Taratoor, Hummus & Baba Ghanooj.

Here are three recipes that it makes sense to prepare at the same time if you are having company. If you are expecting a large crowd, they can all be doubled easily.

Taratoor Sauce

3	Garlic cloves – finely chopped
1 c	Tahini paste
¼ c	Cold water (or slightly less – I like slightly less)
½ c	Lemon juice
1 tsp	salt

 I use a food processor, and first pulse the Tahini paste with the chopped garlic and salt, then slowly add the cold water, and lemon juice. This sauce is used as an ingredient in the next two recipes, but it is good on its own, poured over steamed cauliflower, for example.

Baba Ghannooj

1	Eggplant – the kind that is often referred to as: American Eggplant.
¼ c	Fresh lemon juice
2 T	Taratoor sauce (see above)
1	Large garlic clove, chopped
1 tsp	Salt
1 T	Olive oil
¼ c	Chopped onions
1 T	Chopped fine leaf parsley

The eggplant needs to be cooked in a manner that totally chars the skin. The point is to have a somewhat smoky flavour to the dip. First the skin of the eggplant needs to be pricked (unless explosions are your kind of thing). I cook it on the barbeque, using tongs to turn it often. It can also be done over a gas flame or campfire. When it is all soft, and the skin is blackened, let it cool a bit, and then remove the charred skin. It doesn’t matter if small flecks remain. Then, whomp the eggplant and everything else into a food processor and process it all until blended. Garnish with whatever you like – crescents of thinly sliced onion, an array of flat leaf parsley, whatever catches your fancy. Left overs are good the next morning on toast.

Hummus

1 can	Chick peas – well rinsed. The size of cans is about 400 ml. (save a few chick peas for garnish)
1 tsp	Salt – or more if that is your preference.
3	Garlic cloves, finely chopped
¼ c	Fresh lemon juice
1 c	Taratoor sauce

First pulse the chick peas in a food processor, and then add the rest of the ingredients and briefly blend. It is better to slightly under-process than to over-process – unless you are making baby-food. Then, babies wouldn't complain. Toss a few chick peas on top for garnish (unless you are making it for babies).