Baba Ganoush (Eggplant Dip)

Baba Ganoush is probably the world’s most popular eggplant dip. It’s home to Middle Eastern cuisine where it’s traditionally served as an appetizer.

I’ll show you how to make authentic Middle Eastern baba ganoush at home. I’ll also explain to you the difference between baba ganoush, mutabal and hummus.

What is Baba Ganoush?

Baba Ganoush is a popular Middle Eastern appetizer. Its main ingredient is eggplant which is traditionally grilled over an open fire or BBQ, peeled and finely chopped. The smoky flavor of the grilled eggplant is what makes baba ganoush so special. It’s naturally vegan and gluten free.

The original Arabic name of the dish is baba ghanouj (the Arabic gh is pronounced similar to the letter r). However, baba ganoush and baba ghanoush are common spellings in the US and other Western countries.

Baba ganoush is often confused with other Middle Eastern dips which have similar ingredients. Before we look at the baba ganoush recipe, let me explain to you the main differences between the dips so you’ll get what you’re actually looking for.

Baba Ganoush vs. Mutabal

Surprisingly, there is a lot of confusion between baba ganoush and mutabal. While the two have grilled eggplant as their main ingredient, the other ingredients aren’t the same which means we’re talking about two different dishes. Mutabal is made with tahini (sesame paste) and often yogurt, while authentic baba ganoush doesn’t contain tahini. Besides, the Middle Eastern baba ganoush recipe calls for tomato and pomegranate syrup, while mutabal doesn’t.

• Mutabal: Mutabal is a creamy dip made of grilled eggplant, tahini (sesame paste), yogurt, lemon juice, garlic and salt. In the Middle East, mutabal is actually much more popular than baba ganoush.
• Baba Ganoush: Baba Ganoush is also made of grilled eggplant. It’s mixed with finely chopped tomato, walnuts, pomegranate syrup, lemon juice, garlic and salt. Some people also add other vegetables such as finely chopped peppers. In contrast to mutabal, baba ganoush has no tahini or yogurt!

Baba Ganoush vs. Hummus

Another hugely popular Middle Eastern dip is hummus. There’s a major difference between hummus and baba ganoush in terms of ingredients and taste. While baba ganoush is an eggplant dip, hummus is a chickpea dip. You’ll be able to make out the difference very easily.

Both hummus and baba ganoush are very healthy and delicious. In the Middle East, they are often served together as appetizers.

Confused baba ganoush, mutabal and hummus? Be sure to check out my mutabal and hummus recipes, too. I’m sure you’re going to love all three dishes.

Baba Ganoush Ingredients

To make baba ganoush, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Eggplant: Eggplant is the key ingredient for baba ganoush. For authentic baba ganoush, the eggplant will be grilled on a BBQ or on a gas stove. That’s what creates the irresistible smoky flavor. Oven roasting the eggplant is an alternative if you don’t have a BBQ or gas stove.
• Tomato: Regular tomatoes are perfect. They will be finely chopped.
• Walnuts: Walnuts add to the taste. If you’re allergic to walnuts, you can omit them.
• Pomegranate syrup: Pomegranate syrup, also known as pomegranate molasses, is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine. It has a sweet-sour flavor that goes really well with baba ganoush and many other dishes.
• Lemon: Freshly squeezed lemon juice produces the best flavor. Bottled lemon juice is a suitable alternative. One lemon is equal to about 50 ml (⅕ US cup) lemon juice.
• Garlic: Cloves of garlic are most common. They can be crushed, pressed or finely chopped.
• Salt: A pinch of salt is all you need.
• Garnish: Olive oil, pomegranate seeds and some finely chopped parsley give the final touch to your dish.

Tahini and yogurt aren’t part of authentic baba ganoush. They are common in mutabal, which is very similar to baba ganoush. However, you’re free to make your own version of baba ganoush by adding tahini and yogurt. I tried it and it was delicious.

Note: Quantities can be found in the recipe card at the end of this recipe and can be adjusted according to the amount of servings you’d like to make.

