If you’re looking for the perfect appetizer, my Roasted Eggplant Dip is guaranteed to bring smiles to your table, not just the eggplant lovers. With a slightly smoky flavor, this chunky Mediterranean eggplant dip with a hint of tomatoes, garlic, and lemon is a taste sensation your whole family will love.
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My easy roasted eggplant dip is one of my favorite eggplant recipes, and once you taste this delicious dip, I know you’ll be making it every chance you get. And I promise after one bite, you’ll agree that this is the best roasted eggplant dip you’ve ever tasted!
If you love eggplant, be sure to try my Eggplant Caponata recipe.
My Mediterranean Eggplant Dip is a little different than Baba Ganoush (Baba Ghanouj). While both are made with eggplant, the other ingredients vary. While this dip is made with tomatoes, Baba Ganoush is made with tahini, which keeps that dip more of a tan color than the vibrant brownish red of my Mediterranean version. There is also a Greek Eggplant dip (Melitzanosalata) which is a simpler version made with parsley, lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
My Naan Bread would be a delicious way to enjoy this flavorful roasted eggplant dip.
Ingredients for Roasted Eggplant Dip
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Roasted Eggplant Dip. In Chef Speak, this is called the “Mise en Place,” which translates to “Everything in its Place.”
Not only does setting up your ingredients ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
Made with simple ingredients
- eggplant
- garlic cloves
- tomatoes
- extra virgin olive oil
- fresh lemon juice
- parsley
- cilantro
- salt
You can use 3 tablespoons of tomato paste instead of fresh tomatoes if you want a deeper, richer tomato flavor. You can also add one teaspoon of smoked paprika for a smokier flavor to my roasted eggplant dip recipe. For a spicier flavor, add red pepper flakes to the dip.
How to make Roasted Egg Plant Dip
Preheat the oven to 400˚F.
- Make a few small slices in the eggplant and insert garlic cloves into the slits and place the eggplant on a baking tray lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Bake the whole eggplants for 35 to 45 minutes. Let the eggplants cool slightly, then remove the skin of the eggplants.
- Slice the eggplant into thin slices.
- Crosscut the eggplant into small pieces. Or alternatively, mash the eggplant with a fork.
You can cook the eggplant over the high heat of the open flame of your gas grill instead of roasting it in the oven. Turn the eggplant frequently as the skin chars, making sure to keep the lid closed all other times so the eggplant bakes. The charred skin will add a smoky flavor to the dip.
- Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped garlic, chopped tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, salt, andcilantro to the pan.
- Let the mixture cook until the tomatoes are softened (about 5 to 8 minutes). Stir as needed. Then add the eggplant to the pan, mix with the other ingredients, and cook for two minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low heat and continue cooking for 6-8 minutes, mashing the eggplant as it cooks to blend the ingredients into a puree.
- Squeeze in half the lemon juice and stir to combine.
This is a chunky eggplant dip which is more of the Mediterranean version. If you prefer a creamy dip, you can pulse it in a food processor until you have the desired consistency.
Serve the Roasted Eggplant Dip in a medium bowl (or serving bowl of your choice) and garnish with a drizzle of olive oil, toasted sesame seeds, and fresh chopped parsley. Serve the dip warm, at room temperature, or chilled with fresh bread, flatbreads, toasted bread slices, pita chips, or your favorite crackers.
Store any leftover dip in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
Recipe FAQ’s
Besides my delicious Roasted Eggplant Dip, you can also make the classic Baba Ganoush which uses Tahini, garlic, and spices to make the dish. Melitzanosalata is the rustic Greek version of an eggplant dip that is made with roasted smoky eggplant, garlic, parsley, red onions, lemon juice and extra virgin olive oil.
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Roasted Eggplant Dip
Ingredients
- 2 medium eggplants do not peel until cooked
- 4-5 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic peeled
- 3 Roma tomatoes chopped
- 2 cloves garlic finely minced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon chilli powder
- ½ teaspoon salt more or less to taste
- 1 tablespoon cilantro finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon sesame seed toasted- optional for garnish
- 1 teaspoon black sesame seed toasted- optional for garnish
- 1 teaspoon Italian parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place an oven rack in the center of the oven.
- Make a few small slices in the eggplants and insert the garlic cloves into the slits and place them on a baking tray.
- Bake the eggplants for 35 to 45 minutes.
- Let the eggplant cool slightly, then remove the skins from the eggplant.
- Slice the eggplant into thin slices. Crosscut the eggplant into small pieces. Or alternatively, mash the eggplant with a fork.
- Add two tablespoons of olive oil to a skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chopped garlic, chopped tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cilantro to the pan., stirring to combine.
- Let the mixture cook until the tomatoes are softened (about 5 to 8 minutes). Stirring as needed. Then add the eggplant to the pan, mix it with the other ingredients, and cook for two minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low heat and continue cooking for 6-8 minutes, mashing the eggplant as it cooks to blend the ingredients into a puree.
- Squeeze half a lemon juice (about one teaspoon) into the mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour the eggplant dip in a bowl.
- Drizzle the remaining olive oil on top of the eggplant dip and garnish it with toasted sesame seeds and chopped Italian parsley.
- Serve with pita chips, toasted bread slices, or crackers.
Barbara Aliquo says
Most of the recipes that chef Dennis makes I like. This one I did not like. I served it for a large dinner party and no one liked it. I think baba ghanoush is better.
Chef Dennis Littley says
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t like the dip. What was wrong with it?
Sandi Spear says
Please advise how long this keeps in the fridge? Can you add citric acid or similar to prolong shelf lifw?
Chef Dennis Littley says
I wouldn’t add it to the dip, if would need to be applied to the eggplant before roasting. Without it stored in an airtight container it would be good for 2-3 days.
Jami Mclaughlin says
How much water?
Chef Dennis Littley says
Thanks for catching that, there is no water. That was a mistake.