Best 6 Traditional Baba Ghanoush Recipes

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Baba ghanoush is a delightful and flavorful Levantine dish made from roasted eggplants, tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, and various seasonings. It is a popular dip, spread, or appetizer served with pita bread, vegetables, or crackers. This versatile dish can be enjoyed as a part of mezze platters, as a sandwich filling, or as a dip for grilled meats or fish. The smoky and earthy flavor of roasted eggplants combined with the creamy texture of tahini and the tanginess of lemon juice creates a unique and irresistible taste. Baba ghanoush is not only delicious but also a nutritious dish rich in antioxidants, fiber, and healthy fats. In this article, you will find a traditional baba ghanoush recipe along with variations that add exciting twists to this classic dish. From a spicy harissa-infused version to a refreshing mint and cilantro variation, these recipes offer a range of flavors to suit different palates. So, get ready to embark on a culinary journey and discover the delightful world of baba ghanoush.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

BABA GANOUSH RECIPE



Baba Ganoush Recipe image

Here is how to make the best baba ganoush, the smoky, rich, and extra creamy eggplant dip, packed with flavor thanks to tahini, garlic, and lemon juice. Grilling the eggplant over open flame will give you the deepest flavor. And if you have the time, allow the dip to chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to 1 hour. It will thicken and the flavors will meld. Be sure to watch the video and read the notes for additional tips!

Provided by Suzy Karadsheh

Categories     Appetizer     Dip

Time 35m

Number Of Ingredients 10

2 Italian eggplants or small globe eggplants
1/4 cup tahini paste (I used Soom tahini)
1 lemon, (juice of)
1 garlic clove, (minced)
1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt, (optional)
Kosher salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon sumac
3/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or red pepper flakes, (optional)
Extra virgin olive oil
Toasted pine nuts for garnish, (optional)

Steps:

  • First, smoke or grill the eggplant. Turn one gas burner on medium-high. Place the eggplant directly over the flame. Using a pair of tongs, turn the eggplant every 5 minutes or so until it is tender and the skin is charred and crispy on all sides (20 minutes.) The eggplant should deflate and become super tender. supposed to. If you don't have a gas burner you can use a grill. You can also roast the eggplant in the oven (see notes).
  • Remove the eggplant from the heat and transfer it to a large colander over a bowl. Allow it to sit and drain for a few minutes until fully cooled and all excess water has been drained (it helps if you open the eggplant up a bit and push on it with a knife or a spoon to help it release its juices).
  • Once the eggplant is cool enough to touch, peel the charred crispy skin off (it should come right off). Discard the skin and the stem (don't worry if a few bits of the skin remain, that is just added flavor).
  • Transfer the cooked and fully drained eggplant to a bowl. Use a fork to break it down into smaller pieces. Add the tahini paste, garlic, lemon juice, Greek yogurt (if using) salt, pepper, sumac, Aleppo pepper or crushed red pepper flakes. Mix gently with a wooden spoon or a fork until well-combined.
  • Cover the baba ganoush and chill in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.
  • To serve, transfer the baba ganoush to a rimmed serving dish or a bowl. Top with a good drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and toasted pine nuts, if you like. Serve with pita wedges or pita chips and veggies of your choice!

Nutrition Facts : Calories 86.6 kcal, Sodium 204.4 mg, Fat 5.6 g, SaturatedFat 0.8 g, Carbohydrate 8.6 g, Fiber 3.3 g, Protein 3 g, Cholesterol 0.1 mg, UnsaturatedFat 2 g, ServingSize 1 serving

BABA GHANNOUJ



Baba Ghannouj image

Provided by Alton Brown

Categories     appetizer

Time 40m

Yield 1 cup

Number Of Ingredients 6

1 eggplant
2 cloves garlic
2 ounces fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons tahini
1/2 bunch parsley, leaves only
Salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Pierce some holes in the skin of the eggplant (to avoid explosion) and grill over medium-high heat turning every 7 minutes, until the skin is blackened and the body is nice and soft. Total time for grilling is about 30 minutes. If you do not have a grill you can roast your eggplant in a 375 degree F oven for about 30 minutes.
  • Remove eggplant from the grill and let cool.
  • Once the eggplant is cool enough to handle, peel away the skin and discard. Place the eggplant flesh in a colander and drain for 10 minutes. In a food processor, combine garlic, lemon juice, tahini and parsley and pulse to combine. Add the eggplant flesh. Season with salt and pepper and pulse to combine. Adjust the flavor with more Tahini or lemon juice if you prefer. If it's bitter, some sugar or honey will help. Research shows that the white variety of plant is sweeter in flavor.

BABA GHANOUSH



Baba Ghanoush image

A roasted eggplant dip or spread. Delicious served with pita or vegetables, alongside hummus or on its own!

