Baba Ghanoush, say that three times. It’s such a fun word. The name has a delightful sound to it but what’s even better is the taste of this creamy eggplant dip. It’s rich, smokey, nutty, with a touch of garlic. It’s the type of appetizer dish you’ll want to dig into with a spoon.
All it took was one bite
Eggplant, aubergine, or melanzana, as I know the vegetable, is the main ingredient of this dip. The dish is of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean origin, and we tasted it for the first time when our son took us to a restaurant that featured Middle Eastern and Greek cuisine.
One bite was all it took. I think we heard angels singing on high.
Believe me; we had to implement a lot of self-control, not to go back to the buffet and ladle the baba ghanoush onto our plate. Oh, and also grab the pile of warm flatbread that was next to the dip.
Simple ingredients yield complex taste
For baba ghanoush, you only need five ingredients more: tahini ( a sesame paste), olive oil, fresh lemon, smoked paprika, and parsley.
I don’t count kosher salt as an ingredient, even though it’s included because I figure you usually have that in your kitchen.
Those six ingredients in combination produce a magical substance that you’ll want to slather on a delicious piece of yeast bread like pocketless pitas.
The best baba ghanoush
I want to fill you in on the secrets to making a superior eggplant dip.
- You roast the eggplants on a grill. You can check doneness by piercing either end of the globe with a skewer. If there’s resistance, just keep them on a little longer.
- When done, wrap the eggplant tightly in foil and let them rest for 15 minutes.
- Now, this is important ?, scoop the flesh from the skin and put the meat in a salad spinner. Yes! A salad spinner! Crank it gently. Spinning removes the additional moisture from the eggplant and concentrates the flavor.
Quick to put together
We like our dips creamy, so we put the eggplant, garlic, and lemon juice in our food processor. Pulse until it comes together into a smooth paste. We add the tahini and pulse again. Now, we turn on the processor and pour the olive oil in a thin, steady stream.
Next, comes the parsley, salt, and smoked paprika and we mix that in by hand. Taste. Hmmm, does it need more lemon? More salt? Here is where you season to taste.
Transfer to a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil and serve with warm flatbread or veggies.
Ecco!! You’ve made baba ghanoush!! Now, for the best part! Mangia!!
Here are more appetizer recipes you’ll enjoy…
Smokin Hot Avocado Italian Salsa — A spicy guacamole dip with an Italian flavor.
Fried Polenta Appetizers — Take your leftover polenta, fry it, and let it act like crostini.
Fried Green Tomatoes — This is a family favorite and delicious as appetizers or in a sandwich.
You can’t go wrong with any of these recipes, they are tried and true.
Tutti a tavola è pronto.
Un caro saluto e alla prossima.
YOU MAY NEED…
This is the Food Processor we have in our kitchen. We use it so much we’ve gone through three in the last fifteen years. We make pasta dough in it as well as bread dough. Grinding and mincing meat is so easy. This is one kitchen tool that really helps out the cooking enthusiast.
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Baba Ghanoush | Mediterranean Smokey Creamy Eggplant Dip
Ingredients
- 3 medium eggplants about 2 pound total
- 3 medium cloves of garlic
- 2 Tablespoons lemon juice more if desired
- 3 Tablespoons tahini sesame paste
- 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil more for serving
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
- Kosher salt
Instructions
- Preheat gas or charcoal grill to medium heat and place eggplants directly over heat source. Our heat is between 350-400 F. Cook, turning occasionally with tongs, until tender and charred on all sides, between 30 to 40 minutes.
- The eggplants should be very tender. Test the eggplants by sticking a skewer near the stem and bottom ends. If the skewer meets resistance, continue cooking.
- When it’s done wrap the eggplants in foil and crimp the top to seal. Let the eggplants rest for 15 minutes.
- Open the foil package, using a sharp knife slit open the eggplants and with a large spoon scoop out the soft flesh and transfer to a strainer set in a large bowl. Pick out any bits of skin and blackened flesh.
- Transfer eggplant to a salad spinner, and put the meat evenly around the bowl. Crank the spinner gently until all the excess moisture is extracted.
