Middle Eastern flavors take an unexpected turn in this white chocolate baba ghannouj, which is a great mix of sweet, smoky, and savory.
white chocolate baba ghannouj

There are two kinds of people in this world.

The first would see “white chocolate baba ghannouj” on a menu and then commence dry heaving in a corner at the possibility that there are people in this world who would consider eating such a thing.

While the second would already be on their second bowl, and licking it clean.

I’ll give you a hint which one I am.

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I first stumbled upon the concept of white chocolate baba ghannouj at a dinner at South End Kitchen during my Cabot Fit Team weekend in Vermont, and from that first pita swipe through it, I was hooked.

Sure, I could have played it safe that night and ordered the portabella burger instead (which I heard was also all kinds of fabulous). But how could I have looked at myself in the mirror the next day knowing that I had the opportunity to eat something totally out there. And passed.

That wouldn’t do. That wouldn’t do at.all.

So I went rogue and ordered the mezze platter instead. And now nary a week goes by that I don’t have a container of this dip sitting in my fridge, ready and waiting for some carrot, cuke, or pita dipping action. I guess you could say that I liked it.

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But you could also say that I loved it, and that would probably be more accurate.

Great as a part of a larger appetizer platter, but with bold enough flavors to stand alone as a light meal, this baba ghannouj really brings something to the table (pun intended) in terms of just how unique it is. While dark chocolate is often used to lend a deep, bitter and softly sweet note to many savory dishes, it is rare to see white chocolate used in anything but a full-on sugar saturated application.  I think, because it is so sweet compared to its darker counterparts, it is hard to find the right place for it in the savory world, but in this dip, against the smoky tart backdrop of the lemony roasted eggplant, it just works. And I have quite a few bags of empty pita chips to prove it.

White Chocolate Baba Ghannouj
 
Baba ghannouj takes an unexpected twist in this version that includes a surprise ingredient - white chocolate!
Yield: 2½ cups
Ingredients
  • 8 garlic cloves, unpeeled
  • 2 large eggplants, sliced in half lengthwise
  • ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice
  • ⅔ cup tahini
  • 4 oz white chocolate, melted and cooled
  • 1½ tsp ground cumin
  • 1½ tsp smoked paprika, plus more for sprinkling
Instructions
  1. Heat broiler on high.
  2. Place the garlic and eggplants, skin side up, on a large parchment-lined baking sheet. Broil until the garlic and eggplants are charred all over and cooked through. For the garlic, this should take 15-20 minutes and for the eggplant it should take 45 minutes to an hour depending on how hot your broiler is.
  3. Peel the garlic and transfer to a food processor. Scoop the eggplant insides from the eggplant, leaving the skin, and place those into the food processor as well. Add the lemon juice, tahini, white chocolate, cumin, and smoked paprika to the food processor bowl and pulse until smooth.
  4. Serve with pita chips or veggies for dipping, sprinkling with more smoked paprika to garnish.
Notes
Adapted slightly from Saveur
Nutrition Information
Serving size: ¼ cup

For more dip recipes, check out these:

black olive gougeres and smoky red lentil dip

Smoky Red Lentil Dip

hummus with ful

Hummus with Ful

white bean, sage and roasted garlic spread

White Bean, Sage, and Roasted Garlic Spread

From Around the Web:

Basic Baked Brie Dip from Spoon Fork Bacon

Wasabi Dip from Dana Treat

Hummus Spinach Artichoke Dip from Rachel Cooks

Layered Mediterranean Dip from Perry’s Plate

Woodland Fire Sichuan Hummus from Lady and Pups

Disclosure: The Instagram photos that were taken to accompany this post, were taken using a Nokia Lumia that I received for free. However, as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

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51 Responses to White Chocolate Baba Ghannouj

  1. Kathryn says:

    This sounds crazy but in the best possible way! I’ve never thought of pairing something so sweet like white chocolate with the flavours of baba ghannouj but I know I can trust you if you say it’s delicious. Totally intriguing!

  2. I think I am a 3rd type – I’d be repulsed by the title but too fascinated not to try it! I really have to give this a try, although I probably won’t tell my husband what the secret ingredient is until he has had a taste.

  3. Soooo unique! I’ve love to try this. If you think it’s delicious, I trust your taste buds! 🙂

  4. Beth says:

    If anyone else used white chocolate in a savoury recipe, I’d look the other way (although I wouldn’t be dry-heaving in the corner). Since it was you, it’s on my list!

  5. This sounds amazing- would never thought of adding white chocolate! Really unique recipe, definitely need to try! 🙂

  6. Baba ghannouj is a recent obsession of mine — I think about it pretty much daily. I think this white chocolatey version definitely needs to be a part of my life!

  7. This is totally different. I am not sure I would be brave enough to try this.

  8. Rachel Cooks says:

    I’m so intrigued by this! Wow! Thanks for the link love, too! 🙂

  9. honestly, i would have never thought of them going together but being the curious person I m, I probably would have tried it. next time, i will be trying this version.

  10. Barbara says:

    Totally fascinating post, Joanne. This is the first I’ve heard of this and this has got to be one of the most unusual ingredient lists I’ve ever seen. I would never think to make this on my own and like you, would have needed to taste it someplace and be amazed before I’d try it.

