Greek Roasted Eggplant Dip “Melitzanosalata”

by Mary Papoulias-Platis

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This Greek Roasted Eggplant Dip has been in our family for many years. I serve this at all my holiday dinners, as well as at my catering events.  What’s nice about this dip is that it can be prepared ahead of time, which can help with the advance preparation of a big meal. Try and use a high quality extra virgin olive oil in this recipe only, it makes a big difference! The taste comes through and adds another level of flavor. To learn more about olive you can purchase my cookbook, below. Bread is my choice for a dipper, pita, crackers or chips can also be used.

Eggplant comes in many different sizes and textures. I tend to use the meatiest eggplant, which are the long rounded ones pictured below.

You can use other varieties, but the cooking times will vary. If you do use the longer version, they are not as meaty so you will have to buy more eggplants.

To see a more detailed instructions please visit: How to Roast Eggplant post.

 

Roasting the eggplant elevates of the flavor and gives you a smokiness, which is added flavor to your dip!

Let cool slightly, and scoop out the flesh.

Add to your food processor until smooth. For a more chunky dip, you can use a mortar and pestle, or break up with potato masher.

Greek Roasted Eggplant Dip “Melitzanosalata”

Appetizers that are healthy can be hard to find - but this eggplant dip is healthful as well as savory with the addition of fresh parsley.

Course Appetizer
Cuisine Greek
Keyword CaliforniaGreek, dip, eggplant, Greek
Servings 6
Author Mary Papoulias-Platis

Ingredients

  • 2-3 purple round eggplants
  • 4-6 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
  • 1 bunch of fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 1-1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/4-1/2 teaspoons pepper
  • 1 baguette loaf,1 package of pita bread, sliced or crackers
  • Note: Use the large round eggplant not the long-skinny ones.

Instructions

  1. Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Wash eggplant, pat dry, and puncture skin of the eggplant with a sharp knife in several places.

  3. Place on a cooking sheet or sheet pan and bake for one hour.
  4. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
  5. While eggplant is warm to touch, cut in halve lengthwise and scoop out pulp with a spoon into a medium bowl.

  6. Place pulp in a food processor, blender, or use a hand blender and blend until smooth.

  7. Place back into bowl and add, garlic, olive oil, vinegar, salt, pepper, and parsley. Mix gently.

  8. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours until cool. Taste for more salt or pepper.
  9. Slice baguette and place around bowl. Or cut pita rounds like pie shape triangles and serve alongside the dip.

Recipe Notes

For a Party: Can be made 1-2 days ahead. This recipe can be doubled for a large crowd.

If you love eggplant as much as I do please visit more recipes here:

Weekend Eggplant Moussaka

Stuffed Eggplant with Grains

Eggplant Potato Phyllo Pie

Enjoy one of many traditional Greek family recipes at your next party!

Mary

Learn all about extra virgin olive oil.

BUY COOKBOOK HERE

© 2010 – 2023, Mary Papoulias-Platis. All rights reserved.

{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Ashley

and this sounds de-lish! Eggplant is my favorite so I will have to try this!

2 Mary Papoulias-Platis

I make this weekly as a fast-go-to snack! Enjoy!

3 Nina Papaioannou

Hi Mary!
I loooove eggplants and all eggplant related recipes. I prefer this recipe with lemon instead of vinegar because it makes the dip look whiter?!…etsi legete?? I think…I use as little oil as possible and I eat it with grilled breast chicken instead of bread when I am on a diet which is almost always.
Kisses from Greece
Nina

4 memeka politis

I use the same recipe for melitzanosalata. Only, i cut the flesh in small pieces on the cutting board and everything else. then mix together by hand. The taste is the same, only i like the little chunks. I like your recipes. Very traditional! bravo sou

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