Middle Eastern Chickpea Platter
This recipe combines the flavors of two Middle Eastern favorites--hummus and baba ganouj--in one easy dish. Serve it family-style, letting diners take their own favorite combination of ingredients. Serve with tabbouleh or a green salad tossed with lemon vinaigrette.
Ingredients
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1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
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1 small eggplant, (about 12 ounces), cubed
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
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2 tablespoons tahini (see Note)
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3 tablespoons lemon juice
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1 tablespoon water
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1 15- or 19-ounce can chickpeas or cannellini beans, rinsed (see Tip)
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3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, plus more for garnish
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2 medium tomatoes, sliced
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1/2 medium red onion, thinly sliced
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1/4 cup crumbled feta
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1/4 cup halved pitted briny black olives, such as Kalamata (optional)
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4 whole-wheat pita breads, warmed and cut in half or into wedges
Directions
1.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add eggplant, garlic and 1/8 teaspoon salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until the eggplant is soft and beginning to brown, about 8 minutes.
2.
Meanwhile, whisk tahini, lemon juice, water and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Stir in chickpeas (or beans), parsley and the eggplant.
3.
Arrange the chickpea-eggplant salad, tomatoes, onion, feta, olives (if using) and pitas on a platter. Serve at room temperature or chilled and sprinkled with more parsley, if desired.
Tips:
Note: Tahini is a thick paste of ground sesame seeds. Look for it in large supermarkets in the Middle Eastern section or near other nut butters.
Tip: While we love the convenience of canned beans, they tend to be high in sodium. Give them a good rinse before adding to a recipe to rid them of some of their sodium (up to 35 percent) or opt for low-sodium or no-salt-added varieties. (Our recipes are analyzed with rinsed, regular canned beans.) Or, if you have the time, cook your own beans from scratch.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate the chickpea salad (Steps 1-2) for up to 4 hours.
Nutrition information
Calories 313, Total Fat 11 g, Saturated Fat 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat 5 g, Cholesterol 8 mg, Sodium 648 mg, Carbohydrate 46 g, Fiber 10 g, Protein 11 g, Potassium 622 mg. Daily Values: Vitamin C 40%, Iron 15%. Exchanges: Starch 2,Vegetable 2,Fat 2.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet
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Baba Ganouj
Grilled eggplant is pureed along with garlic, lemon juice and tahini to make a lighter version of the classic Middle Eastern dip. If you can't find ground sumac for the garnish, chopped pistachios are traditional as well. Serve with pita wedges or use as a spread for sandwiches.
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