dish, or serve over prepared spaghetti squash.
• May toss with optional parmesan cheese.

JULIA CHILD'S EGGPLANT-WALNUT DIP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Cut green caps off eggplants and place them whole in a baking dish. Bake until very soft and collapsing, 30 to 35 minutes. When cool enough to handle, scrape flesh into the bowl of a mixer (or use a hand mixer).
• Beat at high speed for about two minutes, until smooth and fluffy. Add walnuts, garlic, ginger, allspice, two big pinches of salt and one of pepper. Shake in a few dashes of hot sauce. Mix well.
• With the mixer running, gradually drizzle in oil, as if making mayonnaise, just until mixture is emulsified and creamy. Stop, taste and adjust the seasonings with salt, pepper and hot sauce. If desired, beat in remaining olive oil.
• Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to one week.

MUTABAL (EGGPLANT-TAHINI DIP)

Steps:

• Cook the eggplants directly on the burner of a gas stove or in the oven. On a gas stove, sear the eggplants directly over a medium-high flame. Rotate every 5 minutes, until the globes are completely blackened, about 15 minutes total. Alternately, preheat the oven to 450°F. Place the eggplants on a sheet tray, poke them all over with the tines of a fork, rub them with the oil, and place the tray in the oven and cook for 25 to 30 minutes, until the eggplants collapse in on themselves and the skins are blackened.
• Place the cooked eggplants in a bowl and seal the bowl with plastic wrap to let the eggplants steam in their own juices.
• In a medium bowl, combine the tahini, lemon juice and zest, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper.
• When the eggplants have cooled enough to touch, split them lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape out the pulp, discarding the skins and stems. For a milder flavor, scrape the seeds off the strands of pulp.
• Use a fork to mash the pulp into the tahini-garlic mix, creating a chunky dip. Adjust the salt to taste.
• When ready to serve, scoop the eggplant mixture onto a serving plate. Use a spoon to create a well in the center and drizzle in the oil, then garnish with the molasses, pomegranate seeds, and parsley.