Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (2024)

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Vegan Baba Ganoush - is an oil-free, creamy Lebanese dip made from roasted eggplants that is great as a party snack or appetizer.

With hummus and this delicious aubergine spread, you can make a great antipasti platter for your next party or simply if you fancy a delicious dip.

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (1)

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This great recipe for the traditional Baba Ganoush from Lebanon is a smoky, creamy and spicy dip that is prepared from a few ingredients such as roasted eggplants, tahini and garlic.

This dip is ideal as a snack with vegetable sticks or as an appetizer for your next dinner.

If you refrain from roasting the eggplants, this spread will be on your table within 5 minutes. Or during the 45 minutes the eggplant is roasting in the oven, you can do other things.

I personally love this dip a great alternative from the classic hummus and a low-calorie dip variant, which is prepared with little effort and is ideal as a meal prep.

This vegan recipe is authentic and tastes like the traditional Baba Ganoush recipe. A great side dish for your next party plate.

Do you generally love hummus or dips? Then you should definitely try this mega great creamy recipe.

Jump to:
  • What is Baba Ganoush?
  • Ingredients
  • Instruction
  • Storage
  • Tips
  • Serving Suggestion
  • Other dips from the Middle East:
  • 📖 Recipe

What is Baba Ganoush?

In short, Baba Ganoush is an eggplant dip. The eggplant is roasted in the oven and thus gets its great roasted taste.

The two other ingredients are tahini (sesame paste) and garlic and you get the cousin of the hummus.

Baba Ganoush has its origin in Lebanon and the name comes from the Arabic. “Baba” means father and “ghanoush” means spoiled.

In the Middle East Arab countries, this alternative is very popular, especially as a starter.

In Israel it is also known as aubergine salad or hatzilim. To make this dip even creamier, many use a little mayonnaise.

Is Baba Ganoush healthy?

Aubergine is a vegetable and a great source for vitamin B, E and fiber.

Tahini is a great source for minerals like phosphorus, magnesium, lecithin, potassium and iron.

Baba Ganoush is also low in calories and is perfect as a dip.

What is healthier - hummus or baba ganoush?

Baba Ganoush's consistency is very similar to that of hummus. The dip from eggplants, i.e. Baba Ganoush, is a little lower in calories. Both dips are healthy in their own way and have different nutrients and minerals.

Ingredients

Here is a short list what ingredients are in this amazing baba ganoush dip. The exact amount of the ingredients is in the recipe card below.

Eggplant / aubergine

Tahini

Lemon juice

Garlic cloves

Sea-salt

Cumin

Liquid smoke (opt)

Cayenne pepper

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (2)

Instruction

Wrap the eggplant in aluminum foil and roast it in the preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 45-60 minutes until it is soft.

If you poke the eggplant with a knife and it is soft, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Now cut off the top of the eggplant and peel off the skin. You can throw away the peel and roughly dice the pulp. Drain the eggplant for about 5-10 min to get rid of excess water.

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process the dip until creamy. It takes about 1 minute.

Taste the Baba Ganoush again briefly and season to your taste.

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (3)

Storage

Freezing

The vegetable eggplant itself is not great for freezing. When thawing it gets very mushy and a bit bitter.

When the vegetables are prepared, like in this Baba Ganoush, the dish becomes great for freezing. Simply freeze the dip in portions in an airtight container.

Fridge

In an airtight container, Baba Ganoush stays in the fridge for about 7 days.

Tips

Take fresh garlic, Tahini from 100% sesame and fresh lemon juice to develop the full taste of Baba Ganoush

Sift the eggplant for about 5-10 minutes to pour away excess liquid. This step is important so that the Baba Ganoush does not become too fluid.

Season to your own taste and adjust the ingredients accordingly. Just use more tahini, lemon juice or garlic. Depending on how you like it best.

Leave the dip in the fridge for a few hours and you will see the dip thickens.

Do you eat Baba Ganoush hot or cold?

This eggplant spread is usually eaten cold or at room temperature. A crispy baguette, pita bread, or vegetables go well with this.

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (4)

How do you get the traditional smoky taste in Baba Ganoush?

The smoky taste in Baba Ganoush traditionally comes from the roasted eggplant over an open fire. If you like smoky flavor, you can add some liquid smoke or smoked paprika.

Serving Suggestion

Falafel

Cracker

Flatbread

Other dips from the Middle East:

Best hummus

Muhammara

Creamy feta dip

Lebanese garlic sauce

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (5)

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If you tried the vegan Recipebe so nice ♥ and let me knw byrating the recipe and writing what you think about it in the comments. I would love to see your photo on Instagram orFacebook. To do this tag me with@veeatcookbakeandmy hashtag is#veeatcookbake. So that I can see your creation. Did you know you can add photos nPinterestunder the recipe Pin? I can’t wait to see a photo of your creation here. You find me with@veeatcookbake

📖 Recipe

Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (6)

Authentic Lebanese Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (oil-free, wfpb, vegan)

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Vegan Baba Ganoush - is an oil-free, creamy Lebanese dip made from roasted eggplants that is great as a party snack or appetizer. With hummus and this delicious aubergine spread, you can make a great antipasti platter for your next party or simply if you fancy a delicious dip.

vegan | vegetarian | oil-free | sugar-free | dairy-free | gluten-free | nut-free | soy-free | wholesome | healthy | whole food plant-based (wfpb)

Ingredients

  • 1 large eggplant
  • ¼ cup of tahini
  • Lemon juice from 1 lemon
  • 2 cloves of garlic, roasted
  • ¼ teaspoon of salt
  • ¼ teaspoon cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke (opt)
  • A pinch of cayenne pepper

Instructions

Wrap the eggplant in aluminum foil and roast it in the preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 45-60 minutes until it is soft.

