Grilled Sweet Potato Baba Ghanoush Food

BABA GANOUSH - THE BEST IN THE WORLD!

Steps:

• Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill.
• Preheat an oven to 375°F.
• Prick the eggplant with a fork in several places and place on the grill rack 4 to 5 inches from the fire.
• Grill, turning frequently, until the skin blackens and blisters and the flesh just begins to feel soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet and bake until very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and peel off and discard the skin.
• Place the eggplant flesh in a bowl.
• Using a fork, mash the eggplant to a paste.
• Add the 1/4 cup tahini, the garlic, the 1/4 cup lemon juice and the cumin and mix well.
• Season with salt, then taste and add more tahini and/or lemon juice, if needed.
• Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and spread with the back of a spoon to form a shallow well.
• Drizzle the olive oil over the top and sprinkle with the parsley.
• Place the olives around the sides.
• Serve at room temperature.

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.

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.

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.

BABA GANOUSH

Steps:

• Set up your grill for indirect heat. If using a charcoal grill, build the coals on one side only. If using a gas grill, heat one side only.
• Prick the eggplants all over the surface with a fork. Place on the direct heat side of the grill or directly on to the coals, close the lid of the grill and char on all sides, turning once the skin begins to darken and crack, about 5 minutes per side. When the eggplants have softened through, remove to a resealable bag and allow to steam for a few minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the eggplants and discard the skin and most of the seeds.
• In the meantime, make the tehina. Break up the garlic cloves into a blender or food processor, leaving them in their papery skins. Add the lemon juice and salt and blend into a pulpy purée. Press the mixture though a strainer set over a bowl containing the tahini. Whisk to combine; the mixture will thicken and seize up. Whisk in the ice water, smoothing out into a loose sauce.
• Add the cleaned eggplant to a blender or food processor while still warm. Pour in all the tehina and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust the seasoning, adding more salt and lemon juice if needed. Serve with olive oil drizzled over the top.