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Zucchini Baba Ghanoush

Author "Plenty More" by Yotam Ottolenghi

Ingredients

  • 5 large zucchini
  • 1/4 cup plain yogurt
  • 2 tbsp coarsely grated Roquefort (or for a less intense flavour 2 tbsp crumbled chevre)
  • 1 egg, lightly beated
  • 1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 2 1/2 tbsp pine nuts
  • 1/2 tsp chile flakes
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed or 2 garlic scapes, minced
  • 1/2 tsp thyme, marjoram or sage, cumbled
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Preheat the broiler. Place the zucchini on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and broil for about 45 minutes, turning once or twice during the cooking, until the skin crisps and browns nicely. Remove from the oven and, once cool enough to handle, peel off the skin, discard it and set the flesh aside in a colander to drain: you can also scoop out the flesh with a spoon. The zucchini can be served warm or at room temperature.

  2. Put the yogurt in a small saucepan with the cheese and egg. Heat very gently for about 3 minutes, stirring often. You the yogurt to heat through but not quite reach the simmering point. Set aside and keep warm.

  3. Melt the butter in a small saucepan with the pine nuts over low heat and cook, stirring often, for about 3 to 4 minutes until the nuts turn golden brown. Stir in the chile flakes and lemon juice and set aside.

  4. To serve, put the zucchini in a bowl and add the garlic, a scant 1/2 teaspoon salt, and a good grind of back pepper. Gently mash everything together with a fork and then spread the mixture out on a serving platter. Spoon the warm yogurt sauce on top, followed by a drizzle of the warm chile butter and the pine nuts. Finish with a sprinkle of herbs and serve at once.