MELITZANOSALATA (GREEK EGGPLANT (AUBERGINE) SPREAD)

Melitzanosalata (Greek Eggplant (Aubergine) Spread) image

Provided by evelynathens

Categories Spreads

Time 1h15m

Yield 8-10 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 8

3 -4 flask eggplants (the common kind found everywhere)
1 small grated onion
1 -2 garlic clove, crushed
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
1/2 cup olive oil
1 -2 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 -5 drops liquid smoke (optional)
salt and pepper

Steps:

Wash eggplant, place in baking pan and bake in at 375F for about one hour, or until soft when pierced with a fork and the eggplant has sort of collapsed into itself.
allow the skin to turn black and charred so as to give a smoky flavour to the salad (you can also grill the eggplant by putting them directly on the grate- whole- on your bbq. Grill until skin is blackened and charred and eggplant is very soft and starting to deflate. If you use the grill method- leave out the liquid smoke).
Skin eggplant when cool enough for you to stand it and chop in small pieces. Mash it up a bit with a fork.
Mix well with onion, garlic, tahini, oil, vinegar (start with 1 tblsp of vinegar and if you want it sharper, add more, a bit at a time), salt and pepper (to taste).
Note: I kind of beat this around with a fork to incorporate the oil well into the eggplant spread- you don't want it looking oily at all, but creamy.