Babaganoush - Exquisite Vegetable Dip

Babaganoush is a vegetable dip very popular in the Arabic Middle East and other Mediterranean countries. The slightly smokey flavor from the roasted eggplants makes it irresistible.

	Babagnoush

Apart from being mouthwatering, this typical Mediterranean diet recipe is healthy and easy. In the Mediterranean cuisines, often the simplest dishes are the ones that bring the most genuine flavors of the aromatic Mediterranean landscape to your table.

Ingredients for babaganoush

Serves 4 as appetizer

• 4 large eggplants – whole
• 6 tablespoons lemon juice – freshly pressed is best
• 4 heaped tablespoons tahini (sesame paste)
• 3 cloves garlic – peeled
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 sprig Italian parsley – as garnish

Babaganoush preparation instructions

Cooking time: 45 minutes.
Preparation time: about 15 minutes.

1. The first thing to remember is neither to peel the eggplant not to chop its stem.


2. Pierce each side of the eggplants with a fork. Place the whole eggplants in the oven and roast them for about 45 minutes turning them over 2 or 3 times.


• The eggplants are done when the outer shell is blackened or charred, and the inside is soft.


3. Allow to cool a little bit. Cut the aubergines open lengthwise with a knife, and scoop out the pulp with a spoon. Put the pulp in a mixing bowl and mash it into a puree with a fork or blender. Discard the skin.


• If you use a food processor, be careful not to liquidize the eggplant pulp.


4. Use mortar and pestle to crush the peeled garlic with the salt into a smooth paste.


5. Add the lemon juice and the tahini alternately to the mortar, mixing it well with the pestle or a wooden spoon.


6. Add the tahini mixture to the eggplant puree and beat it gently but thoroughly until the babaganoush has a smooth consistency.


7. Pour it onto a serving dish or platter.


8. A moment before serving, garnish the baba ganoush with chopped parsley or parsley leaves.


9. Serve chilled or at room temperature with olive oil, pitta bread, radishes, and green onions.

Suggested Mediterranean recipes and meal ideas

Serve babaganoush...

• As an appetizer with pita bread cut into wedges.


• As a healthy vegetable dip with pita bread, flat bread or a baguette. After all, real bread is indispensable in the Mediterranean diet.


• In a brunch, mezza or cocktail dip.

A Mediterranean food recipe by many names

Whether it's called baba ganoush, baba ghannouj, moutabal, or eggplant mousse, all variations that respect the essence of this babaganoush are a real appetizer treat.

I have eaten Palestinian, Lebanese, Greek, even Ukrainian versions. They were all authentic and delicious. Depending on their heritage, some cooks add iogurt, others indulge in olive oil, or don't add tahini at all. All variations of this babaganoush recipe show the splendid diversity of our common Mediterranean diet home.

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