Fun factoid #1: literal translation from Arabic- Pampered Papa or Coy Daddy
Fun factoid #2: Eggplants contain nicotine. Why is this? Good question! Because the tobacco plant is a member of the nightshade family, along with eggplant, tomato, tomatillo, chilie, peppers, potatoes! Eggplant contains more nicotine than the other nightshades, aside from tobacco, at 100mg/gm. Twenty eggplants equal one cigarette. Better get to eating if you’re trying to quit!
Fun factoid #3: As usual we have an excess of eggplants, which is fine because my Montana daughter insists I overnight the excess to her. Short growing season and this past week they’ve had several feet of snow. (Hello ice age!)
So I’m making Baba Ganoush. Love. It.
It’s super easy. First I grill the eggplants (2 large or 4-5 small-medium) until they are soft and the skins are charred. Then I stick them in a plastic bag to steam. I let them cool to make peeling easier.
Grilled Eggplant. Ready to Peel.
Toss the charred skins. Throw the meat of the eggplant into a food processor or blender. Add salt, 2 cloves of garlic, the juice of 3 lemons and 1/2-1 cup of tahini. Start with 1/2 cup. Blend. Add water, slowly, as needed to make the Baba Ganoush creamy. Taste. You may need to add a little more salt, lemon juice or tahini.
Scoop into a wide bowl. Sprinkle with sweet paprika or zaatar and drizzle with olive oil. And voila! Serve with pita bread and crudites.
Baba Ganoush.
And done!
There are very few foods I do not like and will not eat. Eggplant is one of them. Too bitter, but then I am a Super Taster. I am sure your Eggplant Dip is better than most.
I grow super sweet eggplants, Roberta. Not joking. It’s a specific breed. They are also addictive. Must be the nicotine.
I had no idea that eggplant contained nicotine, Julia! I’m surprised the word doesn’t get out and suddenly teens are eating it like crazy…no need to tell them it’s a vegetable that’s good for them.
I’m the only one in our family who LOVES eggplant, and now I have my own “baba-ganoush”-Yum!
What an idea, Marylin! The Eggplant Board should take notice! If you grow the right eggplants they aren’t bitter. I love eggplant! So do two of my three kids. The third only eats it as Baba Ganoush!