Melitzanosalata: Smoky Greek Eggplant Dip with Olive Oil 61 2026

Melitzanosalata is a traditional Greek eggplant dip made from roasted eggplant and a handful of bold seasonings. The result is smoky, creamy and full of flavor, and it works beautifully as an appetizer or as a side dish next to grilled meats or fish.

The eggplant is roasted whole until completely soft, then peeled and left to drain so the dip stays thick instead of watery. Garlic, red onion, cumin, cayenne, lemon zest and juice, olive oil and parsley come together to season it, while black olives and crumbled feta finish it off at the table.

Ingredients for Melitzanosalata

This recipe makes 2 servings as an appetizer.

• 1 eggplant
• 1 garlic clove
• ½ small red onion
• ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 dried cayenne pepper (or ground cayenne to taste)
• Zest and juice of half a lemon
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley
• Salt
• Ground black pepper
• Black olives (preferably Kalamata)
• Feta cheese, to taste

How to Make Melitzanosalata Step by Step

1. Roast and Drain the Eggplant

Preheat the oven to 200 °C. Wash 1 eggplant, dry it and prick it with a fork. Roast it whole at 200 °C for 30 minutes or until completely cooked through. If you want a smoky touch, finish it under the broiler until the skin wrinkles. Let the roasted eggplant cool, then remove the skin, cut the flesh into irregular pieces and leave them to drain in a colander so they lose excess liquid.

2. Season the Eggplant

Place the drained eggplant flesh in a bowl and season it with 1 pressed garlic clove, ½ small red onion chopped, ¼ teaspoon ground cumin, 1 chopped dried cayenne pepper or ground cayenne to taste, the zest and juice of half a lemon, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons chopped parsley, salt and ground black pepper.

3. Serve with Olives and Feta

Spread the seasoned eggplant mixture on a flat plate and decorate it with a few black olives (Kalamata if possible) and a little crumbled feta cheese to taste.

Tips for the Best Melitzanosalata

Get the Smoky Flavor

To make melitzanosalata the traditional way, the eggplant would be roasted over embers, a grill or directly over a flame until the skin wrinkles and the flesh softens, which gives it its characteristic smoky flavor. Since that technique is not practical for home cooking, you can emulate the smoky taste by finishing the eggplant under the oven broiler until the skin is wrinkled, or simply baking it and giving it a final touch under the broiler.

Adjust the Heat

The spicy kick in this recipe comes from the dried cayenne pepper. We added one chopped cayenne, but you can adapt the amount to your taste and add just a pinch of ground cayenne if you prefer it less spicy.

How to Serve It

Melitzanosalata is ideal served with pita bread, although we also love it as a side for grilled meats or fish.

30 Go-To Recipes I Keep Coming Back to in My Own Kitchen

Like a lot of home cooks, I like having a rotation that covers cozy classics, dishes from around the world, and sweets that make everyone happy.

Some nights I want something luxuriously rich, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a truly indulgent Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when I'm after something fruity and soothing, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For mornings that call for something easy and for lighter plates, I'll whip up these airy Oatmeal and Banana Pancakes recipe, a hearty Stuffed Sweet Potato recipe, or these bright Eggs Stuffed with Avocado and Salmon recipe. And whenever I need a gluten-free staple for the pantry, this straightforward Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the job.

When tapas and Mediterranean cooking are calling, I tend to cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, crispy Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This crisp Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe is another one I love to serve when the occasion feels a bit more special.

Hearty midday meals and comforting suppers? These are the ones I'm always recommending: this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, traditional Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something more substantial, I'll bake up this Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, rustic Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the deeply comforting French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Street-food cravings and party spreads usually lead me to this juicy Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crispy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crackly Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a quick appetizer or snack.

And when I'm hosting and putting together drinks alongside a full menu, I'll often serve dinner with this refreshing Original Cuban Mojito recipe, this potent Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this fruity Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring the whole table together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe on the side, or finishing things off with this eye-catching Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes to Cook for Your Family

After years of cooking, testing, and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the greatest dishes boil down to three things: straightforward methods, techniques you can trust, and serious flavor.

Every recipe gathered here is one I genuinely cook over and over—whether it's a fast meal just for me or something a little more celebratory for friends and family.

On the sweet side, the rich, silky Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is a go-to when I want something that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another dessert I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the well-known Central European chimney cake. If baking is your thing, knowing how to make syrup for better dessert texture helps a lot, and my Inverted Sugar Recipe walks through exactly how I do it at home.

When something light and uncomplicated is what I'm after, I'll usually make the classic Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly cooked Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For cozier, more filling meals, I frequently point people to the satisfying Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the creamy Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the fast weeknight winner One Pot Pasta Recipe.

I'm also a big fan of sharing dishes with roots in other countries, such as the authentic Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is another category I turn to often, since it cuts down on time without sacrificing texture. The ones I make most include Air Fryer Pork Ribs Recipe, Air Fryer Chicken Thighs Recipe, Air Fryer Sweet Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Baked Potatoes Recipe, Air Fryer Peppers Recipe, Air Fryer Mixed Sandwich Recipe, Air Fryer Toasted Bread Recipe, and Air Fryer Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe.

And for those steering clear of wheat, my cozy Gluten-Free Lasagna Recipe shows that a classic baked pasta can still be rich, cheesy, and deeply satisfying without any gluten.

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