Baba ghanoush (or baba ganoush) is one of many dips/spread that's a staple on mezze plates. This eggplant dip tastes so creamy, with a wonderful smokey flavor, but it's entirely vegan. Easy, versatile and moreishly delicious.

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Somehow, again, I have managed to share very little about our trip to Cyprus and Athens back in December. While I'm not about to bore you with a ton of holiday pictures (maybe just one?), I did think it was about time I mentioned at least a little. At the very least I should tell you about the delicious food.

While some dishes were new discoveries (like lamb kleftiko), many were things I already new and loved. Baba ghanoush (also spelt baba ganoush) is one of those.

This is a dish that goes by many names and variations across the region, but baba ghanoush is at least one of the more common names for this delicious eggplant/aubergine dip/spread that I could eat loads of (and did).

Pre-trip worries

Before we went to Cyprus, I did what I often seem to do before trips these days. I think it's a great idea a while in advance then in the week or two before we go, I worry.

Mainly I wonder what on earth am I going to do to entertain a toddler all that time while my husband is largely working. Will he be OK with the food? Will I feel like I'm constantly telling him to behave? Why oh why did I think this was a good idea? Then once we are actually there I'm so glad I decided to go.

This trip was different for us in a few ways. It was the first with two kids, my younger one being six weeks old at the time, and the first time being based in more of a resort. Actually that last bit is not quite true, it was sort of a resort in Canada last February but I struggle to think of a place as a resort when it's cold, somehow.

Anyway our hotel in Cyprus was a kind of smart hotel that was still family-oriented and while it seemed the kind of place I would normally hate - we were only there because my husband's conference was based there - I could certainly see the appeal.

Having a broad kids menu (including some purees I was impressed to see), a buffet option for breakfast and dinner that was great as well as a swimming pool, little playground and access to the beach nearby did help make things pretty relaxing. As did the fantastic pleasantly-warm temperatures, it has to be said.

It wasn't exactly a big beach, nor a fancy playground, but it worked for a three year old and that was all that mattered. Plus, he loved a lot of the food.

Bread with dips for lunch is a winner with my son at least. Interestingly, his favorite was taramasalata - don't know if it still would be if I told him it was made from cod roe - but mine was and I think always will be baba ghanoush.

What's in baba ghanoush?

In essence it's simply the following mashed together:

grilled/roasted eggplant (skin removed)
olive oil
garlic
lemon
tahini

It wasn't actually called baba ghanoush in Cyprus. In fact I can't remember the local name, as it was always translated as eggplant dip/salad. It was sometimes more coarse than the version I have made here, more like some similar Persian dishes that I need to explore more. But the core flavors are such a great combination it really doesn't matter.

It's not a difficult dish to make either - you simply blacken the eggplant either on the grill, over the flame on a gas stove or you can roast it in the oven if you don't have either of the other options (although the flames do help give a good taste). Whichever way, you are looking for it to go black on the outside and the inside be tender. Once it cools, you peel off the skin then blend it up with everything else.

It is delicious, as I say, as a dip with bread, pita chips (like these easy and delicious baked pita chips) or vegetables, but you can also use it as a spread eg inside a pita with some lamb kofte, grilled chicken (you could use in place of tzatziki in my grilled chicken gyros) or whatever else you might have or enjoy.

Baba ghanoush is such a delicious dip or spread, and it's also both easy and pretty good for you. This version in particular doesn't have too much oil, plus it's naturally vegan as well. It has a slight creaminess from the tahini, a fresh sharpness from the lemon and everything else gives it such great flavor as well. Enjoy it on bread, with veg, or spread on chicken. Find your excuse soon!

Looking for more to add to your mezze? Try these!

Labneh (yogurt-like spread/dip)
Hummus with lamb (hummus kawarma)
Muhammara (pepper and walnut spread/dip)
Spinach fatayer (spinach pastries)
Kisir (Turkish bulgar salad)
Plus get more ideas in the Israeli and Middle Eastern recipes archives.

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