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Roasted Eggplant with Tahini Sauce

2012 July 31
tags: , , ,
by admin


There are some things I knew about my husband going into marriage. A few of things I knew I could never change; a few of those things I was certain I could change.

I have no apologies about thinking I could change him.  I know counselors or marriage books insist that if you think you can change your partner, you’re in for a rude awakening.  I don’t have a problem being changed, if I’m wrong (of course), so I figure it’d be okay to apply that reasoning to my husband.

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He said he hated eggplant from the get go.  At first I’d just eat it in front of him and try to make him jealous.  That might work with say, a cookie or some cake, but it wasn’t working with this homely vegetable.

Then I tried sneaking it into some baked pasta dishes.  He artfully left the eggplant on his plate.  I admit by now, 6 years later, I just make the eggplant for myself, don’t even bother offering it, and move on with dinner.

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This was both really simple and really good.  Tahini is one of those ingredients that screams ‘Mediterranean’ to me.  It is a flavor I don’t often have so I love it when I run across a recipe that uses it.  Simple roast eggplant halves and then drizzle with sauce.  It tastes like you spent more than 5 minutes worth of effort.

My dad gave me the eggplant from his garden but you could get it at the grocery store.  Wouldn’t be nice to have some free money to go grocery shopping with?  The fine people are Food on the Table are giving away a $25 grocery gift card to the chain grocery store of your choice!  This website allows you to select your food preferences according to tastes or dietary needs, makes a menu plan, and builds a grocery list for you.  Please show them some love and check out their site before entering the giveaway.

To enter the giveaway, please leave a comment stating whether you’d rather order an appetizer or a dessert in a restaurant.  Or about anything.  

Continental US residents only, please.  Giveaway runs from July 31, 2012 through August 3rd, 2012 at midnight EST. A random number generator will choose the winner :)

Giveaway closed.
Roasted Eggplant with Tahini (adapted from Gail Simmons)

Ingredients

2 medium eggplants (about 1 1/4 pounds total), trimmed and halved lengthwise
coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons well-stirred tahini
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons hot water
1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1/8 teaspoon minced garlic

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Spray cooking sheet with nonstick spray and lay eggplant halves, cut side up, on it. Brush with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 30-40 minutes or until soft.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk together tahini dressing. Pour over eggplant once fully cooked. Garnish with parsley, if desired.

 

from → side dish, vegan(izable), vegetables

  • Melinda

    I’d rather have dessert but I usually end up having an appetizer.  I always check the dessert list before order but usually an appetizer ends up looking better than anything I want on the dessert menu.

  • http://oishiifood.wordpress.com/ Brianna

    mmm, I fell in love with eggplant while we were in Japan. I loved how tender that variety was and I started adding it to stir fries. The rest is history.

    To answer your question, Appetizer, definitely. I’m a savory kind of girl and rarely have room for dessert, except for maybe an espresso :)

  • http://www.sweetsilverphoto.com/ Kelly

    I love dessert. I picked up an eggplant at the store this weekend and this recipe might make it to the table (if I manage to stop and get some tahini).

  • Stacey

    Definitely depends on my mood as to whether or not I would want dessert or an app…love them both!!!

  • http://bethsblueplate.wordpress.com/ Beth

    I say dessert. But that might be because I want ice cream right now, ha! :)  I will definitely keep this recipe in mind for when eggplant appears in our CSA! 

  • Katie

    Dessert!  I have a serious sweet tooth :)

  • Alisha

    Appetizers, no question. I could make a meal out of them!
    I crave salty and savory over sweet. I rarely eat dessert!

  • http://twitter.com/HezziD Hezzi-Ds Books&Cooks

    I used to be a dessert girl but now that I make so many desserts whenever I go out I’d rather get an appetizer!

  • http://iwasborntocook.blogspot.com/ Melissa@IWasBornToCook

    It can go either way…totally depends on my mood.  Last night I ordered both :)

  • Coleen Hill

    Oh, that’s a hard question – I love both! But often, desserts are something I’m able to make at home, so if I had to choose one or the other, I’d pick the appetizer! 

