There are many eggplant dip recipes around and there is definitely a right or wrong way of preparing this roasted eggplant dip dish. It is all depending on tradition, custom, or simply how you like it. Make this dish either a vegan or vegetarian version. It is very similar to baba ganoush but this contains no tahini nor any yogurt whereas the Moutabbal does.
What is certain is that this snack or side dish is an authentic Mediterranean dish prepared in many countries around the world and many love it.
Different types of eggplant dip
There are a few types of eggplant dip depending on where's made.
- Baba ganoush - also known as baba ganouj - is probably the most known and most famous one. It contains eggplant, onion, tomato, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, parsley, and generally no tahini.
- Melitzanosalata - the Greek style eggplant dip called melitzanosalata translated as Greek eggplant dip. It is pretty much the one I grew up with but we add onion as opposed to just garlic. That is the only difference.
- Moutaball - is a Middle Eastern mezze dish made with eggplant, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and tahini or sometimes yogurt.
- 'Salata de vinete' - as we call it means aubergine salad. I do not know why it is called a salad but I guess it is just another way of calling it.
Best eggplants to use for this recipe
There are different types of eggplants (aubergines) - there are about 6-7 types of eggplants around the world:
- The Globe eggplant - the most common one used widely across the world
- Italian Eggplant - the large dark purple but smaller than the Globe ones
- Japanese Eggplant - despite their name - they are not a strictly Japanese product - I call them the Asian type ( all Asian shops have them). They are light purple, slim, and longer than the usual eggplant
- Rosa Bianca Eggplant - they look the best if you ask me - they have a more delicate flavor
- Thai Eggplant - they look like mini watermelons but unless you remove the seeds, they taste quite bitter and they are ideal for curries
- White eggplant - these look good. I use them for all sorts when I find them - they are fab for white curries, or even Baba GAnoush or this eggplant dip
To be very honest with you - I did grow up eating the Globar or the Italian eggplant varieties but I find the Japanese and the white eggplant varieties to be the best ones for this eggplant dip recipe.
How to prepare the eggplants for this dish?
On BBQ
- Ideally, grill the eggplants (aubergines)on bbq for the best results, especially flavor. The smokey taste is soo good!
- If grilling is not an option, bake them in the oven - turn on the oven and preheat it to 210ºC/420ºF. Pierce the aubergine in a couple of places with a knife, then roast for 25-30 minutes until the skin turns black.
Very Important Tips:
- eggplants must be cooked on quick-fire - directly on flame if possible - this will enable the flesh to remain nice and white - slow fire is a total no-no.
- if cooked on slow heat the flesh will turn dark purple- greenish which is unpleasant both taste-wise and aspect. You DO want a good-looking and tasting dip.
- place the eggplants on a chopping board straight away and make a longitudinal cut, scoop the flesh out pretty much straight away, and place it on a colander or a clean wooden chopping board/ in a sieve and allow these to drain all the juices. This way you will have a nice and sweet-tasting flesh and therefore dip/ spread rather than a bitterish dark-looking one.
Eggplant dip without tahini
You can add tahini to this recipe if you wish for extra depth or even a nice and thick yoghurt. However, to me, this is the way I have had this aubergine dip as a kid and it's the way I love it most.
It's not to say that I don't make other varieties and sometimes I even add walnuts or pinenuts to it. I even like adding long pepper instead of regular black pepper for a twist in flavor.
Whatever way you chose to make it it is totally delicious and super easy to make.
Is this eggplant dip without tahini vegan?
Yes, it is indeed. It is vegan!
How to make this eggplant/aubergine dip?
Well, I did mention it is easy to make and I mean that.
Firstly, gather all the ingredients needed for this eggplant dip:
- eggplant - see above for the best type of eggplant to use in this eggplant dish recipe
- red onion or regular yellow onion, shallots work really well too - I did try scallions (spring onions) and I loved it;
- olive oil - of course, use a good quality extra virgin olive oil for the best results;
- garlic - you may use fresh spring garlic if you have one - it is so nice and crisp;
- salt - use any cave salt like Himalayan or any kosher salt
- black pepper - don't give this a miss
- lemon - a good old squeeze of lemon juice - makes a huge difference -it really elevates this dish;
- paprika - this is just to garnish the dish - it is super nice but optional - I use smoked Hungarian paprika but you may use any you find like a fab Spanish one
- pinenuts - or walnuts if you fancy, almonds or any crushed toasted nuts for a delicious crunch;
- fresh herbs - parsley or cilantro/ coriander for some delicious color - pomegranate works really well too
FAQs
There are ways of making this aubergine side dish but in my family, there was always a special wooden chopping tool that was used to chop these eggplants once cooked on BBQ.
If you prefer it chunky, you may use a wooden fork, or a wooden cleaver to smash the eggplant - ideally to avoid metal blades so if you happen to have a coated blade or a plastic one to blitz this would be great.
The more you blitz them the smoother the paste will be and more white in color.
It makes a delicious side dish, entree, or starter, as well as a snack, served with some tortilla chips, crackers, or on a nice homemade bread or the good old homemade sourdough.
Yes, you may definitely make this well ahead but do not add any oil, garlic, or onion until ready to eat. These will oxidate and will make the dish taste rancid and stale.
If planning to grill the eggplants ahead of time, do so, take these out from the skin, and allow them to rest on a reclined chopping board so that all juices drain out nicely.