If you poke the eggplant with a knife and it is soft, take it out of the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes.

Now cut off the top of the eggplant and peel off the skin. You can throw away the peel and roughly dice the pulp. Drain the eggplant for about 5-10 min to get rid of excess water.

Place all ingredients in a food processor and process the dip until creamy. It takes about 1 minute.

Taste the Baba Ganoush again briefly and season to your taste.

Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 159Total Fat 9gSaturated Fat 1gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 7gCholesterol 0mgSodium 144mgCarbohydrates 21gNet Carbohydrates 0gFiber 6gSugar 6gSugar Alcohols 0gProtein 4g

The nutrition is calculated automatically and should be used as an estimate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Instagram

Jump to:
  • What is Baba Ganoush?
  • Ingredients
  • Instruction
  • Storage
  • Tips
  • Serving Suggestion
  • Other dips from the Middle East:
  • 📖 Recipe
Authentic Baba Ganoush Recipe - Roasted Eggplant Dip (wfpb, vegan) (2024)

FAQs

What is a substitute for tahini in baba ganoush? ›

Yogurt in place of tahini

This recipe uses yogurt instead of tahini, which adds creamy texture to the dip. To make this baba ganoush vegan-friendly, I'll use an unflavored yogurt such as soy or coconut. However, you could use something like Greek Yogurt or another alternative in it's place.

Is baba ganoush healthy or unhealthy? ›

Yes, baba ganoush is healthy. The main ingredient is eggplant, which is low in calories and carbohydrates and high in fiber. It's also a good source of vitamins and minerals like potassium and vitamin K. It's also lower in calories than hummus since it's mostly made of eggplant versus chickpeas.

What is the myth of baba ganoush? ›

baba ghanoush, relish with Middle Eastern origins that is made of eggplant (aubergine) blended with tahini, garlic, lemon juice, and salt. The Arabic term for the dish means “pampered daddy,” the person in question being, legend has it, a sultan spoiled with a concoction invented by a member of his harem.

How do you get the bitterness out of baba ganoush? ›

If your Baba Ganoush tastes bitter, add a half teaspoon of baking soda at a time and blend well (tasting in between) to remove bitterness from the dish.

Why is tahini not vegan? ›

Because it's made with sesame seeds, which, of course, come from a plant and not an animal, tahini is vegan. It's as simple as that. That said, there are sometimes other ingredients, like oil and salt, added to the store-bought versions.

Which is more fattening hummus or baba ganoush? ›

Both have 0% cholesterol and are high in fiber and protein content. Nonetheless, hummus has higher calorie content than baba ganoush, and baba ganoush contains vitamins B and E, which are nonexistent in hummus.

Why does baba ganoush taste like cigarettes? ›

Now don't get me wrong, hummus is just as delicious. But this dip has an insanely scrumptious smoky flavor – all thanks to the method of charring eggplants on a grill.

What does Baba mean in baba ganoush? ›

Etymology. The word bābā in Arabic means 'father' and is also a term of endearment, while ġannūj could be a personal name. The word combination is also interpreted as "father of coquetry" or "indulged/pampered/flirtatious daddy" or "spoiled old daddy".

Do the Greeks eat baba ganoush? ›

Baba Ghanoush is eaten in many Middle Eastern countries such as Syria, Lebanon and extending as far as the territorial reach of the Ottoman empire. But Baba Ghanoush also is big in Brazil and West India. Romanians and Greeks also consume the appetizer.

Why do they say baba ganoush in Wedding Crashers? ›

“Baba Ganoush” returned to the airways when Dennis Mille, doing Weekend Update on SNL, began referring to the audience as “Baba Ganoush”. Miller's noted for his obscure cultural references. It was used in “Wedding Crashers” just because it sounded good.

What is the difference between baba ganoush and Baba Ghanouj? ›

Baba ganoush (also known as baba ghanouj or baba ghanoush) is one of the most popular dips in Lebanese cuisine—and at my table! That is because the flavor of this creamy dip is so bright and smokey. It's luscious texture goes with dippers of every sort: crackers, pita chips, pita wedges, fresh veggies, you name it.

What does baba ganoush pair with? ›

What to Serve with Baba Ganoush. My favorite way to serve baba ganoush is as an appetizer or snack with crisp veggies and pita bread. You could also serve it as the creamy dip in a summer crudité platter or make an epic Mediterranean appetizer board with pita chips, tzatziki, hummus, and fresh or grilled veggies.

Why does baba ganoush taste bad? ›

Baba Ghanoush may taste bitter due to factors like the choice of eggplant, insufficient roasting, or the use of too much garlic, lemon juice, or low-quality tahini.

Why is my baba ganoush stringy? ›

The flesh is often stringy, especially if slightly undercooked. It doesn't matter (except aesthetically).

What can tahini be replaced with? ›

Because tahini is the butter of sesame seeds, you might want to consider a nut or seed butter as a go-to substitute. Other options include greek yogurt and sesame oil. These tahini substitutes will complement your dish since they are all sources of healthy fats and contribute to a creamy consistency.

What is a good substitute for tahini in dip? ›

Our Best Tahini Substitutes
  1. Cashew Butter. Of all the nut butters, cashew butter is your best bet for replacing tahini, (FWIW: we do love almond butter, too). ...
  2. Sunflower Butter. If you have sunflower seed butter in your pantry, grab it! ...
  3. Sesame Oil. ...
  4. Greek Yogurt. ...
  5. Homemade Tahini.
Aug 30, 2022

What is a good substitute for tahini for allergies? ›

Sunflower butter

If you have sunflower seed butter in your pantry, grab it! It's a great 1:1 substitute for tahini. Bonus: since it's made from sunflower seeds, it's safe for people with nut allergies to eat.

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