Eggplant dip

Hello my dear readers,

I feel like we have just started this week and is already Friday, weekend is just around the corner 😉

We have learn more about eggplant this week and we have discovered Kolkata, now I’ll share with you one of my favourite dips of all time, which actually has a lot of variants based on country, in Romania we call it Salata de vinete, Greeks call it Melitzanosalata, in Lebanon is known as Baba ghanoush, in Persia is known as kashkeh bademjoon or borani, in India and Pakistan  is known as Baingan ka Bhartha o Ojju.

I’ll share my version of salata de vinete, a dip which was very common in our home all year round and reminds me of my happy childhood.

Eggplant dip_Popsicle Society

Ingredients:

  • eggplants, preferably the ones with the dark purple skin
  • onion
  • garlic
  • salt & pepper
  • fresh lemon juice
  • mayonesse (optional)

How to do it:

First you need to start by roasting the eggplants. Preferably, eggplants are cooked by contact with a heated surface or even with direct flame, until the skin is charred and the core becomes soft, as it will give a lovely roasted taste. Back home we always used to do them outside, on a barbecue grill, directly on the flame, but here I don’t have this possibility, so I cook them in the oven. I cut them in half, make some scars with the knife  and place them on a baking sheet and roast them for around 40-50 minutes in the oven at 180 degrees. Once ready, I take them out from the oven and let them cool completely.

If you have the possibility to grill them over high heat, remember to turn them as each side blackens, and then put the charred eggplants in a paper bag, close the bag and let the eggplants steam in their skins for 15-20 minutes, before removing the skin.

Homemade mayo_Popsicle Society

In the meantime, since I like it with mayonnaise, I just do my homemade mayo. In a bowl put an egg yolk, a tablespoon of mustard and pouring sunflower oil a little bit at a time until it becomes a cream. I also like to add a few drops of squeezed fresh lemon juice, to balance the oil fat. As simple as that!

Once the eggplants are ready, scoop the flesh if you baked them in the oven, or peel the skin off if you grilled them, and chop it well with a knife. I remember when I was little, that we used to have something like a knife but made from wood, that we used to chop the eggplant, because the steel knifes used to blacken the eggplants. But nowadays all knifes are from stainless steel so no problems.

Place the eggplants in a bowl, add finely chopped or grated onion and garlic, just a little bit, for 3 medium eggplants I use half small onion and one garlic clove, add the mayo and season with salt and pepper.

If you prefer without mayo, for a lighter version, you may skip adding the mayo, just add to the chopped eggplants the grated onion and garlic, a little bit of freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil and salt and pepper.

Stir well and your salata de vinete is ready. Is even better if you can chill it for about one hour.

In Romania, we usually serve it on slices of bread and with tomatoes, or you can serve it drizzled with olive oil and a sprinkling of parsley.

And if you want something different, try Baba ghanoush, that instead of mayo they use tahini and cumin, a pretty nice combination too, served with pita bread.

Simple and poor ingredients but yet so delicious! 😋 😋

Who said we cannot enjoy good food at home? Is so easy and fun! You don’t believe me? Just try it! 😉

PopsicleSociety-Eggplant dip_4465

PopsicleSociety-Eggplant dip_4460

Eggplant dip recipe_Popsicle Society

And always remember, life is too short! Eat and treat yourself in style!

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Have a wonderful weekend!

 

All photo credit Popsicle Society

37 thoughts

  1. I’ve never really been a fan of eggplants but I am willing to try new things. Your recipes look good and if I didn’t know these dishes were made from eggplants, I would probably eat them. 😂🍆🌱

    Reply

    1. 😂 sometimes I do the same 😂 don’t tell me what is it and I may like it, but if you tell me and maybe is something that I don’t like, I’ll say immediately no without trying it 😂
      Thank you Hilary for stopping by and wish you a happy weekend! 🤗💕

      Reply

  5. Hello hello, yes this week went so fast, i haven’t even noticed. On my old blog from very begging i was sharing a little bit of diet and recipe posts, egg plant was on the list. Is very healthy and important vegetable on our table☀️
    I see, there is not many ingredients needed, which makes it so easy to make🤗i dont eat mayo because dont know how to make it, i dont like the own from the shop, seems so simple, i should try it one day soon. I also like your presentation of food, looks good🤗, honestly i’m going to try it on, i will share pictures on my blog when will make it☀️

    Reply

    1. Good morning beautiful Ilona ☀️
      Oh yes, eggplant is very nutritious and it has quite a lot of benefits and is also versatile 🙂
      Homemade mayo is very easy, just need a little bit of patience 🙂 but for a lighter version of the eggplant dip you may do it without mayo and is still delicious 🙂
      Thank you Ilona for your kind words, really appreciated! I’ll look forward for it 🙂
      Wish you a great weekend full of happy things 🙂

      Reply

      1. Good morning🤗, yes i saw your posts about benefit of egg plant, i will let you know, if i got success with mayo, but i’m sure, i will success with eggplant😁
        Thank you for your support on my blog☀️
        Have great weekend, stay positive🤗

  8. My God, there is a recipe exist like this😲 wow, how does it taste ? 🤔 well, will cook and find out 😉 you always share tasty recipes.. its always good to learn new things from a special foodie ✨😊.. Wish a beautiful Weekend ….✨✍️

    Reply

    1. Thank you Simon 😉 Yep, very simple but very delicious 😋 I’m sure you and Nisha will like it 😉
      Thank you for your kind words 😉 Very appreciated 🤗
      Wish you a wonderful weekend! 🤗

      Reply

  13. Hi Ribana, it is easy to make and the result is great! Looks so delicious! 🌸I know the homemade mayo! But here it is easily available in shops! 😊Have a great week Ribana! 💙

    Reply

    1. Hello dear Suni 🌸 Oh yes, easy but very delicious 😋 Sometimes I do buy the mayo but sometimes when I have time I like to do it at home too 😉
      Thank you for stopping by and wish you a wonderful week too 😉🤗🌸

      Reply
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