Ingredients

• 1 head garlic
• 6 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 2 1/2 pounds eggplant
• 1/2 cup oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (3 ounces), chopped, plus 2 tablespoons tomato oil
• 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped basil
• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
• Accompaniment: toasted baguette slices

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Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle.
2. Cut off and discard top of garlic head to expose cloves. Brush top of head with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Wrap garlic in foil and roast until tender, about 45 minutes. Cool to warm, then squeeze garlic cloves from skins into a small bowl, discarding skins.
3. Meanwhile, cut eggplant into 1/2-inch pieces and toss with 1 1/2 teaspoons salt in a large colander. Let drain 30 minutes. Squeeze eggplant in a kitchen towel to remove liquid.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté one third of eggplant until browned and tender, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl. Cook remaining eggplant in olive oil in same manner (in 2 batches), transferring to bowl.
5. Add 1 cup cooked eggplant to garlic and coarsely mash together. Stir into remaining eggplant with sun-dried tomatoes (without tomato oil), parsley, basil, lemon juice, and 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Season with salt and drizzle with tomato oil.
6. What to drink: Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07
7. Artezin Mendocino Zinfandel '07 or Château de Chamirey Mercurey Rouge '07