Simple Eggplant Hummus (a/k/a Baba Ganoush)

Ingredients

• 1 large eggplant (about 1 pound)
• 1–2 cloves garlic (to taste), pressed
• About 1/4 cup olive oil
• Several pinches of sea salt
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1–2 tablespoons tahini
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

1. 1OVEN: Heat oven to 450°F. Slice eggplant in half and liberally spread cut sides with olive oil and salt. Bake cut side up for about 20 minutes, until the interior is soft and quite brown on top.
2. 2GRILL: Prep the eggplant in the same manner, but grill the slices over a hot gas grill for about 10 minutes.
3. 3As the eggplant cooks, add the rest of the ingredients (except any leftover oil) to a food processor and pulse a few times until mixed.
4. 4When the eggplant is ready, let it cool, then scoop out the pulp, leaving the skin. Add the pulp to the rest of the ingredients in the food processor and process until smooth.
5. 5Taste, and add salt and oil as needed. Garnish with parsley or lemon slices.