Turns out eggplants don’t like the refrigerator anymore than cucumbers or tomatoes. In a perfect world (which this clearly isn’t) they’d be kept at 50 degrees and consumed quickly.

So, the choice is yours: bundle them up in a paper towel and plastic bag and keep them on the top shelf of your fridge, or leave them on the table top at room temperature. Either way eat em up quickly, ideally within a day.

And because I’ve always wanted to know myself, here is a recipe for Babaganoush. Turns out it’s easy.

Ingredients
1 large eggplant (about 1 pound)
1 glove garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
2 tablespoons tahini
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Directions
Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.

Prick eggplant with a fork and place on a cookie sheet lined with foil. Bake the eggplant until it is soft inside, about 20 minutes. Alternatively, grill the eggplant over a gas grill, rotating it around until the skin is completely charred, about 10 minutes. Let the eggplant cool. Cut the eggplant in half lengthwise, drain off the liquid, and scoop the pulp into a food processor. Process the eggplant until smooth and transfer to a medium bowl.

On a cutting board, work garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt together with the flat side of a knife, until it forms a paste. Add the garlic-salt mixture to the eggplant. Stir in the parsley, tahini, and lemon juice. Season with more salt, to taste. Garnish with additional parsley.