Description
Mediterranean roasted eggplant dip by Barefoot Contessa offers a creamy, smoky blend of Mediterranean flavors. Garlic, tahini, and olive oil create a luscious spread perfect for gatherings or quiet moments of culinary pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 eggplants (medium, peeled)
- 1 bell pepper (red, seeded)
- 1 onion (red, peeled)
- 3 tbsps olive oil (good quality)
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 2 tbsps tahini
- 3 tbsps parsley (chopped, plus extra for garnish)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ tsps kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper (freshly ground)
Instructions
- Preparation: Calibrate oven to 400°F with center rack positioning, ensuring optimal roasting environment.
- Vegetable Preparation: Cube bell pepper, onion, and eggplant into uniform 1-inch pieces, promoting consistent texture and cooking performance.
- Seasoning Technique: Whisk garlic, olive oil, cayenne, kosher salt, and black pepper in a large mixing bowl, thoroughly coating vegetable cubes for maximum flavor absorption.
- Roasting Process: Distribute seasoned vegetables across a rimmed baking sheet, maintaining minimal overlap to facilitate precise caramelization and even browning.
- Oven Transformation: Roast vegetables for 45 minutes, intermittently stirring to guarantee comprehensive color development and flavor concentration.
- Cooling and Processing: Allow roasted vegetables to rest momentarily, then transfer to food processor with tahini and lemon juice, creating a harmonious, textured spread.
- Flavor Refinement: Pulse mixture to achieve rustic consistency, preserving subtle vegetable integrity while blending components seamlessly.
- Final Touches: Adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, then transfer to serving vessel and garnish with fresh parsley for visual and flavor enhancement.
Notes
- Roast with Care: Spread vegetables in a single layer to achieve perfect caramelization and prevent steaming, which ensures a rich, concentrated flavor profile.
- Temperature Matters: Use a center oven rack and maintain 400°F for optimal vegetable roasting, creating a beautifully caramelized exterior and tender interior.
- Texture is Key: Pulse food processor carefully to maintain a rustic, chunky consistency that highlights the roasted vegetables’ natural texture and prevents a mushy result.
- Seasoning Secret: Taste and adjust seasonings progressively, allowing the roasted vegetables’ natural sweetness to shine while balancing salt, pepper, and lemon juice.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 10 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg