This Eggplant Yogurt Recipe is a Turkish appetizer that will make your mouth water with every bite. Fire-roasted eggplant adds a smoky flavor to this tangy and bold dish, while fresh lemon juice provides a tantalizing citrus kick. Whether served as a side dish or an eggplant yogurt dip with pita chips, this recipe is guaranteed to satisfy!
Why You Should Try This Recipe?
With the best flavors of Mediterranean cuisine, this eggplant and Greek yogurt recipe will become your go-to dish for parties and home gatherings!
It’s a great alternative to Baba Ganoush if you don’t have tahini or want to try a new Middle Eastern spread.
Serve this as a Turkish eggplant dip or as a side dish, depending on your preference.
Simplify meal prep by making this dish up to 2 days in advance.
Eggplant Yogurt Recipe
This Eggplant Yogurt Recipe will have you licking your fingers after every delicious bite! Smoky eggplant, tangy Greek yogurt, and bold garlic combine to create a side dish, Turkish eggplant dip, or Middle Eastern mezze that everyone will love. A tahini-free alternative to Babaganoush, this eggplant dip with yogurt will elevate your appetizers to a whole new level. To make this dish, roast the eggplants on the stovetop and mix them with a garlic yogurt sauce. Serve with pita chips for the perfect side dish or appetizer.
Ingredients
- 4 medium size eggplants, or 2 large eggplants* – no need to peel them.
- 1 cup full fat plain Greek yogurt
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus more to drizzle at the end
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup Italian parsley chopped
- Pita chips for serving
- 1 tbsp sesame seeds or Z'aatar, 1 tbsp sesame seeds or Z'aatar,
Instructions
- To fire roast the eggplants on the stove: Place eggplants directly on the gas stove. Roast them on direct flames, turning it every 3-5 minutes until they are charred, soft and collapsing. Set them aside to cool.
- When cool enough to handle, peel them gently under cold running water. At this point, all you want to do is to remove the outer black layer as much as you can. And if some pieces make it to the dip, that is perfectly fine.
- Remove the flesh. If there are large chunks of seeds, you can remove them as well. This is an optional step, and it would be okay if you didn’t remove them, especially if you are making this during the eggplant season when they are the freshest.
- Cut the eggplant flesh into small pieces and place it in a medium sized bowl.
- While the eggplant is cooking, whisk together the yogurt, fresh garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a bowl until creamy.
- Pour the yogurt mixture over the cooked eggplant. Mix with a fork, gently breaking the large chunks of eggplants and making sure that they are all coated with the yogurt mixture.
- Garnish with parsley
- Serve with pita bread or pita chips on the side.
Notes
- After roasting the eggplants, you should have about 3 1/2 to 4 cups of eggplant flesh for this recipe.
- Make ahead: When making this recipe ahead of time, prepare the fire roasted eggplant and yogurt mixture separately. This way, the eggplant won’t absorb too much liquid, and it will better retain its gentle smoky flavor.
- Store: This eggplant dip with yogurt can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Before serving, be sure to stir the mixture to keep the yogurt, lemon, and olive oil from getting watery.
- Freeze: Although this dip keeps well in the fridge, I don’t recommend freezing it.
- For cooking eggplants, if you prefer a more hands-off approach try roasting them as a whole: To do so, poke 7-10 holes in each eggplant using a fork and place them on a rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Roast them in the oven at 400 degrees F. for 50-60 minutes, making sure to turn them halfway through. Then, remove the eggplants from the oven and set them aside to cool.
Nutrition
Calories: 190kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 7gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 40mgPotassium: 1185mgFiber: 14gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 482IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 125mgIron: 1mg
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