Super Easy Baba Ghanouj Ricardo Larrivée Recipes

SUPER EASY BABA GHANOUJ (RICARDO LARRIVéE)

Steps:

• With the rack in the middle position, preheat the oven to 350°F Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the eggplant cut side down on the baking sheet. Roast until the flesh is very tender and pulls away easily from the skin, about 1 hour depending on the eggplant's size. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, cut the tips off the garlic cloves. Place the cloves in a square of aluminum foil. Fold up the edges of the foil and crimp together to form a tightly sealed packet. Roast alongside the eggplant until tender, about 20 minutes. Let cool. Purée the cloves by pressing them through a garlic press.
• Using a spoon, scoop the flesh from the eggplant and place it in the bowl of a food processor. Add the garlic purée and oil. Process until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Serve with mini pitas.

EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE)-TAHINI DIP

Steps:

• Roast eggplant under the broiler, turning frequently, until the skin is charred and blistered.
• Peel away the skin, chop flesh roughly and drain in a colander for 30 minutes, and then press or blot to leak out as much liquid from the flesh as you can.
• Put eggplant flesh into blender, add tahini, garlic, almonds, lemon juice, cumin powder, salt and pepper.
• Transfer to serving bowl, fold in mint leaves and drizzle with olive oil.
• Goes well with pita crackers.

BABA GHANOUJ (EGGPLANT AND SESAME SPREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
• Make several cuts in eggplant with sharp knife.
• Combine eggplant in large saucepan with enough salted water to cover completely.
• Weight with smaller saucepan filled with water and let soak 20 minutes;rinse under cold water.
• Transfer to baking sheet and roast, turning occasionally, until eggplant is very soft, about 50 to 60 minutes.
• Let cool; peel and seed eggplant.
• Transfer pulp to small bowl and mash with fork, or transfer to blender and puree (eggplant should retain some texture).
• Combine tahini and 1/4 cup lemon juice in large bowl and mix well.
• Add more lemon juice if necessary to make thick paste.
• Add green onion,garlic,sesame seed, 2 tablespoons oil, parsley,soy sauce, honey, red pepper and ground pepper and mix well; stir in eggplant puree and adjust seasoning.
• Transfer mixture to shallow serving bowl, drizzle with remaining olive oil and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve.
• (Can be prepared 1 day ahead.).

BABA GHANOUJ (ROAST EGGPLANT PUREE)

Steps:

• Split the eggplant lengthwise; brush them with 1 T of the olive oil. Place the eggplant cut-side down on a sheetpan and roast at 450°F for 20-30 minutes or until the eggplant is very soft. Allow the eggplant to cool to room temperature.
• When they are at room temperature scoop out the flesh of the eggplant with a spoon and discard the skins. Place the flesh of the eggplant in a colander to drain for about 20 minutes.
• Place the drained eggplant in a food processor along with the lemon juice, tahini, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, ground cumin and the remaining tablespoon of olive oil. Puree until the mixture is smooth and thick. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

VEGETARIAN "PANTRY" CHILI

Steps:

• Combine first 10 ingredients in a pot.
• Add V8 or water to make the chili as thin as you like.
• Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer for aprox 30 minutes.
• This makes about 6 one cup servings.
• May be served with grated cheese or other condiments of choice on top.