Mastering Middle-Eastern Cuisine

The first time I had it I found it delicious, divine, heavenly, exquisite, I couldn't beleive that anyone could make aubergines edible.... the middle-easterns managed and it was love at first taste. I am talking about the infamous lebanese dish - Baba Ganoush....

Since then it became by far my favorite dish, I could eat it every day - anytime. Egypt was easy... you could find Baba Ganoush anywhere.... Ethiopia was ok, as after a year of overdose of this dip, 6 months of abstenance didn't hurt.... then Libya, that is where i could find it... though now as often as I wanted, so that is where I thought I'd try mastering the art of making Baba Ganoush.

I bought aubergines, tahina and lemon - and called my sudanese/egyptian friend to explain. As one can imagine this was not too successful - the dip was black (how i have no clue) and tasted very strongly of tahina!!

2nd attempt - I called my sudanese/egyptian friend, asked her to buy the necessary ingredients and come to my house... this worked out - a yummy baba ganoush

3rd attempt - hopeless case forgot everything i was taught

Then the move to Algiers - no baba gannoush anywhere.... most of the Algerians didn't know what it was.... so i was even more determined to manage. I bought myself a book of dips and followed the instructions step by step- the result was not too bad but now quite it....

Last week, still craving that baba ganoush, I bought my aubergines, tahina paste and lemon and opened that book - EUREKA!!!!!!! I got my baba ganoush!!!!!

Since then I've made it every day....

I now can make lentil soup, hummos and baba ganoush.... the next attempt will be couscous - this will take a while, but I know I'll manage- eventually!!!!