Baba Ganoush - the Best in the World! Recipe - Food.com (2025)

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ingredients directions Questions & Replies Reviews Tweaks RECIPE SUBMITTED BY YOU'LL ALSO LOVE FAQs

103

Editors' Pick

Submitted by Mimi Bobeck

"This baba ganoush recipe is from Williams-Sonoma's Small Plates by Joanne Wier, published 1998"

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photo by DianaEatingRichly

Ready In:: 35mins
Ingredients:: 9
Serves:: 6

ingredients

1 large eggplant
¹⁄₄ cup tahini, plus more as needed
3 garlic cloves, minced
¹⁄₄ cup fresh lemon juice, plus more as needed
1 pinch ground cumin
salt, to taste
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
¹⁄₄ cup brine-cured black olives, such as kalamata

directions

Prepare a medium-hot fire in a charcoal grill.
Preheat an oven to 375°F.
Prick the eggplant with a fork in several places and place on the grill rack 4 to 5 inches from the fire.
Grill, turning frequently, until the skin blackens and blisters and the flesh just begins to feel soft, 10 to 15 minutes.
Transfer the eggplant to a baking sheet and bake until very soft, 15 to 20 minutes.
Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, and peel off and discard the skin.
Place the eggplant flesh in a bowl.
Using a fork, mash the eggplant to a paste.
Add the 1/4 cup tahini, the garlic, the 1/4 cup lemon juice and the cumin and mix well.
Season with salt, then taste and add more tahini and/or lemon juice, if needed.
Transfer the mixture to a serving bowl and spread with the back of a spoon to form a shallow well.
Drizzle the olive oil over the top and sprinkle with the parsley.
Place the olives around the sides.
Serve at room temperature.

Questions & Replies

How long will this save refrigerated?

srenoe
How big do you consider a large eggplant?

Anastasia F.
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what is the olive brine for ? nvm I see its the olives not the brine

colleenwilliams08

Reviews

This is a delicious recipe. My adaptations included roasting a whole red pepper and about 1/2 head of garlic (in foil) at the same time I roasted the eggplant on the grill. Finished off the eggplant in the oven as stated. For those who think the garlic is too strong, try roasting it first. Makes it sweet and mellow. I did go ahead and add 3 large cloves of raw garlic as well and it was a tad strong...bitey. I may do less next time or just stick with the roasted garlic. I did add a bit more tahini because I felt the mixture was kind of soupy. So..I know I added a few more calories but it's very good! Serving with toasted pita wedges! Yum... I used the juice of 1 large lemon. Put the eggplant flesh, roasted pepper, parsley, garlic in bowl and hit it with the immersion blender til smooth...I would skip the olive oil next time...oily enough with tahini.

Jopalis
The best. And capable of adjustment if your taste differs. Believe me you want that much tahini, but lemon, cumin, garlic can be modified to taste.My only change is: put tahini, salt, 2 garlic cloves, lemonjuice and cumin in food processor, grind to a smooth paste. Add eggplant and pulse until still slightly chunky. Add additional lemon to taste, continue with recipe.I never give a party without making this and/or hummus with veggies and pita.

fragileindustries
OH. MY. GOD. This is possibly the best baba ghanoush I've ever had. I made this with eggplants fresh from my garden and it came out fantastic! I was going to keep the skins on but I'm glad I didn't. I followed the recipe exactly as written, and it came out so light and fluffy and absolutely delicious. the only thing I did differently was I blended it all in the food processor. Thanks!!!

Goody2shz
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Superb recipe! Instead of grilling, I added about a few dashes of liquid smoke. It freezes well, so make a double batch.

suzannnicole
Excellent recipe! I do prefer a lot of eggplant flavor myself, so the cumin and parsley are optional for me. The roasting of the eggplant to start is essential.

ravenwork

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Tweaks

I roasted the garlic cloves, and topped with toasted pine nuts in addition to the oil, parsley, and olives.

