best nickname ever!

Do you remember the 2005 summer box office hit Wedding Crashers? Sure you do. But do you remember what John’s (Owen Wilson) nickname for Jeremy (Vince Vaughn) was?  No!?!?  Only one of the best nicknames in movie history and one of my favorite words to say!

Baba Ghanoush

Besides being an awesome nickname, baba ghanoush is a delicious smoky Mediterranean dip!  First imagine hummus, and now imagine substituting soft and creamy cooked eggplant for the chickpeas. There you have it – baba ghanoush!

Smokey Grilled Baba Ghanoush

2 large eggplants
4 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup tahini
Juice of 1 or 2 lemons
1 large handful fresh Italian parsley
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons roasted pistachios, for garnish
Pita bread, cut into wedges, for dipping

Preheat a grill to high.

Pierce the eggplants in several places with a paring knife, which will allow the steam to escape.

Place the eggplants directly on the grate and grill until the skins are wrinkled and black, and the eggplants shriveled and soft; turning every 5 minutes, for a total of about 20 minutes. Remove to a dish and cool.

When the eggplants are cool enough to handle, split them open and scoop out the flesh, discarding the skin and as many of the 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, adding more salt and lemon juice, as needed.

Spoon into a serving bowl and garnish with pistachios. Serve with pita wedges for dipping.

Makes about 2 cups

Bonus: Watch the Wedding Crashers trailer HERE