Roasted Eggplant & Feta Dip

From EatingWell: September/October 2008 — Subscribe Now!

This roasted eggplant and feta dip gets a kick from a fresh chile pepper and cayenne pepper. There are countless variations on this classic meze (appetizer) in Greece. Out-of-season eggplant or eggplant that has been heavily watered often has an abundance of seeds, which make the vegetable bitter. Be sure to taste the dip before you serve it; if it's a touch bitter, you can remedy that with a little sugar. Serve with toasted pita crisps or as a sandwich spread.

READER'S COMMENT:

"This recipe is a favorite that is making the rounds with friends and family. I do not see how you could think it bland. I sometimes use a food processor to chop the eggplant to get a smoother consistency. "

12 servings, about 1/4 cup each

Active Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Nutrition Profile

Low calorie | Low carbohydrate | Low cholesterol | Healthy weight | View Complete Nutrition Guidelines»

Ingredients

1 medium eggplant, (about 1 pound)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese, preferably Greek
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1 small red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small chile pepper, such as jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon salt
Pinch of sugar, (optional)

Preparation

Position oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source; preheat broiler.
Line a baking pan with foil. Place eggplant in the pan and poke a few holes all over it to vent steam. Broil the eggplant, turning with tongs every 5 minutes, until the skin is charred and a knife inserted into the dense flesh near the stem goes in easily, 14 to 18 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board until cool enough to handle.
Put lemon juice in a medium bowl. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise and scrape the flesh into the bowl, tossing with the lemon juice to help prevent discoloring. Add oil and stir with a fork until the oil is absorbed. (It should be a little chunky.) Stir in feta, onion, bell pepper, chile pepper (if using), basil, parsley, cayenne and salt. Taste and add sugar if needed.

Tips & Notes

Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate for up to 2 days.

Nutrition

Per serving: 75 calories; 6 g fat (2 g sat, 4 g mono); 6 mg cholesterol; 4 g carbohydrates; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 129 mg sodium; 121 mg potassium.

Exchanges: 1/2 vegetable, 1 fat