My Lebanese family’s authentic creamy Baba Ganoush recipe uses simple ingredients to create the smoky eggplant Lebanese dip that is perfect with mezze, mixed plates, crudités or crackers.
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What Is Baba Ganoush?
Baba ganoush, also spelled baba ghanoush, baba ganouj, baba ganooj, or baba ghanouj, is a famous Middle Eastern eggplant dip that is believed to have originated in the Levant region, which includes modern-day Lebanon, Syria, etcetera.
Specifically, it is often associated with Lebanese and Syrian cuisines.
It is written as بابا غنوج in Arabic.
What Does Baba Ganoush Mean?
The Arabic word "baba" means "daddy" and the Arabic word "ganoush" or "ghanouj" means "spoilt". So this is a spoilt daddy dip, haha.
These words are pronounced as ba·ba ga·noosh (or ga·nooj).
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This is an authentic baba ganoush recipe straight from my family to yours. (from my Mother's recipe index) it's the dried mint in this Lebanese eggplant dip that makes it taste even more spectacular.
- The key ingredients are adaptable - garlic, salt, dried mint, tahini and lemon is always added by taste. This is common for a lot of Lebanese recipes.
- This Middle Eastern eggplant dip is naturally vegan and gluten-free.
- It’s incredibly easy, you never need to buy a store-bought version ever again!
- A wonderful thing about this easy baba ganoush recipe is that it is a great side dish for any mezze.
Ingredients You'll Need
Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Eggplant is the main ingredient. Use fresh large globe eggplants (these are easier to handle), and select a good quality one with no bruising. You will need to keep the whole eggplant intact.
Tahini - gives this dip a velvety nutty flavor.
Fresh garlic cloves - use as much of this as you want. I find one medium clove to be sufficient.
Dried mint - this is optional, but highly recommended. Baba ghanouj with dried mint has a cooler flavoring.
Lemon - only use fresh lemon juice for a wonderful citrus flavor. Do not use bottled lemon juice this is typically a little bitter and with preservatives.
How To Make Lebanese Baba Ganoush
Cook the Eggplant to make a smokey eggplant dip. Pierce the skin of the whole eggplant with holes using a fork (although this step can be skipped) and place the entire eggplant over an open flame e.g., outdoor grill (affiliate link), bbq, or gas stove (gas burner) on medium-high heat. This is the traditional way of preparation.
The total cook time is 18-20 minutes rotating every few minutes to ensure it is cooked evenly.
Alternatively, you could make oven-roasted eggplant by piercing the skin with a fork and placing it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet pan.
Bake in a preheated oven at 180C (356F) until completely cooked, for approximately 50 minutes.
Cool and peel the eggplant. Once tender, charred and cooked, turn off the flame or take it out of the oven.
Place the charred eggplant into a colander to let it cool to a point where you can handle it and also to drain any excess liquid.
Separate the charred skin by scooping out the flesh using a spoon.
Blend the ingredients. Using a food processor (affiliate link) add the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil, and blend well until creamy.
Alternatively, you can mash all the ingredients together in a large bowl or mortar and pestle (affiliate links).
Serve this delicious dip in a serving bowl (affiliate link) with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite garnishes, try pine nuts, chopped herbs such as fresh parsley, pomegranate seeds (arils), roasted chickpeas, or even diced cooked eggplant.
See further serving suggestions below.
Pro Tips
The flavoring of making baba ganoush is always best achieved via taste testing. Rarely ever, do we (my family), measure out the ingredients whilst whipping up this dip.
I highly suggest adjusting the flavors of all ingredients (but the eggplant) to your satisfaction. You won’t be disappointed.
Did you know that this smoky eggplant dip will thicken slightly when it cools down?
Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 7 days.
If you like buying this dip, it is worth reading about is baba ganoush vegan?
What To Serve With Baba Ganoush
Lebanese Baba ganoush can be enjoyed with so many foods, try it on some bread and sprinkle some zaatar on top.
Dip some vegan gluten free crackers, veggie sticks, gluten free pita chips, or serve it part of a mezze.
Try a mixed plate with the best Lebanese falafel and a salad such as taboule, fattoush or quinoa tabouli and a side of air-fried chips.
You could smear it on a falafel pita sandwich too.
FAQ
Yes, the flavor will be the same. The only difference is there may be more seeds. Try and use an eggplant with fewer seeds or a seedless variety.
Yes, simply leave it out rather than finish it off with it. It will still be creamy and yummy!
Add ½ a teaspoon of liquid smoke when combining all the ingredients together and build up the taste from there. If you can’t obtain liquid smoke, try smokey paprika.
Other Middle Eastern Dips
If you love Baba Ghanouj, you will definitely love this version called Moutabal.
Lebanese hummus is another dip you must try it's made out of chickpeas, you might also be interested in the article is hummus vegan?
Curious about the difference between baba ganoush vs hummus? This article discusses what you need to know.
I also love this zucchini dip and this garlic dip.
Or try this 5 minute vegan bean dip.
If you're looking for another type of vegan dip/spread, have a look at this quick and easy vegan spread or this Hummus with pita bread or even this simple mashed eggplant dip.
Otherwise, another eggplant recipe is my Lebanese moussaka.
Did you make this? I'd love to know! Leave me a comment below with a ★★★★★ rating or tag @plantbasedfolk on social media.
Authentic Lebanese Baba Ganoush Recipe (باباغنوج)
Ingredients
Instructions
- Place the whole eggplant over an open flame e.g., outdoor grill, bbq, or gas stove (gas burner) on medium-high heat. The total cook time is 18-20 minutes rotating every few minutes to ensure it is cooked evenly. Alternatively, you could make oven-roasted eggplant by piercing the skin with a fork and placing it on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet pan. Bake in a preheated oven at 180C (356F) until completely cooked, for approximately 50 minutes.1 medium - large Eggplant
- Once tender, charred and cooked, turn off the flame or take it out of the oven and place the charred eggplant into a colander to let it cool to a point where you can handle it and also to drain any excess liquid. Separate the charred skin by scooping out the flesh using a spoon
- Using a food processor add the rest of the ingredients, except the olive oil, and blend well until creamy. Serve this delicious dip in a serving bowl with a drizzle of olive oil and your favorite garnishes. See serving suggestions.1 tablespoon Tahini, 1 clove Garlic clove, ½ small Lemon, 1 pinch Salt, ½ teaspoon Dried mint
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
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Nina
This Lebanese baba ganoush is the best one I’ve tried. I’ll be making this version often now. Thanks a million for sharing your family’s recipe.
Janelle Hama
my pleasure! thank you for making it 🙂
Cassandra
Oh, it's so smoky and creamy and tangy! I think it's my new favourite dip, and so easy to make! 😍
Janelle Hama
Hi Cassandra,
I am thrilled that you love my family's baba ghanouj recipe. Thank you for making it.
J
Alexis
This is such a simple, delicious dip recipe. Such an incredible flavour - I followed the smokey version and prepared my eggplant on a BBQ. We served the dip as part of a tasting platter, and everyone loved it!
Rebeka
We've been growing a lot of eggplant in the garden this year and I've been searching for recipes to use them in. Having an authentic recipe to reference is a perfect use for them, so we tried it and it was amazing. I've never had mint in baba ganoush, it was vry cooling.
Lucia
First time trying baba ghanouj and oh my god! Everyone in my home loved it. So delicious!
Fufu
I didn’t realise just how easy it is to make baba ganoush, so full of smoky flavour, yum!
Menar
I just love how simple this recipe is and so packed with flavour. Thanks so much for a great recipe, book marked as my favourite dip
Dianna
I make it smokey too. perfect recipe