Baba ganoush

What is baba ganoush?

• Baba ganoush is a dish made with aubergine (egg plant) often said to be of Lebanese origin, but there are many recipes that are similar using different spices and flavourings from all over the Middle East and beyond. There is no ‘authentic’ or original baba ganoush, each slightly different recipe is integral to the national identity of each country it is eaten in.
• Baba ganoush is often used as a dip and likely to be served at the start of a meal. It is also eaten as a snack.
• Some common ingredients used to make this creamy dip include garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, tahini, mint and parsley, and pomegranate seeds or walnuts.
• Similar aubergine dishes are called, amongst other names, mutabbal, mutabal, melitzanosalata or blagadoush.

How to remove the skin?

• If you have a gas hob or barbecue then removing the skin by charring it over the flame will give a smokier flavour. This is easy to do but you need to use long-handled tongs to turn the aubergine as each patch blisters.
• This recipe involves grilling the aubergine to remove the skin and cook the flesh, this also gives a smokier flavour, but you can also use an oven set to as high as it will go to bake the aubergine for around 40 mins until the flesh softens and the skins darkens.

Tips for making baba ganoush from scratch

• To get a delicious smoky flavour in your baba ganoush we’d recommend cooking it on the grill, over a gas flame or over a BBQ to get a good char on the skin.
• Gradually add the oil so it that combines into a smooth creamy mixture instead of adding it all in one way, this way it emulsifies better with the wet ingredients.
• Make sure you drain any excess liquid from the aubergine once they’re cooked so that the dish isn’t too runny and has a strong flavour.
• Ensure it is seasoned well and that there isn’t too much lemon to turn it bitter.

How long does baba ganoush last?

It can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.