- Put the eggplant in a food processor and add garlic, lemon juice and pulse until it is smooth and creamy. Add the tahini and pulse again until it’s combined. With the processor turned-on, slowly add the olive oil in a thin steady stream. The mixture will be pale and creamy. By hand, stir in parsley, smoked paprika, and salt. Taste to see if you’d like additional salt and lemon juice.
- Put the baba ghanoush into a serving bowl, drizzle with olive oil, and serve with warm flatbread or vegetables (do the flatbread — it’s fantastic).
- Baba ghanoush can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. Let the eggplant dip warm to room temperature before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
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Trish Bozeman says
I love making homemade hummus, and this is so perfect with the smoky eggplant rather than chickpeas. Thanks for the great recipe!
Dana says
This looks so creamy and delicious! I’m all about from-scratch condiments. Hummus and tzatziki especially. But this is being added to the list. There’s so much more flavor in homemade spreads!
Debra says
Nice tip to put it all in the food processor. I don’t know why I never thought of that. I usually just mash with a fork, but it’s usually lumpy! Oh, and that flatbread is a must to right away. I pinned so I can make it next week.
Tina says
I’ve been wanting to try this out, and your instructions really make it simple to do. I love the trick with the salad spinner! Mind blown, what an incredible ingenious idea!
Donna says
We have been eating baba ghanoush for years but for some reason I have never thought to make my own. So glad I have now, such delicious flavours and surprisingly easy!
Sarah says
We recently tried this dip (spread?) at a Mediterranean restaurant and it was AMAZING! So many flavors! But it never occurred to me to make it at home. I love this idea!
Tina says
You make this look so easy. I love the idea of the salad spinner. I never thought of that. I was making something yesterday that could have use a salad spinner. Maybe I’ll get one. I have such a small kitchen it’s hard to make new purchases. Thanks for this!
Gloria | Homemade & Yummy says
We just grilled some eggplant on the weekend. I could eat this by the spoonful. Homemade dips are so good. My family would love this. Ther perfect appetizer for my next bbq party.
Gloria says
YES…this is my kind of dip. There was a time I never liked eggplant. Probably because my mom NEVER cooked it…not once. I have experimented with it over the years, and have grown to like it. This is my favourite way to enjoy it. Perfect for parties too.
Marisa Franca says
I agree, Gloria! And for the party let’s bring out the wine!!
Kate says
Yum! I have never tried making baba ghanoush and I don’t know what I am waiting for. It looks so easy and it is so good!
Ashima says
babaganoush, babaganoush, babaganoush! I love it.. totally 🙂 and while I do experiments with hummus by adding roasted bell peppers or beetroot to it, I like baba gnash just the way it was originally intended. Just like your recipe!
And reading through it, I feel like I need to go buy some big eggplants to roast right away and some of this amazing dip 🙂
Thanks for sharing!
Marisa Franca says
Hello, Ashima! We do like our dip. Our kids love it and I can’t wait for eggplant season to make some.
Leo Tat says
I love this eggplant dip with celery, cucumber or peppers.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Leo!! I’ll have to try it. I’m sure the grandsons could use more veggies in their diet. What a great way to coax them to eat more veggies.
Tamara Andersen says
I do mine on the grill too! Great minds think alike… This is a fabulous recipe, and your baba ghanoush looks so creamy. I’d love some with fresh pita for lunch today!
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Tamara! I wish I had some now, too. The grill makes the eggplant cook just right. Have a great weekend.
Molly Kumar says
I wish I could literally grab that bowl out of the screen!! Your recipe looks amazing and you explained it so well Marissa. I’m such a HUGE fan of Baba-Ghanoush and I can literally eat it just like that 😉
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Molly! I wish I could send it to you!! We are also huge fans of baba ghanoush now. Can’t wait to make it again.
Sandhya Ramakrishnan says
What else do you need with those amazing flatbreads. I still can’t get over how wonderful your flatbreads and this Baba ghanoush is a perfect dip to serve with it. I use eggplants a lot, but have not baba ghanoush yet. Time to make some 🙂
Marisa Franca says
Hello, Sandhya! Eggplant is very versatile but this is so good, I have to admit I’ll be using lots of eggplant just for this recipe.
Kylee from Kylee Cooks says
Love that smokey flavor you get when you grill eggplant. Babaganoush is one of my all time favorite dips – so yummy and garlicky, and perfect for serving friends and family!
Marisa Franca says
Hey, Kylee! You’ll just have to make some for your family and friends. I wish we had some left but our kids took it all.
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
I have heard of baba ghanoush many times and yet did not know it had eggplant. My brother loves eggplant and I think he’d enjoy this.
Marisa Franca says
I was the same as you, Val. I’d heard of baba ghanoush many times but had never tasted it. Boy, was I ever missing a real treat!! Are you going to make it for your brother?
Gillian Thompson says
Love all these ingredients yet i’ve still not made baba ghanoush. It’s on my to make list. Great tip about the salad spinner. Will try this soon.
Marisa Franca says
Hello, Gillian! I hope you make the baba ghanoush soon, homemade is so much better, especially on homemade flatbread.
Uma says
This looks so creamy and delicious:) I love the tastes of tahini, it makes wonderful dip. Love to dig some of it.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Uma! I’m anxious to try more recipes with the tahini — I’ve even seen it with desserts.
Noel Lizotte says
I’ve only had eggplant once in my life … this was not the way it was prepared that time. I’m quite tempted to try this recipe, but will have to find some eggplant…
Marisa Franca says
Hello, Noel! Eggplant tastes so good as a dip! Hope you find some eggplant so you can try it.
Traditionallymodernfood says
We make something similar in Indian cuisine called sutta kathirikai chutney. I should try this version sometime.
Marisa Franca says
Let me know how you like it and how it compares to your Indian version.
Jennifer A Stewart says
I have never roasted them on the grill! Great tip! I am like you in that I want to stop and thank the higher power when I taste something authentic and yummy like that! I felt the same about tzatziki the first time I tasted it! Love this and I’m going to be trying that pocketless pita too! This might be my dinner for a week so no judgment.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Jennifer! I know you’re going to love the roasted eggplant. It’s easy and so good. Try them on the flatbread and I never judge food preferences — I have some of my own. ?
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen says
This is one of our favorite appetizer dishes – I haven’t made it at home in years though. I’d love to try this one out!
Marisa Franca says
You’ll have to make it again, Ashley. Make the homemade flatbread to go along with it. OMG it is soooo good!!
Amy says
Ha! You are so right that it is just fun to say the name of this! Baba ghanoush is maybe my favorite way of eating eggplant!
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Amy! It seems like that may be the case in this family since we make it. 🙂
Adriana Lopez Martn says
I absolutely love mediterranean fair and this baba ghanoush looks incredible not to mention that flat bread wow!
Marisa Franca says
Thank you, Adriana! They went so well together.
Ciao Chow Linda says
I could swish some of the flatbread across the screen into that dip. It looks irresistible. I’m making this for sure. Thanks for all the tips.
Marisa Franca says
Ciao, Linda! After all the deliciousness of NOLA this is pretty common! Put I have to admit the dip and flatbread were so good.
PAM says
I really like baba ganoush but I have never made my own. You make it seem so simple!
Marisa Franca says
It really is simple, Pam. You’ll have to try to make your own now that grill weather is here.
peter @feedyoursoultoo says
One of my favorite dips. I just love the flavor of the eggplants when they are grilled. I do not see enough people try to make this recipe. Yours looks so creamy.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Peter!! The texture was like butter. The food processor did a great job! And grilling is the best.
Veena Azmanov says
Oh wow. Marisa. This is such a co-incidence.. I made Eggplant with Tahini today!
This looks so good. I love that you pulsed it in the food processor. Looks so smooth. I leave mine chunky.
Next time I’m making your recipe. Love the parsley!! Yum.
Marisa Franca says
Hey, Veena! Great minds think alike ?. Try it smooth and see how you like it. Let me know — we’ve never had it chunky although, hearing the oohs and aahs from the family I don’t know how it could improve.
Jovina Coughlin says
Such a delicious appetizer/snack. And so good with that homemade pita. Love your recipe.
Marisa Franca says
Thank you, Jovian! Italians aren’t the only ones who like their bread. 🙂
Rosemary says
Marisa this sounds amazing, I love dips and I love eggplant, can’t wait to try it.
Marisa Franca says
Hi, Rosemary! It can be habit forming. We are making another batch — we hardly got anything from the first one. The kids took it all. ?