Provided by Becky

Categories     Side Dish     Vegetables     Eggplant

Time 3h45m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 eggplant
¼ cup lemon juice
¼ cup tahini
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
1 ½ tablespoons olive oil

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a baking sheet.
  • Place eggplant on baking sheet, and make holes in the skin with a fork. Roast it for 30 to 40 minutes, turning occasionally, or until soft. Remove from oven, and place into a large bowl of cold water. Remove from water, and peel skin off.
  • Place eggplant, lemon juice, tahini, sesame seeds, and garlic in an electric blender, and puree. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer eggplant mixture to a medium size mixing bowl, and slowly mix in olive oil. Refrigerate for 3 hours before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 66 calories, Carbohydrate 4.6 g, Fat 5.2 g, Fiber 2.2 g, Protein 1.6 g, SaturatedFat 0.7 g, Sodium 7 mg, Sugar 1.2 g

BABA GANOUSH



Baba Ganoush image

Baba ganoush (also spelled baba ghanoush or baba ghanouj) is a Lebanese dip made with roasted eggplant. It's typically served as a starter with pita bread or fresh vegetables. -Nithya Narasimhan, Chennai, Alabama

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Appetizers

Time 35m

Yield 8 servings (1 cup).

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 medium eggplant
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon paprika
2 tablespoons tahini
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Chopped fresh parsley

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 450°. Cut eggplant in half lengthwise. Place cut side up on an ungreased baking sheet. Brush 1 tablespoon olive oil over cut sides. Sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt and paprika. Bake until dark golden brown, 20-25 minutes. Remove eggplant from pan to a wire rack to cool., Peel skin from eggplant; discard. Put flesh into a food processor and pulse to mash; transfer to bowl. Stir in tahini, lemon juice, garlic and and remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt. Spoon into serving dish. Drizzle with additional olive oil. Sprinkle with parsley and additional paprika.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 89 calories, Fat 8g fat (1g saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 224mg sodium, Carbohydrate 5g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 1g protein.

TRADITIONAL BABA GHANOUSH



Traditional Baba Ghanoush image

A traditional recipe for this eggplant dip. It consists of baked eggplant with garlic, lemon juice, and tahini sauce. Dip into this with pita bread and you have yourself a delicious-and-light appetizer.

Provided by IMANKAY

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Dips and Spreads Recipes

Time 50m

Yield 3

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 large eggplant
1 ½ tablespoons tahini sauce
4 cloves garlic, smashed
½ lemon, juiced
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil, or to taste
1 pinch dried parsley flakes, for garnish

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Arrange oven racks so you have one low and one high in the oven.
  • Cut a shallow slit along the side of the eggplant and place into a baking dish.
  • Roast in preheated oven on the lower rack until the eggplant is completely shrunken and soft, about 40 minutes. Move dish to higher rack and continue baking until the skin is charred, about 5 minutes more. Let eggplant cool until cool enough to handle.
  • Peel and discard skin from eggplant. Put eggplant into a bowl; add tahini, garlic, lemon juice, red pepper flakes, and salt. Stir until ingredients are evenly mixed. Drizzle olive oil over the baba ghanoush and garnish with parsley.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 96.5 calories, Carbohydrate 5.3 g, Fat 8.7 g, Fiber 1.9 g, Protein 1.9 g, SaturatedFat 1.2 g, Sodium 11.6 mg, Sugar 0.2 g

CLASSIC BABA GHANOUSH



Classic Baba Ghanoush image

Provided by Food Network

Time 45m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

2 large eggplants
2 Tbs. lemon juice
1/4 cup tahini
3 garlic cloves, peeled
1/4 cup olive oil, plus 1tbs.
pita bread
salt and pepper
salt and pepper

Steps:

  • Preheat oven to 375F. Cut each eggplant in half vertically and place on sheet pan. Drizzle with about 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 40-45 minutes until very soft.
  • Let eggplants cool before handling. Scoop eggplant flesh out of skins into bowl of a food processor. Add lemon juice, tahini, garlic, olive oil and salt and pepper. Process until smooth. Serve with pita bread or pita chips.

Tips:

  • Choose ripe eggplants: Look for eggplants that are deep purple in color and have smooth, blemish-free skin. The eggplants should feel heavy for their size.
  • Roast the eggplants over an open flame or in a very hot oven: This method will give the eggplants a smoky flavor and help to caramelize the natural sugars in the flesh.
  • Let the eggplants cool completely before handling them: This will help to prevent the eggplant flesh from sticking to your hands.
  • Use a food processor or blender to achieve a smooth consistency: This will help to ensure that the baba ganoush is creamy and free of lumps.
  • Season the baba ganoush to taste: Add lemon juice, garlic, tahini, cumin, and salt and pepper to taste. You can also add other spices, such as paprika or cayenne pepper, to taste.
  • Serve the baba ganoush immediately or chill it for later: Baba ganoush can be served as a dip, a spread, or a condiment. It is also a great addition to sandwiches, wraps, and salads.

Conclusion:

Baba ganoush is a delicious and versatile dish that is perfect for any occasion. It is easy to make and can be tailored to your own personal taste. With its smoky flavor, creamy texture, and tangy taste, baba ganoush is sure to be a hit with your friends and family.

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