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
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…
I love that you roasted the red pepper and eggplant for this dip!!! Delicious!
Roasted is just so dang flavorful – right?! 🙂
Two of the greatest dip things 😉 Roasted red peppers obviously and creamy roasted eggplant! BOMB!
Thanks so much Rebecca
Yum!! I Love having a dip throughout the week for veggies/crackers! Pinning!!
Thanks so much Selena
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 🙂
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 🙂
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!
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!
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 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 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 might be the only way my husband eats eggplant. with the kick! so thank you!
YESS!!!! Thank YOU lady!
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!
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!
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! 🙂
I would add less chilli flakes and ignore the garden to enjoy this dip 🙂
You are hardcore Tandy! 🙂