Italian Baba Ghanouj with Balsamic Reduction and Stewed Figs

Or is it baba ghanoug or baba ganush....to my knowledge, there isn't a "right" translation and spelling from Arabic to English and it is often spelled differently everywhere you look. This popular, tangy eggplant dip grew in popularity in the U.S. mostly in the last ten years or so. I think of it as hummus's lesser known sibling. The hummus boom made the garbanzo bean version of this dip wildly popular and I have to wonder, why not eggplant? What made hummus so much more common? The plethora of hummus flavors out there is overwhelming. There is everything from roasted pepper or olive hummus to Buffalo-style hummus and pesto hummus. I have even seen edamame hummus. While these are exciting alternatives to the standard, I see no reason to limit myself to all beans. I love a good batch of baba ghanouj (my preferred spelling) with it's vague smokiness from the roasting, creaminess from the tahini, and bit of acidity on the tongue. I wonder, why can't we change a few seasonings and make flavored baba ghanouj the way some hummus companies and kitchens make flavored hummus?

Traditional baba ghanouj is made with a roasted eggplant (roasted over a flame, if possible, to achieve that smokiness), tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil. To be really traditional, you could add a wee bit of pomegranate molasses, found in Middle Eastern stores, and I love adding toasted cumin seeds and some sweet paprika. That is the classic version--not too far off from what is added to garbanzo beans for traditional hummus.

Versatile ingredients all ready to go!

For my eggplant dip to rival hummus, I am going to roast a medium eggplant with some garlic cloves, add fresh oregano, olive oil, and balsamic reduction drizzled on top in lieu of the pomegranate molasses.  Rather than a taste of the Middle East, we are off to Italy for this one. This is great served with sliced Italian bread, focaccia, or pita. I may even try to scrounge up some dried figs, stew them to soften them and garnish the top with wintery sweetness.

Italian Baba Ghanouj with Balsamic Reduction and Stewed Figs

1 medium eggplant
6-8 cloves garlic, with skins on
2 T extra-virgin olive oil+ 4 T
1/3 c +2 T inexpensive, everyday balsamic vinegar
8 dried figs
2 t freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 t chopped fresh oregano, or 1/4 t dried
1/2 t sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

crusty bread, focaccia, or flatbread for serving


Preheat to oven to 350 degrees. Wash the eggplant and coat gently with a tablespoon of olive oil. Place on a large piece of foil that is laid across a baking sheet. Rub cloves of garlic with another tablespoon of oil. Nestle them near the eggplant in the center of the foil and wrap them loosely.

Roast for about 40 minutes, checking after about 25 minutes to check the garlic cloves. If they are very soft before the eggplant, pull them out and let them cool. When eggplant is done roasting, open the foil and also let it cool.

In a small saucepan, cook the balsamic vinegar over medium heat to reduce by 1/2. It is done when it is thick and syrupy. You can go a little over and reduce more, but don't reduce less. Transfer to a bowl.

Without washing the pot, add about 1/2 c water, 2 T balsamic vinegar, and the dried figs. Simmer until figs are very tender and water/balsamic mixture is just about evaporated. Let cool, then quarter the figs.

When eggplant is cooled, slice open and scrape out the insides into a mixing bowl. Mash with lemon juice, oregano, salt, pepper, and olive oil to taste. Add about half of the balsamic reduction and taste, adding and adjusting salt and lemon, as well.

Pour into a low flat bowl to serve. Garnish the top with olive oil, balsamic reduction, and quartered figs. Serve room temperature with warm bread.

Fig and Almond Loaf

Things are finally beginning to feel a little more seasonal.  Yesterday, I got motivated and did my first baking in months.  With a cool 72 degrees outside, I was okay with turning on the oven in our apartment.  First on the agenda, was Will's favorite Zucchini Pineapple Bread which I made in the form of muffins this time.  I then tried a new one--Fig and Almond Bread.  My friend, Shannon, facebooked about it and the title alone had me enthralled.  It's a recipe she found in Cooking Light magazine, but I was able to find it easily online.  It turned out so well!  I wish I would have used fresh figs since they are all over right now, but the dry worked just fine, too.

It's easy and I highly recommend trying it!

Fig and Almond Loaf

adapted from Cooking Light magazine

Ingredients:

    Streusel:
    * 2 1/2  tablespoons  brown sugar
    * 2  tablespoons  all-purpose flour
    * 1 1/2  tablespoons  coarsely chopped almonds
    * 1  tablespoon  chilled butter, cut into small pieces
    * 1/8  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
   
     Bread:
    * 1  cup  dried figs
    * 1/2  cup  boiling water
    * Cooking spray
    * 1  tablespoon  all-purpose flour
    * 2  large egg whites
    * 1  large egg
    * 3/4  cup  applesauce
    * 1/3  cup  plain fat-free yogurt
    * 1/4  cup  canola oil
    * 1/2  teaspoon  almond extract
    * 3/4  cup  granulated sugar (Florida Crystals!)
    * 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
    * 1/3  cup  chopped almonds

    * 1  teaspoon  baking powder
    * 1  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
    * 1/2  teaspoon  salt
    * 1/2  teaspoon  baking soda

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.

2. To prepare streusel, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl, stirring with a fork until crumbly; set aside.

3. To prepare bread, combine figs and 1/2 cup boiling water in a small bowl; let stand 30 minutes. Coat 2 (8-inch) loaf pans with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon flour.

4. Place egg whites and egg in a medium bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add applesauce, yogurt, oil, and almond extract; stir well. Add sugar; stir well.

5. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and remaining ingredients in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Drain figs, and coarsely chop. Add figs and applesauce mixture to flour mixture, stirring until just combined. Divide batter between prepared pans. Sprinkle streusel over batter. Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 15 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Cool completely on wire rack.