DianaEatingRichly
However, as not everyone will have a charcoal grill I do this in the oven and then I use a piece of charcoal that I heated over the flames till red hot and then add it to the dish with the aubergines and pour a teaspoon of oil over the piece of coal and close the oven door. it starts to smoke and gives it the same smoky flavour that you would get from a charcoal grill :)

nc00227
Okay this is a little weird but I'm on a diet so I put it with vegetables! It was great.

Judy M.
This is the best recipe I have found. Next time will either use less garlic or will roast it first. I will add a little liquid smoke since my fav restaurant has a smoky flavor to theirs. When I made this the second time I used paprika and fresh basil instead of the olives and fresh parsley since I was out of those items. I also used three eggplant to the same amount of other ingredients and only needed a little more olive oil to blend it all in the blender. This recipe will be made many times by our family.

happycampermama

RECIPE SUBMITTED BY

Mimi Bobeck

United States

46 Followers
312 Recipes
7 Tweaks

Very busy nanny/au pair, working for a very rich and snooty family, in a very large home, in a very snooty village. Just in case my employer comes here, please don't ask where I am from, or I'll be sacked like the last nanny was. ;-) I take care of 4 gorgeous, and darling kids. 3 girls and a boy. The boy is the youngest (and my favorite). They are great children, very, very active. (Hyper) I love to cook. I guess that's a given, why else would I be here. Part of my job is also to prepare meals for the family. The more they like my food, the longer I get to stay. (just a little joke)On my day off, I usually go out to the cinema or some dance clubs with the other au pairs in this town. That's about it I think.

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Baba Ganoush - the Best in the World! Recipe - Food.com (2025)

FAQs

Which is healthier hummus or baba ganoush? ›

3) Health – Both dishes are very healthy, but baba ganoush has a slight edge here with more vitamins from the eggplant and a lower calorie count. 4) Big meal to come – Get baba ganoush, it's less filling than hummus.

Is baba ganoush healthy or unhealthy? ›

Baba Ganoush is not only delicious but also packed with nutritional benefits. Eggplants provide a great source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals, while tahini adds a dose of healthy fats and protein. This combination makes Baba Ghanoush a heart-healthy choice that supports overall well-being.

Keep Reading ›

What does baba ganoush mean in English? ›

In Arabic, “baba” means father and “ghanoush” means spoiled. This “spoiled dad” dip is the creamier companion to hummus. Popular in Arab countries throughout the Middle East, it is also a common appetizer on the Sephardic Jewish table. In Israel, it is known as eggplant salad, or Salat Hatzilim.

How long does baba ganoush last in the fridge? ›

Homemade baba ganoush can be stored in the fridge in a tight-lid container for about 4 days or so (some say up to a week, but mine never lasts that long).

Which country invented baba ganoush? ›

Baba Ganoush is a Levantine appetizer (Lebanese origin, popular all over the middle-east) consisting of eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, various seasonings, and sometimes tahini.

Get More Info Here ›

Can I eat baba ganoush by itself? ›

It is part of a traditional cold mezze spread and a popular appetizer on many Lebanese and Levantine restaurants' menus. The grilled eggplants combined with garlic, and Tahini Sauce make a perfect and flavorsome dish that can be eaten on its own or as a side to many meat dishes.

Can you freeze baba ghanoush? ›

Freezing: Baba ganoush will freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months, but the texture will not be the same as fresh.

What country eats baba ganoush? ›

Baba ghanoush

Alternative names	Baba ganoush, baba ghanouj
Place of origin	Levant
Associated cuisine	Iraq, Armenia, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia, and Turkey
Main ingredients	Eggplant, olive oil
Cookbook: Baba Ganoush Media: Baba ghanoush

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Keep Reading ›

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.

Learn More Now ›

Is hummus the healthiest dip? ›

This dip is one of the best choices for people who are trying to eat healthy. That's because it contains many of the nutrients (calcium, fiber, protein, and more) that your body needs!

What is healthier than hummus? ›

OUR WINNER: Guacamole!

Both hummus and guacamole are good sources of dietary fibre and folate. However, we have to hand it to guacamole for its higher content of heart-healthy mono-unsaturated fats, Vitamins C and A, and potassium.