Roasted Eggplant Red Pepper Dip
This Oven Roasted Eggplant & Red Pepper Dip is sweet and spicy and perfect for these cooler Fall evenings!
To blow first or to cut first seems to be the question of the week – at least here in North Atlanta!
Or, maybe its just in my yard!
There are leaves falling …and… grass growing…
It almost seems like Summer doesn’t want to leave (which is fine with me) and Fall is in a hurry to get started.
Some people like to tell me that I should blow the leaves off my yard first, then cut my grass and then blow the clippings off after…
But seriously, whose got time for all that? Definitely not me!
Now, if I could set my blower to blow unattended like I set my oven to bake unattended, then this whole cut-blow-cut dealio might just be doable!
So, other than selling my home in the next couple of days and moving to a yardless home or torching my grass…
I figure I’ll just run my mower over EVERYTHING!
Leaves, grass, branches, roots, stray dogs – yup – EVERYTHING!
I mean – mulch is good for flower beds – so am thinking it’s good for grassy areas too – right?
Yardwork can kill my appetite – especially when it involves being chased around by wasps…but, I am always in the mood for snacking.
And snacking is made especially seductive when dips are involved!
My daughter and I happened to pick up a a Red Pepper Spread from Trader Joes once that we practically inhaled in seconds. So, I figured I would come up with something along the same lines that we could make a larger quantity of in one go – and this is what I came up with.
Now this version has a little bit of a kick to it from the sambal oelek, paprika and chili flakes that I added in. But, the honey somewhat tones it down while mysteriously enhancing those caramelized bits of oven roasted red peppers and eggplant and garlic. So turn up your oven, throw those veggies in and, while they bake unattended, let’s ruminate over the order of grass cutting and leaf blowing…
Ingredients
- 2 Red Peppers roughly chopped
- 2 Eggplants roughly chopped
- 6-8 garlic cloves {keep the mouthwash handy if you are making this for date night 😉 }
- 1/2 inch piece of ginger shredded
- 1/2 an onion
- Olive Oil
- 3 teaspoons honey
- 3 teaspoons sambal oelek
- 2 teaspoons vinegar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons chili flakes {less or more according to taste}
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees
- Generously sprinkle the red pepper, eggplant, garlic, onions, ginger with the olive oil and bake for 40 minutes
- Remove from oven and place in a food processor along with the honey, sambal oelek, vinegar, salt, pepper, paprika, and chili flakes
- Give it a good pulse till everything is blended
- Top with more chili flakes if you so desire and enjoy with chips or crudites
I would add less chilli flakes and ignore the garden to enjoy this dip 🙂
You are hardcore Tandy! 🙂
Haha love the date night tip, Shashi! Love the sound of this dip- chips & dip are definitely one of my (many) kryptonites…if it’s in front on me, there’s little stopping me!
I’m the same way – at least when I have a like minded friend or two around, I don’t end up eating ALL the chips and dip! 🙂
Another great dip, Shashi. I might end up eating the whole bowl!!!
Haha – that’s not a bad thing now is it? 🙂 Thanks so much Angie!
I’ve made roasted eggplant dip and red pepper dips separately, this seems like a nice combo of flavors. Looks like you have some good kick here. Pinning!
Thanks so much David!
this might be the only way my husband eats eggplant. with the kick! so thank you!
YESS!!!! Thank YOU lady!
I am all about the snacking, too! This dip sounds like it’s right up my alley…and we have some eggplants in our garden that I need to pick. Hello, delicious dip! As far as yardwork, just don’t do it. Maybe hope a big gust of wind will come blow all the leaves into your neighbors yard. That’s what I hope for! Just kidding, I actually noticed this morning that it’s about time to do the first round of leaf blowing up here. I tend to procrastinate that job…and then I end up a pile of leaves that’s too big to blow around. Then I have to rake them onto a tarp and haul them to the way back of the yard. All that work just makes me hungry…and we’ve come full circle back to this dip! 🙂
Now THAT’S an idea! I’m gonna do a “Wind-dance” this evening and will that gust of wind to blow everything at least to the very back of my back yard! In the front, I made this huge island and I just blow everything I didn’t “rakut” (raking+cutting) into it – classy huh?! 🙂
This looks absolutely amazing! The perfect healthy football snack for this weekend.
