Baba ghanoush

Eggplant is one of the favorite vegetables of the Mediterranean region. It’s no surprise that baba ghanoush, a dip made from grilled eggplant and tahini, enriched with garlic and spices, is so popular there!

These ingredients are a source of plant-based protein, healthy fats, macronutrients, and vitamins, which makes this seemingly simple dip incredibly beneficial. The secret to a good baba ghanoush is the charred eggplant – ideally smoked or roasted over an open flame. It’s worth sprinkling it with chopped parsley, pomegranate seeds, and drizzling it with olive oil. For decoration, you can use fresh mint leaves and spices such as cumin and smoked paprika.

This eggplant dip is part of mezze, a selection of small appetizers served in the Middle East. Only local, seasonal ingredients are used to prepare them. Examples of mezze, alongside baba ghanoush, include spreads, pickles, olives, yogurt or cheese-based sauces, hummus, tabbouleh, labneh, fattoush, falafel, or warak enab dolma. These appetizers are served with bread, which pairs perfectly with a wide variety of vegetables, dips, and sauces of all kinds.