What to Eat with Baba Ganoush [11 Easy Recipe Ideas]

Serve the perfect meze platter with these baba ganoush side ideas. Bring out the classic eggplant dip’s smoky flavors with these quick and easy dishes.

What to Eat with Baba Ganoush

Freshly made homemade baba ganoush is one of the best dishes in any Middle Eastern or Mediterranean meze platter. Made from roasted eggplant and tahini, it adds beautiful smoky notes to anything it’s paired with.

Whether you’re planning a huge meze spread or a quick appetizer, here’s what to serve with baba ganoush.

homemade falafel chickpea balls

Falafel

Falafel is a fried ball of ground-up chickpeas and herbs, and is a staple of so many Middle Eastern and Mediterranean meze spreads. If you want to keep your meal traditional, falafel is an excellent accompaniment for baba ganoush.

You can buy ready-made falafel from most supermarkets, but it’s also easy to make your own. Pulse dried chickpeas, onion, herbs, and spices in a food processor, form the mixture into balls, and fry it.

grilled pita bread taramasalata

Grilled Pita Bread

No traditional meze spread is complete without grilled pita bread. Pita bread is a type of leavened flatbread popular in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. Tear off pita strips to dip it into the baba ganoush, or make a wrap using the dip as a spread and fill it with your choice of falafel and vegetables.

You can buy pita bread from the store or make your own at home using flour, olive oil, and yeast. Char the bread on a grill or stovetop to add extra flavor.

dolma stuffed grape leaves mediterranean cuisine

Dolma

Dolma is traditional stuffed food popular in the Balkans and the Middle East. They come in many varieties, but the most common dolma are grape leaves stuffed with rice, meat, or vegetables. Dolmas are traditionally served as starters, just like baba ganoush.

Many specialty markets sell ready-made dolma, but you can also try making your own. Make the filling ahead of time, buy preserved grape or cabbage leaves, and fold them into small pockets.

hummus with parsley and pita bread

Hummus

Hummus is a delicious dip made out of chickpeas that is one of the most popular dishes from the Middle East. Hummus, baba ganoush, and pita bread are excellent snacks or appetizers. The contrasting flavors of baba ganoush and hummus complement each other, and you and your family will get to sample different dips.

You can buy hummus at the supermarket, but it is easy to make your own. Pulse chickpeas, tahini, olive oil, and herbs in a food processor until smooth.

lebanese kibbeh on black slate stone and granite background

Kibbeh

Kibbeh is a popular Middle Eastern dish made of minced meat, bulgur wheat, and onions formed into fried balls. Kibbeh can be served as part of a meze platter or as a meal in its own right because it is so filling. The richness of the meat pairs well with baba ganoush’s fresh flavor.

You can make your own kibbeh by combining your choice of ground meat with grains, chopped onions, and seasoning such as sumac. Form the mixture into egg-shaped balls and fry them until crispy.

turkish traditional kofte spicy meatballs kebab

Kofta

Kofta (or köfte) is a type of meatball popular in the Middle East. Kofta is a safe choice when it comes to serving something for picky eaters while still respecting tradition.

To make kofta, the first ingredient that you need is minced meat of your choice. Kofta differs from other meatballs thanks to the herbs and spices in the meat mixture. Once you add your seasonings, form the meat into balls or small sausages and fry it.

grilled flatbreads with rosemary

Grilled Flatbread

Grilled bread is the perfect accompaniment for a dip such as baba ganoush. While traditionally, pita bread is the type of bread used in a meze platter, you can use a flatbread of your choice to scoop up the dip or form wraps. Grilling the flatbread adds an extra dimension of flavor. 

tabbouleh couscous salad vegetables

Tabbouleh

If you want to stick to a traditional accompaniment to baba ganoush, then you can’t go wrong with tabbouleh. Tabbouleh is a traditional herb-based salad that is a common starter in the Middle East. The herby flavors pair well with the creamy and smooth textures of baba ganoush.

To make your own tabbouleh, start by finely chopping large amounts of parsley. Then, add bulgur wheat, other herbs and seasonings such as mint, and vegetables such as tomatoes. You can stick to tradition or adjust the flavors according to your preferences.

Roasted pepper with garlic

Roasted Peppers

Roasted peppers are a popular component in most meze platters. You can serve them whole as a vegetable accompaniment or mash them up to form a dip. If you choose to serve roasted peppers as a dip, then you can make a dip platter along with baba ganoush and hummus.

Many supermarkets sell jarred roasted peppers or even roasted red pepper spread. You can also make your own by roasting peppers in the oven until they are soft, then mashing them with herbs, olive oil, and feta.

fresh portion of shish kebab on plate with onion and greens

Kebabs

Kebabs are maybe the Middle East’s most popular culinary export. This roasted meat dish usually served on a stick, is beloved around the world. If you want to add a filling element to your Middle East-inspired dish, make kebabs. Baba ganoush pairs well with this meat dish because the cooling vegetable balances out the robust meat flavors.

To make kebabs, start with cubed marinated meat of your choice. Put the meat on a skewer along with your choice of vegetables, such as onions and peppers, then grill. You can serve kebabs on their sticks or in a flatbread.

fresh greek feta cheese

Feta Cheese

Feta is a salty, brined cheese popular in the Mediterranean and the Middle East. You can recognize it by its distinctive cube shape and crumbly texture. It is a traditional component of meze platters and many Mediterranean dishes.

Feta pairs well with baba ganoush because the saltiness cuts through the richness of the dip. You can mix feta into baba ganoush or make a wrap using the eggplant dip, cheese, vegetables, and even falafel.

Add to Pinterest
5 from 1 vote