I used to live in North Atlanta as well. Love the area. 🙂
Thanks so much Wendy!
I saw your pictures Facebook this morning Shashi and I was just like….WOW! I need that. Even in the morning! Love this fresh new way to fix eggplant! Double faceplant!!!! Leaves. Oak trees. 100 feet tall, 100 years old. In my back yard. 55 lawn & leaf bags. ‘Nuff said. Good luck on yours. xo
“55 lawn & leaf bags” UGH – Now I feel bad about complaining!!! Mine is nothing compared to yours, Allie! I made a huge island in the middle of my front yard and I just blow everything I don’t cut into it!
This looks so good! And, I love the combination of spices {yay!} with a touch of honey! We are finally enjoying some rain and “fall like” weather here in San Diego, but with the drought we have no lawn to mow, and too many falling leaves to blow 🙂 Happy Fall!
Thanks so much! Sorry about the drought out West – though San Diego has been one of my all time favorite cities!
Yard work is the bane of my existence, which is probably why I decided to move into a condo instead of a house 😛 I’m always in the mood for snacking, though… and it’s funny because even if I think I’m not hungry, a little snacking and my appetite kicks in to full gear. I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing 😆
Haha – unfortunately for me – snacking leads to me not wanting a real meal – but I quite enjoy snacking and snacking and snacking !!!
I’m thinking after my daughter goes to college, am moving to a condo or a place with a 4 x 2 yard – freaking 1 acre is NUTS!
Wow! This eggplant dip looks so exotic, vibrant, delicious and full of is amazing flavor. I can have this dip everyday — Fall or no FALL! 🙂
Thanks so much Anu! I actually make this in summer too – perfect dip to sit outside with 🙂
This looks great! We have one eggplant let that still needs to be used.
Thanks so much Julie – hoping you used it to make this 🙂
Yum!! I Love having a dip throughout the week for veggies/crackers! Pinning!!
Thanks so much Selena
Two of the greatest dip things 😉 Roasted red peppers obviously and creamy roasted eggplant! BOMB!
Thanks so much Rebecca
I love that you roasted the red pepper and eggplant for this dip!!! Delicious!
Roasted is just so dang flavorful – right?! 🙂
That dip is gorgeous, Shashi. I haven’t cut grass for years. We have a patch big enough for the dog to poop on so it wouldn’t be difficult but we have lots of palm trees that poop everywhere so we have a yard guy that comes and picks them up and he does the dog spot too. Next time he comes I’ll be sure to try this dip again just for you. 🙂
Hahaha Maureen I have a ton of pine trees that “poop” too! Though I never thought of them “pooping” their pine cones out…
This is my kind of snack food! It sounds delicious. I love the flavor of roasted eggplant.
Me too Michelle! Thanks so much BTW
Oh hecks yes, red pepper dip! <3 I don't think I've ever tried making anything with eggplant (I used to think I didn't like it, haha), but thankfully, that's changed! This looks super good! :]
Farrah I am so glad you like eggplant now because it is pretty phenomenal – especially roasted!
First things first! this dip looks insanely delicious and perfect for a fall gathering I will be hosting at the end of the month. Thanks for the inspiration! Now on to that lawn stuff.. oh my goodness I have never been so happy to be living in a skyscrapping apartment in HK with no grass cutting/leaf duties. For way too many years I lived in a house that backed up to the forest with many many trees. My husband was doing a significant amount of international travel so it was me and my little boys who spent all my non-working hours leaf blowing, raking, and double cutting the lawn… Have you ever heard of the “Little Wonder”? It is a push behind leaf blower that essentially blows leaves 200 yards back into my forest. Good luck with that! Just pinned!
