Chickpea Eggplant Dip Food

EASY GREEK-STYLE EGGPLANT RECIPE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place eggplant cubes in a colander over a large bowl or directly over your sink, and sprinkle with salt. Set aside for 20 minutes or so to allow eggplant to "sweat out" any bitterness. Rinse with water and pat dry.
• In a large braiser, heat 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil over medium-high until shimmering but not smoking. Add onions, peppers, and chopped carrot. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring regularly, then add garlic, bay leaf, spices, and a dash of salt. Cook another minute, stirring until fragrant.
• Now add eggplant, chopped tomato, chickpeas, and reserved chickpea liquid. Stir to combine.
• Bring to a rolling boil for 10 minutes or so. Stir often. Remove from stove top, cover and transfer to oven.
• Cook in oven for 45 minutes until eggplant is fully cooked through to very tender. (While eggplant is braising, be sure to check once or twice to see if more liquid is needed. If so, remove from oven briefly and stir in about 1/2 cup of water at a time.)
• When eggplant is ready, remove from oven and add a generous drizzle of Private Reserve EVOO, garnish with fresh herbs (parsley or mint). Serve hot or at room temperature with a side of Greek yogurt or even Tzatziki sauce and pita bread.

EGGPLANT HUMMUS

Steps:

• Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
• Prick the eggplant with a fork and place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 40 minutes or until it collapses on itself. Slice it open to cool.
• If desired, remove the skin of the eggplant with your hands before adding the flesh to the blender. I like the skin so just drop the whole eggplant in the blender.
• Add remaining ingredients and blend until smooth. If the hummus is too thick, add more water a tablespoon at a time until it reaches the desired consistency.
• If you'd like, garnish with paprika, pine nuts, olive oil, and chopped basil or other herbs.

ROASTED EGGPLANT DIP W. CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
• Place eggplant cubes in bowl of warm, salted water for 5 minutes. Drain water.
• Spread the eggplant, onion, and chickpeas in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and the black pepper. Stir all ingredients and spread back into a single layer. Bake for 10 minutes. Stir and bake for 10 more minutes, until the eggplant is tender.
• Remove from the oven and let cool for 10 to 15 minutes, until just barely warm.
• Transfer the contents of the baking sheet to a blender. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil and the remaining ½ teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth. Add the cilantro. Process again until the cilantro becomes tiny green flecks throughout the dip. Add more salt to taste, if desired.
• Transfer to a serving dish. Drizzle with olive oil and top with cilantro leaves. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature with pita chips.

CHICKPEA EGGPLANT DIP

Steps:

• Soak the dried chickpeas in cold water for 8 hours, then drain.
• Combine chickpeas, carrot, and onion in a medium saucepan, add 4 cups water, and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until the chickpeas are tender, about 1 1/2 hours.
• Drain, remove carrot and onion, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 300°F.
• Toss the garlic and eggplant with 1.4 cup of olive oil and arrange on a cookie sheet (eggplant with the cut side down) and roast for 40 minutes.
• Add the chilies to the roasting pan, cut side down and roast for another 10 minutes. Set aside until cool enough to handle
• Scoop the flesh from the eggplant and transfer to a blender and then add the roasted garlic and chilies, chickpeas, harissa, cumin, remaining 2 tbsp olive oil, and 2-3 tbsp of the reserved cooking water.
• Puree, adding more of the cooking liquid 2-3 tbsp at a time if necessary until it's smooth and creamy.
• Serve at room temperature with pita!