  11. Now this I’ve got to try! I am ALWAYS up for anything that had eggplant in it, no matter the other ingredients! Looks awesome, Joanne! Now all I need is a ginormous bag of pita chips! 😉

  12. White chocolate in eggplant dip? wow..that sounds crazy..no, I meant crazily GOOD!

  13. white chocolate baba ghannouj – I am so fascinated! I have used chocolate in savory dishes before but it has always been dark – wow – just thinking of the creamy and sweet white chocolate in baba ghannouj leaves me wondering if I would need anything other than a spoon to eat it up with!

  14. Sounds totally odd, but I’m sure it works! You got a way with flavors!

  15. SallyBR says:

    Would you believe that yesterday I saw a recipe for a twist on hummus that called for a tablespoon of cocoa powder in the mix? Intriguing…

    so I see nothing wrong with this white chocolate version, particularly since you loved it so much

  16. Trisha says:

    I’m totally in the second category too. This sounds JUST crazy enough to work. I can do some major damage to some pita and dip. YUM-O!

  17. cheri says:

    Hi Joanne, I love recipes with surprise ingredients and this one looks amazing, love the smokey and sweet concept here.

  18. danielle says:

    This sounds kind of strange…so, I need to try it!

  19. white chocolate in a savory dip!? That is sooo…daring! I love it. Might have to take the plunge sometime

  20. This sounds just odd enough to be something that I must have in my life. SOON.

  21. This sounds amazing! I am so intrigued! I am definitely going to be going to more restaurants and experimenting with eating the most outrageous sounding dish 🙂

  22. Susan says:

    Unexpected and intriguing! When my itty-bitty eggplants get better, I’d love to try it.

  23. Meg says:

    Oooh, this is so unique — and looks fantastic. I’ve gotten quite into Middle Eastern cooking through that adventurous husband of mine, and I can see this getting added into the rotation!

  24. Veronica says:

    UM yes, I would be licking the bowl and going back for more!!! That sounds amazing. Now I need to get me some eggplant.

  25. Jeanette says:

    So interesting Joanne – I’ve never seen white chocolate used in a savory recipe – thanks for sharing!

  26. Woah girl. This sounds amazing!

  27. Kate says:

    I wonder how this translates to other veggie dips. Eggplant always upsets my stomach.

  28. Eileen says:

    Well, I can’t say I would ever have thought to include white chocolate in baba ghanouj, but I’m definitely intrigued to discover how it tastes! NOM.

  29. I’ve never had this before! It looks very interesting!

  30. Hmmm… I don’t like eggplant, but putting it with white chocolate just might do it for me!

  31. Whoa this is a new one that I must try.

  32. Never actually tried baba ghannouj before but this post has definitely got me ready to go and make some!

  33. Wow! At first I thought that there’s no way this tastes good, especially with white chocolate, which is notoriously sweeter than milk or dark chocolate. However, this is one of the most innovative savory recipes with white chocolate I’ve ever seen.

  34. elizabeth e says:

    I’m definitely intrigued by this — I may see if I can get eggplants at the Farmer’s Market this weekend.

  35. Wow. Now that is one unique dip! I love it! Hmmm, maybe I’ll go out and try this too… 🙂

  36. Monica says:

    This is kinda wild. Love learning something new so thank you!

  37. Danguole says:

    Toootally in the second camp over here. I went from “whahuh, really?” to “mmmayyybe” to “HECK YES give me” in exactly .49 seconds. I just need a barbecue to go to, and I’ll be trying this out for sure!

  38. Very interesting and intriguing Joanne 🙂

  39. I’m so intrigued by this, which means that I need to make it and see for myself what it tastes like! I love your creative recipes like this one! I do love sweet and savory so maybe I will love this too!

  40. Lynn says:

    I truly wouldn’t have known about this – I love the idea of it.

  41. I’m in the second bowl team too hey! This looks like a brilliant dip I’d looooove to try 😉

  42. grace says:

    i might have to try this because most of me is thinking ‘no way this is good’. you’ve never steered me wrong before, so i won’t knock it til i try it!

  43. I am so intrigued by this! Definitely need to give it a try!

  44. Emma says:

    Intriguing… will definitely have to give this a go!

  45. Anne says:

    Looks delicious! Love all the vegetables/seeds/herbs! Makes it so healthy!

  46. Shannon says:

    woah! totally cool. this almost trumps the bruleed egg yolk i just saw 🙂 must. try.

  47. All I can say here is ‘Wow!’ I spotted this on SM earlier in the week and thought this was some kind of sweet dessert. I love baba ganoush (it’s eaten in Greece a lot) and can’t imagine how this would taste, but I totally trust you that it’s good. I guess I have to try it just to make sure! 🙂

  48. Johanna GGG says:

    I am on your side of the fence here – this sounds so intriguing and exciting I have bookmarked it to try. Curious that it doesn’t included any salt in the recipe – I always find vegies quite sweet when no salt added – though smoked paprika makes a difference. But would love it in my fridge.

  49. Do you even need to guess what kind of person I am? I think not. DUDE. What is this?? I must have it!

  50. […] in my head for awhile now. It is a veggie burger FULL of flavor. And…it has a secret ingredient. White Chocolate Baba Ghannouj, Middle Eastern flavors take an unexpected turn in this white chocolate baba ghannouj, which is a […]

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