Sounds like I need one of those “Little Wonders” – though I am thinking if I got 2 or 3, I could just line them up and let them blow for about 30 minutes or so – think that would work? 🙂
I keep thinking once my daughter is done with her first 4 years of college, I am gonna sell this place and move to a condo with no yard – fingers crossed!
BTW Thanks so much Bobbi!
This looks lovely, I’m so in love with this flavor combo!! It’s eggplant so versatile????? This would be great on pizza too!
Thanks so much Sam – YES – this would have been wonderful on pizza – thanks so much for that idea!
I’m back from vacation, and does our yard need mowing! And maybe raking too, so I’m facing the same question. Heck, I’m lazy, so I’ll just cut the darn grass! Anyway, love this dip — super flavor. Thanks.
Welcome back from vacay KR!
Yeah – I’ve been “Rakutting” (raking AND cutting at the same time – with my mower of course) And it’s worked out fine! Yes to rakutting! 🙂
Yummmmmm!!!! This is such a great dip Shashi! I love eggplants and red peppers. What a great idea to add them together into such a great recipe! So many great flavours in this – and all of the garlic sounds amazing!
Thanks so much Harriet – yeah – with all that garlic, this isn’t the dip to have one a first date 🙂
One of the things I have ALWAYS outsoureced is garden maintenance. I remember when I bought my first home, I was convinced I would become this fabulous gardener. Well! I think I tried mowing once, gave up, and never used it again. Outsource outsource! Thanks for another fab dip recipe! I actually don’t have a dip recipe like this, it’s going in my folder! N x
Thanks so much Nagi!
When I first moved here I had someone cut my grass too but not for long as I just didn’t want to shell out $40 buckaroos for someone else to do something I could – besides, there’s a 72 year old neighbor a couple houses down who weeds and mows her yard herself – I wanna be like her when I grow up! 🙂
What a delicious combo, Shashi! I love both eggplant and red peppers dips, but I’ve always made them separately. Combining these flavors sounds absolutely delicious. Can I dip into this dip (ha-ha) please?!
Hahaha – Yes, Ben, you may most definitely “dip into this dip” 🙂
Thanks so much BTW
Lovely dip recipe Shashi, the combination is killer. My first time here, you have a lovely space.
Thanks so much for stopping by and commenting Remya!
Sorry to hear about all your lawn cutting and leaf blowing. I think it’s a good idea to just mow over the lot. I have a gardener who comes once a fortnight to cut our lawn – my excuse is that we don’t have a lawnmower! I love the look of your dip and the chilli would give it some lovely heat xx
Thanks so much Charlie!
About 6 years ago when we first moved here, I had someone cut the grass for me – but at almost $40 bucks a cut, I figured I would bu a lawnmower and cut my own grass for a lot less in the long run – and it has been quite cost effective even though it can be totally time consuming!
Yard work is my least favorite chore so I totally support mowing over everything. Love all the roasted veggies in this dip, the flavors sound so amazing!
Haha! YES to mowing over EVERYTHING!
BTW Thanks so much Kelly!
What a gorgeous dip!! I love eggplant and it’s one of my favorite veggies. 🙂 PS… I wanted to leave a comment on your bloody beet bowls and I could not find the comment box. They look fantastic as well… how very clever. 🙂
Thanks so much Ramona! It was an update that messed up the comments – but alls good now – thanks so much for letting me know
I’ve never tried eggplant in a dip. Looks healthy and delish!
Thanks so much Melanie!
Not only is this dip healthy, it also looks delicious!! Great recipe!
Thanks so much Thao!
I just made this it is amazingly perfect just enough zing and flavor. Now I know what I can do with all those eggplants I get. Thanks
I am addicted to Trader Joe’s Eggplant and Garlic dip, but live in Canada where there are no Trader Joe’s! I will be making this recipe!! This might be a silly question, but do I peel the eggplant before baking?
Im so glad to hear this! Thank you!
And nope, not a silly question-i should have clarified in my recipe- you do not need to peel the eggplant- just wash and chop and bake with spices, then blend.
Hope you enjoy this dip! And hope TJs opens up someday in Canada!