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Baba ganoush

Cooking time 1 h
Baba ganoush

Ever tried a dip with oven-roasted eggplant? Here is your chance with our easy baba ganoush recipe. The dip combines simple but tasty ingredients into a creamy, savoury dip. You get fresh and smoky flavours all in one with roasted eggplants, tahini, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and a few spices and herbs. The creamy eggplant dip is garnished beautifully with dried chilli flakes and parsley for a crowning touch. Serve baba ganoush with warm flatbread and remember to share. It is a must-try dip you do not want to miss!

Ingredients

Eggplants
2
Small cloves of garlic, crushed
2
Freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tbsp
Olive oil
2 tbsp
Tahini (toasted sesame paste)
3 tbsp
Coarse salt (approx.)
1 tsp
Freshly ground pepper (to taste)

For serving

Warm flatbread cut into triangles
2

Garnish

Dried chilli flakes (to taste)
Flatleaf parsley (to taste)

Instructions

  • Remove the stem from the eggplants, rinse and split them.
  • Place the eggplants cut side down on a baking tray lined with baking paper and prick them well with a pointed fork.
  • Bake the eggplants in the middle of the oven at 200°C for about 30 minutes. Take them out and let them cool a little.
  • Scrape the 'meat' into a bowl (discard the shells). Put the other ingredients in the bowl and blend with a stick blender to a uniform dip.
  • Cover the dip and let it sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Season to taste.
  • Garnish the baba ghanoush with a sprinkling of chilli flakes and parsley leaves. Serve with warm flatbread.
Recommended information

Serving suggestion

Pita bread
1 h
Pita bread
(0)
Enjoy!

Tips

As the eggplant dip only contains very few elements, it is important to select high-quality ingredients for maximum taste. That means you should go with freshly squeezed lemon juice, fresh garlic, and tahini made with toasted sesame paste. You can smoke or grill the eggplants directly over a flame instead of using an oven – it will give the eggplant a smoky aroma. But if you do so, you should transfer it to a colander afterwards to allow excess water to drain and prevent the dip from turning watery. Remember to chill baba ganoush in the fridge so the flavours can meld together while the dip gets a thicker texture. 

Questions about baba ganoush

Are you tired of the same old dips? Then you need to try this creamy dip with eggplants and delicious flavours. To learn more about this tasty dip, read our answers to some of the most asked questions about baba ganoush below.

What is baba ganoush?

Baba ganoush is a Mediterranean dip made with eggplant, tahini, freshly squeezed lemon juice, garlic, olive oil, and salt. The eggplant is typically grilled or roasted before mixing it with the other ingredients, giving the dip a smoky taste. It is often served as a side to the main dish or as a dip for fresh veggies, pita bread, or flatbread.

How to make baba ganoush?

Make an easy Mediterranean eggplant dip with flavourful spices and herbs. First, prepare the eggplants as per the recipe and place them on a baking tray. Prick them with a fork and bake them in the oven for about ½ hour at 200°C. Allow them to cool before scraping out the insides (the ‘meat’) of the eggplants and blending them with the other ingredients using a stick blender. Once the mixture has a uniform texture, cover the baba ganoush dip and let it sit in the fridge for at least 1 hour. Serve the dip with sprinkles of chilli flakes and parsley leaves.

How long does baba ganoush last?

The eggplant dip can last for about 4-7 when stored in the fridge. Place the dip in an airtight container or a bowl covered with cling film. It is a great way to keep leftover baba ganoush fresh and retain the flavour and texture so that you can enjoy it later.

Can you freeze baba ganoush?

Baba ganoush can be frozen for up to 2 months, though the consistency may change. Therefore, the dip needs to be thoroughly prepped before freezing. First, allow the eggplant dip to cool completely, preferably at room temperature. Next, strain the mixture with a cloth to remove any excess water. This step is crucial as it minimises the risk of changes to the texture during freezing. Finally, place the dip into a freezer bag and press out any air before storing it in the freezer. We recommend you portion the dip before freezing, as it will make it easier to thaw the dip.

