Description
Ina Garten’s roasted eggplant spread brings Mediterranean charm to your table with smoky, rich flavors. Garlic, tahini, and roasted eggplant blend into a creamy dip that will make you dream of sunny Greek islands and casual weekend entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Vegetables:
- 1 medium eggplant, peeled
- 2 red bell peppers, seeds removed
- 1 red onion, peeled
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves of garlic, chopped
- 1½ teaspoons of kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper, ground
- 1 tablespoon of tomato paste
Cooking Liquid:
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) of olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by warming it to 400°F (200°C), ensuring an even heating environment for roasting vegetables.
- Transform eggplant, bell peppers, and onion into uniform 1-inch cubes, maintaining consistent size for balanced roasting.
- Combine the chopped vegetables in a spacious mixing vessel, incorporating minced garlic, extra virgin olive oil, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper to infuse flavor.
- Arrange the seasoned vegetable medley across a rimmed baking sheet, spreading them in a single layer to promote optimal caramelization.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven, allowing vegetables to roast for approximately 45 minutes until they develop a tender texture and golden-brown edges.
- Midway through roasting, gently rotate the vegetables using a spatula to ensure even browning and prevent burning.
- Remove the baking sheet and permit the roasted vegetables to cool slightly, enabling flavors to settle and intensify.
- Transfer the warm vegetable mixture into a food processor, introducing tomato paste as a binding agent for enhanced depth and richness.
- Pulse the ingredients 3-4 times, creating a rustic, textured consistency while maintaining distinct vegetable characteristics.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, adding extra salt or pepper as needed to achieve a perfectly balanced flavor profile.
Notes
- Roast eggplant until very soft.
- Use a food processor for smooth texture.
- Add a touch of lemon for brightness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 95 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 188 mg
- Fat: 7 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg