Some foods are incomplete without a dipping sauce, as these condiment provide the moisture and flavor needed to elevate the meal.

There’s a wide range of dipping sauces featuring a variety ingredients and different styles of preparation.  

Some dipping sauces are unique to specific regions and can easily be found in restaurants that serve dishes from that region’s cuisine. 

Baba ganoush and melitzanosalata are made with the same primary ingredient; eggplants

Both dips are often eaten as part of a meze or starter in their regional cuisines where they are served alongside flatbreads or fresh vegetables. 

While melitzanosalata and baba ganoush are similar looking eggplant based dips that share many similar other ingredients, they are not the same 

In this post we explore the differences between these two eggplant dips. 

Difference between baba ganoush and melitzanosalata

The main difference between Baba ganoush and melitzanosalata is that they contain different ingredients and have different textures.  

Baba ganoush is made with tahini sauce and has a creamier consistency compared to melitzanosalata which is chunky in consistency 

Melitzanosalata does not contain Tahini sauce, but it may often feature unique Greek ingredients such as kalamata olives and feta cheese which adds a unique flavor to the recipe  

What is baba ganoush?

Baba ganoush is an eggplant dip from Lebanon popular in Middle Eastern restaurants all over the world 

It is often served as a snack or an appetizer together with pita or cracker. It can also be served with vegetables. 

Baba ganoush may also be known as moutabel. 

There are also many variations of this dish across the Middle East 

Traditionally, it is made from roasted eggplant or grilled eggplant, olive oil, tahini, lemon juice, and salt. 

The eggplants are traditionally cooked over an open flame then they are blended together with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice and other ingredients 

This eggplant dip is highly nutritious and also Gluten-free 

Yogurt is sometimes used in place of tahini to make Baba ganoush and it can also be flavored with various spices. 

How baba ganoush is made

Baba ganoush is very simple to make. 

The eggplants are traditionally grilled over hot coals, but they could also be baked in an oven until the flesh also becomes soft 

However, roasting the eggplants over an open flame gives it that smoky flavor. 

Once the eggplant is cooked, the skin is peeled, you can also use a spoon to scoop out the insides of the roasted eggplants. 

The scooped eggplant flesh is mixed with tahini sauce, olive oil, and garlic.

It can also be seasoned with salt, red pepper flakes and paprika  

A food processor is then used to blend the mixture until it reaches a silky texture.  

Baba ganoush can be served chilled or at room temperature together with pita bread.  

Fresh raw crisp vegetables could also be eaten with this tasty dip. 

What is melitzanosalata?

It is a Greek style eggplant dip   

This eggplant dip recipe originated from Greece and features roasted eggplants mixed with garlic, onion, fresh parsley, lemon juice, and olive oil. 

It could also be made with red Wine Vinegar, feta cheese and kalmata olives which adds rich Mediterranean flavors to this dish. 

The name of this dipping sauce is gotten from two Greek phrases; “Melitzana” which means eggplant, and “salata” which means salad in Greek. 

Melitzanosalata  is available in Greek restaurants all over the world and could be eaten as Part of a snack or meal 

This eggplant dip is tasty and also healthy 

How to make melitzanosalata

Melitzanosalata is a simple eggplant dip to make at home  

The eggplant is first roasted over an open fire until the skin is charred, and the flesh is tender. 

It is mashed or pureed until it reaches a chunky texture following which the other ingredients are added. 

Lemon, extra virgin olive oil, onion, garlic, chopped parsley are added to the mashed eggplants and mixed together. 

Feta cheese and olives can also be added to make this dip. 

It is eaten as an appetizer with pita or vegetables, and sometimes, it is served with grilled meats or fish. 

A variety of seasonings including Ground cumin and red pepper flakes are added as well.