What to eat with baba ganoush?

Like most dips, baba ganoush can be enjoyed with crunchy veggie sticks and grilled flatbread. However, the eggplant dip also works great as an appetiser or side dish to green salads, chips, salsa, and steamed or roasted vegetables. It is a multifunctional side dish that pairs well with a wide variety of dishes and foods. This also makes it fun to experiment with different ingredients and try out new things with the dip.

What is the difference between hummus and baba ganoush?

At first glance, baba ganoush and hummus may seem similar, but if you look closer, you can tell the difference. Both dips are quite popular and can be found in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. While they share a similar texture and consistency and even have a somewhat similar colour, the main ingredient is what sets these two apart. Hummus is made with chickpeas as the primary ingredient, giving it a slightly nutty taste. Meanwhile, baba ganoush uses eggplant as the base component in the dip, resulting in a more earthy aroma.

Baba ganoush – tasty eggplant dip

Experience the surprising sensation of this smoky, creamy, savoury eggplant dip with garlic, tahini, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and seasoning. Baba ganoush is a popular side dish in the Middle East and Mediterranean and is often referred to as a ‘mezze’, meaning appetiser or snack. Luckily, you do not have to travel that far to experience the tasty dip. With our authentic baba ganoush recipe, you can enjoy this delicious appetiser at home with warm flatbread and a beautiful garnish of parsley and dried chilli flakes.

If you like this eggplant dip, you will enjoy our recipes for homemade fluffy pita bread and falafels with a rich taste and slightly crunchy texture. Need another dip? Try out this creamy hummus recipe with tahini, cumin, and garlic.

Deliciously nutty flavour with tahini

If you have never tried baba ganoush before, you have been missing out on the delicious flavour full of nutty and exotic notes. The baba ganoush ingredients include tahini, which is a paste made from sesame seeds that are grated into a smooth texture, giving the dip a lovely creaminess; and the characteristic nutty flavour. The paste is a staple in many Mediterranean and Middle Eastern recipes and has a very earthy aroma that shines through the dip.

Make grilled eggplant for baba ganoush

Whether a fan of eggplant or not, this simple baba ganoush recipe will make you fall in love with the purple-coloured vegetable. Eggplant is traditionally grilled over an open flame to give the pulp a smoky taste that complements the nutty aroma of the tahini paste. But you can easily get the same smoky result by roasting the vegetable in the oven. The irresistibly smooth texture of the dip is hard to resist and takes very little preparation with only an oven and a food processor.

How to serve baba ganoush

If you are in the mood for a quick snack, serve the dip with warm flatbread or grilled pita bread. But if you are looking for something a little more filling, enjoy it alongside smaller dishes. Serve the dip with dolma, a traditional stuffed food that is popular in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine and mainly served as a starter. They are typically made with grape leaves that are filled with a variety of rice, meat, or vegetables and folded into bite-sized rolls. These small and generously stuffed rolls are perfect for dipping into the eggplant mixture.

Want something with a bit more meat? Baba ganoush also pairs well with cubed marinated kebabs roasted on a stick. The eggplants balance out the hearty meat flavours, so you get the best of both worlds. You can also use it as a spread in flatbread or pita bread with different mixed salads and meat.

Give the classic a twist

Give your baba ganoush dip a little twist with fresh herbs and spices. For an extra smoky flavour, mix in 1 tsp of cumin and smoked paprika. It will give the dip a rich, earthy flavour with notes of citrus and a little hint of sweetness. These flavours are perfectly balanced by the bold freshness of dill, parsley, and mint leaves.

If you fancy a little heat, spice up the appetiser with sriracha and red pepper flakes. The flakes lend a sharp aroma to the creamy dip with a decent dose of spiciness, while the sriracha sauce gives it an extra kick of spice with a lingering citrus aroma that complements the fresh lemon juice in the dip. Depending on your tolerance for spicy things, you can either mix the two spicy elements with the other ingredients or simply use them to garnish the dip. Either way, it makes for a beautiful fiery finish.

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