You may then place these with a generous sprinkle of salt in an airtight container and place them in the fridge for 3-4 days or in the freezer for up to a month.
The dip can then be prepared in no time if stored in the fridge or thaw overnight in the refrigerator if frozen and use the next day. Just add the remaining ingredients, give a quick whizz, and ta-da!
Other eggplant or aubergine dishes you may enjoy:
- Baked aubergine with cumin and yogurt sauce
- Cauliflower, aubergine, and chickpeas salad
- Miso aubergines - for something more exotic
- Velvety stuffed aubergines (eggplant)
- Tomato and cheese topped aubergines/eggplant
Creamy Eggplant Dip
Equipment
- food processor
- spatula
- pan
- glass bowl
Ingredients
- 4 large eggplants
- 1 medium red onion or regular onion
- 75 ml olive oil extra virgin
- 2 cloves garlic (small-medium) add more if you wish
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper * see recipe notes for alternatives
To garnish (optional)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoons pinenuts
- 2 tablespoons fresh herbs parsley or coriander or cilantro
- 1 tablespoon mixed seeds toasted (optional) *
- 1 small red chilli (dried) or dried red chilli flakes
Instructions
- Ideally is to grill the eggplants (aubergines) on a fairly powerful fire so that the flesh remains nice and white (See recipe notes for some tips) Pierce the aubergine a couple of times with a knife, then grill for approximately 15-20-25 minutes until blackened, softened and collapsing. Allow these to cool slightly.
- With a spoon, scoop the flesh from the eggplant/aubergine straight into a sieve. Do this with all. Allow it to rest for 15-20 minutes so all juices run out.
- Meanwhile, peel and crush the garlic, and chop finely both the garlic and the onion.
- Transfer the drained eggplant to the food processor and start blitzing adding the oil, the chopped garlic & onion, a generous squeeze of lemon juice, and a pinch of salt & black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning, oil, and lemon as desired.
- Heat up a pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil, paprika, mixed seeds (pumpkin, sunflower), and the pinenuts. Toast for literally 1 min toss continuously and pour over the aubergine/eggplant dip.
- Place the eggplant dip in a dish pour/ sprinkle over the toasted paprika and pinenuts mix on hot olive oil.
- Serve with a good sprinkle of finely or coarsely chopped fresh parsley or coriander/cilantro. Best to serve it with flatbreads, tortilla crisps, or any homemade bread or sourdough.
Notes
- I like adding long pepper for a twist in flavor
- see notes above
- I have used some toasted mixed seeds (pumpkin, sesame, sunflower, and hemp seeds) in this recipe but you may leave these out and add extra herbs and some pomegranate seeds.
- you may add these and blitz them in the food processor or if you can do a super fine chopping add these after blitzing the eggplants for some texture. It is entirely up to personal preferences.
Nutrition
* The garnishing ingredients were not added to the nutrition in this recipe - these will add an extra amount of calories so, the recipe with garnishing will be: Cals: 395 Carbs: 32g Protein: 6g Fat: 30g Saturated Fat: 4g
Alexa says
This recipe is somewhat confusing... Does Step #2 even need to be on here? Do we have to process the eggplant before and after we drain it, or just after? And does the red onion and garlic go in the food processor with the eggplant, or does it get stirred in after the eggplant is processed?
Ramona says
Hi Alexa, thank you very much for your comment and for stopping by also for bringing this to my attention.
Step two is important because it is about taking the flesh out of the grilled skin. This process has to be done quite gently and carefully so you do not bring in any black charcoal grilled skin into the dish.
I can see that I have indeed forgotten to mention about the garlic and onion.
You can of course add those and blend them in with the eggplant, but it can also be added after if you wish a little bit more texture, especially from the onion.
I will amend the steps now to make it clearer.
Thanks again 🙏🏼💕
Alexa says
Thank you so much for your reply! It sounds delicious and I can't wait to make the recipe!
Ramona says
Thank you so much Alexa, I am looking forward to see how it all went and how you liked my eggplant dip xo
Samantha says
Hi there, this eggplant dip sounds delicious and is exactly what I've been looking for (vegan and without tahini!).
How many days will this keep in the fridge?
Gina Abernathy says
So creamy and delicious!
Mihaela says
My favourite dip! I need to make your version, which differs a bit from mine, but sounds exciting!:)
Amy says
Looks so delicious! Definitely making some for the weekend.
Bernice says
This dip is very moreish and we couldn't get enough. Thanks for the great recipe!
Kay says
A fantastic dip recipe, we love aubergine in our house and this recipe was lush 🙂
Jean says
I guess this is a god alternative dip to hummus!
Julie says
There will be no leftovers when I make this, that's for sure!
Swathi says
This creamy eggplant dip looks really yum.
Tamara says
Loved how simple and how delicious this recipe was and your presentation is beautiful too. Thanks for sharing this vegan aubergine dip gem. 👍🏻
Sue says
Terrific dip!
Debra says
Awesome dip! Loved the toasted seeds on top too!
Jessica says
I typically don't enjoy eggplant but this dip is incredible. It's creamy, flavorful, and downright addictive. So glad I gave it a shot!!
Allyssa says
Thanks a lot for sharing this amazing and super easy to make eggplant dip recipe! It tasted so delicious and flavorful! Loved it, will surely have this again! Highly recommended!