How to Make Baba Ganoush

Ready to make baba ganoush? Let’s get started!

Step 1: Cut the eggplant

Start off by scoring the eggplants with a kitchen knife on all sides. The cuts shouldn’t be too deep and it doesn’t matter if they look pretty. Don’t peel the eggplant and don’t cut off the stem!

Step 2: Grill the eggplant

To follow the original baba ganoush recipe, you’ll have to grill the eggplant on an open fire or on a BBQ. If you have a gas stove, that’s perfect, as that’s definitely the fastest way to grill the eggplant. Place them on the stove and grill for 3-4 minutes. Turn occasionally to ensure they are grilled on all sides.

Don’t have a BBQ or gas stove? Then you can also roast the eggplant in the oven. Preheat your oven before getting started. Place the eggplant on a baking sheet and roast them in the oven (on an upper rail) at 230°C (450°F) for 45-60 minutes.

Whatever method you use, the whole eggplant should get soft on the inside. The skin will get dark and wrinkled.

Step 3: Ice bath

Grab a large bowl and fill it with cold water (half full). Remove the eggplant from the flame/oven and transfer it into the bowl. Submerge and leave for about 5 minutes. Remove the eggplant from the water and squeeze it to remove any excess water. If you find it too hot, you can let it cool for a few more minutes.

Step 4: Peel the eggplant

This step will reveal whether you’ve done things right during the grilling process. If the eggplant was fully grilled, the skin can be easily peeled off. If it wasn’t, the skin will be sticking onto the eggplant and it will be hard to peel.

Cut off the stalk and dispose of it. Peel the eggplant with your hands or use a small knife to peel off the skin. It’s okay if there are small bits of skin remaining.

Step 5: Dice the eggplant

Place the peeled eggplant on a cutting board. Finely dice it with a kitchen knife and transfer the diced eggplant in a bowl.

Note that for baba ganoush, the eggplant is traditionally chopped by hand. It’s not usually prepared in a blender / food processor. The texture will be much better when chopping the eggplant. However, if you prefer a very smooth creamy texture (like hummus), you can use a blender.

Step 6: Crush the garlic

Peel the garlic clove, cut off the ends, and crush or press the garlic. Add it to the bowl with the eggplant.

Step 7: Chop the tomato

Finely chop a tomato (dispose of the strunk). Add the chopped tomato to the bowl.

Step 8: Chop the walnuts

You can roughly chop or finely chop the walnuts. I personally prefer them roughly chopped. Add them to the bowl.

Step 9: Add lemon and condiments

Squeeze a lemon. Add the lemon juice, pomegranate syrup and salt to the bowl. Mix well. If you don’t have fresh lemon, you can use bottled lemon juice instead.

Step 10: Serve

Transfer your baba ganoush to a shallow bowl or plate. Garnish it with olive oil, pomegranate seeds and finely chopped parsley.

How to Serve Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush is traditionally served on a small plate or a shallow bowl. It’s commonly served as an appetizer or mezze, for breakfast, lunch or dinner.

What to Eat with Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush pairs well with numerous dishes! It’s always served with bread (usually pita bread) which is an integral part of any Middle Eastern meal.

What to eat with baba ganoush largely depends on whether you’re serving it for breakfast or lunch/dinner. The following dishes are often served with baba ganoush:

• Pita bread
• Hummus (chickpea dip)
• Muhammara (roasted red bell pepper dip)
• Slices tomatoes and cucumber
• Olives
• Pickles
• Salad (Tabbouleh, Fattoush or any other type of salad)
• Rice dishes
• Grilled meat like Kebab or Kofta

Make Ahead & Storage

Baba ganoush can be perfectly made ahead of time. It doesn’t have to be refrigerated before serving.

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Store it without garnish if possible.

Any Questions or Feedback?

If you liked this recipe, I’d appreciate it if you could leave a star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ below. In case you’ve any questions or feedback, please leave me a comment (down the page). I’m happy to help you make delicious Middle Eastern food at home.