  • The Home Cook

    I definitely prefer an appetizer to a dessert – I’m a savory fan. 

  • http://twitter.com/TheWaytoHisHear TheWaytoHisHeart

    Sometimes, I  will just order an appetizer and dessert and skip dinner. :) If I had to chose though I’d pick an appetizer since they are normally something new that I like to try out.

  • http://simplegourmetcooking.blogspot.com/ Dawn

    I prefer savory over sweet so I definitely prefer an appetizer…but that’s not to say that I haven’t enjoyed quite a few desserts :-)

  • alaine

    I would prefer a dessert. :)
    family74014 at gmail dot com

  • Kate

    His eggplant aversion might be similar to mine.  I want to like it, but it always upsets my stomach.

  • http://asaverb.com/ As A Verb

    Depends how hungry I am! Sometimes I eat dessert first too. I always look at the dessert menu first to see if something sounds good & I should save room for it!

    This eggplant looks awesome too :) . 

  • stoler

    Definitely an appetizer! I’m all about savory, plus appetizers have a much better chance of coming with cheese!

  • Chrissy G.

    I’d be more likely to order an appetizer.  I’m not a huge sweets fan and rarely get dessert.

  • Jen

    Appetizers…it is so rare for me to order dessert when we eat out.  Gotta love savory food. I may have to try this eggplant recipe; I’ve always been on the omnivore’s side of things when it comes to eggplant

  • karen

    I’m a dessert person.  I have a wicked sweet tooth. 
    My husband has become an eggplant convert!  
    karenreichmann@hotmail.com

  • http://twitter.com/onitnaram amy beth marantino

    i would rather order dessert

  • http://crockpottuesdays.wordpress.com/ Tricia

    Most of the time, I will choose to order an appetizer over dessert. Desserts often leave me feeling way too full!

  • http://twitter.com/ellysaysopa elly @ elly says opa

    That’s a really, really tough choice. But I’d have to go with a dessert, since I’ll already be having something savory for my meal. :)

  • Jcbarbee

    Appetizer, I prefer more savory over sweet!

  • http://justbakedbyme.wordpress.com/ Kim @ Just Baked

    Dessert.  Always dessert!  Heck, I’d pick dessert over the meal :D

  • Kate

    I’m always up for dessert at a restaurant!

  • Joanna

    This is hard….I’d probably say order the appetizer (then stop at Ben & Jerry’s on the way home).

  • http://stickafork.net/ Chrissy

    Definetly a dessert…but I almost never have room for it!

  • Eva @ Eva Bakes

    Dessert, hands down!

  • Jey

    Um, I usually order both… But if i had to choose, it would be an appetizer!

  • Lisa

    Definitely dessert. I have a major sweet tooth. 

  • ana/lariah

    Appetizer, definitely! This looks like a delicious eggplant dish by the way. Can’t wait to try it! 

  • Prevention RD

    That’s a really tough question! Probably an appetizer. :)

  • http://www.deliciousmeliscious.com/ Melissa

    I’d almost always pick dessert over an appetizer.  Unless we’re at a Mexican place, then I’d pick appetizer!  I can’t resist chips & salsa or queso.

  • Alida

    Dessert…no question!

  • allisonp_20

    I would rather try an appetizer than dessert.  Especially if it’s something new, it’s great to try it in a small portion!

  • Rkostakis

    Depends on my mood…usually I’ll take dessert over an app. any time, but if there’s something I *really* like on the appy menu I might figure I can have dessert at home!

  • http://mykitchenjourney.blogspot.com Cathy

    probably apps instead. I’m not a huge dessert person, but you wouldn’t think that with all the dessert recipes I’ve posted!

  • http://SouthernPinkLemonade.com Heather

    That’s a difficult question! Normally, I would say dessert without a question but I have been trying to cut back on sweets so I would probably order an appetizer. 

    P.S. This is an awesome giveaway!!

  • Hillary!

    Um, you have just combined two of my favorite things of all time. YUM!