Crafting exotic dips with African aubergine varieties
What's the story
African eggplants, with their unique shapes and colors, can add a touch of exotic flair to your usual dips. These veggies are not only healthy but also super versatile, perfect for creating a whole new world of exotic and tasty dips. This blog post explores five creative ways to use African eggplant varieties in your culinary creations, bringing a fresh twist to your meals with their unique flavors and textures.
Tangy garden
A tangy twist with garden egg dip
Garden eggs, a variety of African aubergine, are perfect for creating tangy and creamy dips. To make this dip, roast garden eggs until their skins are charred and easily peel away. Blend the smoky flesh with tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. The result is a silky-smooth dip that's perfect with flatbreads or vegetable sticks. The tanginess from the lemon juice balances the slight bitterness of the garden eggs.
Spicy hummus
Spicy aubergine hummus
Adding African eggplants to hummus creates a spicy and delicious variation of the traditional recipe. Simply roast the eggplants until soft. Then, blend them with chickpeas, tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and spices like cumin and paprika for added heat. The resulting hummus is not only flavorful but also creamy, making it a perfect sandwich spread or a dip for crackers.
Smoky flavor
Smoky baba ganoush variation
Baba ganoush is traditionally prepared with Mediterranean eggplants, but swapping them out for African varieties like the scarlet eggplant imparts a deliciously smoky flavor. Roast these eggplants over an open flame until charred to infuse them with smokiness, then blend them with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil. The distinctive flavor of the scarlet eggplant transforms this classic Middle Eastern dip into a gourmet delight.
Avocado mix
Creamy avocado and aubergine dip
Mashing avocados with African white eggplants results in a deliciously creamy and nutritious dip. Simply roast the white eggplants first, then blend them with ripe avocados, lime juice, cilantro leaves, and your preferred seasonings until smooth. This dip is not only creamy but also has a refreshing flavor, making it an excellent choice for summer parties.
Sweet treat
Sweet aubergine dessert dip
For dessert lovers, turning African baby orange eggplants into sweet dessert dips is a delicious twist. Simply roast these mini eggplants, then blend them with sweet ingredients like honey, cinnamon, and cream cheese. The natural sweetness of baby orange eggplants and honey creates a unique dessert experience that's perfect with fruit slices or cookies.