Zaalouk: Creamy Smoky Moroccan Eggplant Tomato Dip 50 2026

Zaalouk is a traditional Moroccan dip made from a creamy, spiced blend of eggplant and tomato. It is served as an appetizer or side, and it pairs beautifully with warm flatbread, though it also works alongside meat and fish dishes. If you are looking for a vegetarian dish that is full of flavor, this one is a great choice.

The recipe is quick and easy to prepare, so it will likely become one of your favorites. It is ideal as a starter or appetizer with flatbread such as naan or wheat tortillas, creating a very original and flavorful bite. To make it, choose fleshy tomatoes and avoid those with very watery pulp, as they are not the best for this preparation.

If you make a large batch of zaalouk, you can roast the eggplants and tomatoes with the spices in the oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes, until done. This also adds a very tasty touch to the final result. In this version, we boil the eggplant and then add it to a sofrito made with tomato, garlic and spices. You can add a spicy kick by adding a crumbled dried cayenne pepper to the spices.

Ingredients for Zaalouk

For 2 servings

• 1 eggplant
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red tomato
• 2 garlic cloves
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground cumin
• ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
• ½ teaspoon ground ginger

How to Make Zaalouk Step by Step

1. Boil the eggplant

Peel 1 eggplant, cut it into 1 cm cubes and boil it in salted water for 10 minutes.

2. Sauté the tomato with spices

Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sauté 1 red tomato cut into cubes together with 2 crushed garlic cloves, 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro, ½ teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of ground cumin, ½ teaspoon of sweet paprika and ½ teaspoon of ground ginger for 7 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the eggplant and cook until creamy

Drain the eggplant well and add it to the pan. Stir and cook the mixture over medium heat for about 20 minutes or until it reaches the texture you like, which can be more or less creamy.

4. Serve the zaalouk

Serve the freshly made zaalouk in a bowl decorated with 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro and accompanied by some warm flatbread of your choice.

Tips for the Best Zaalouk

Choose the right tomatoes

Use fleshy tomatoes and avoid those with very watery pulp, as they are not the best for this preparation. If you make a large batch, you can roast the eggplants and tomatoes with the spices in the oven at 180 °C for about 15-20 minutes, until done, which adds a very tasty touch to the final result.

Adjust the spice level

You can add a spicy kick to the mixture by adding a crumbled dried cayenne pepper to the spices. This is optional and lets you control the heat according to your taste.

Serve it warm with flatbread

Zaalouk is ideal as a starter or appetizer served with flatbread such as naan or wheat tortillas, creating a very original and flavorful bite. It also pairs perfectly with meat and fish dishes.

30 Favorite Recipes I Keep Coming Back To at Home

Maybe you're wired the same way I am: your kitchen rotation is a blend of cozy standbys, well-loved dishes from around the globe, and sweets that make a crowd happy.

Some nights I want something luxurious, and that's when I reach for this La Viña Molten Cheesecake recipe, this refined Original French Crème Brûlée recipe, or a deeply rich Chocolate Mousse Cake recipe. And on days when only fruit-forward comfort will do, this timeless French Tarte Tatin recipe is my reliable pick.

For quick morning meals and lighter plates, I regularly 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 my pantry needs a gluten-free basic, this no-fuss Gluten-Free Rice Flour recipe does the trick.

On evenings built around tapas and Mediterranean tastes, I cycle through this punchy Basque Tuna with Tomato recipe, golden Patatas Bravas Air Fryer recipe, silky Tirokafteri Greek Dip Sauce recipe, and a cool Burrata Salad with Tomato and Pesto recipe. This elegant Italian Vitello Tonnato recipe also comes out whenever the occasion calls for a little extra polish.

For stick-to-your-ribs midday meals and comforting suppers, my go-tos are this warming Meatballs in Spanish Sauce recipe, time-honored Meatballs in Almond Sauce recipe, deeply savory Italian Bolognese Sauce recipe, and velvety Chicken Croquettes in Thermomix recipe. When I'm after something even more substantial, I turn to this oven-baked Greek Pastitsio Pie recipe, homey Potatoes and Squid Stew recipe, or the supremely cozy French Boeuf Bourguignon recipe.

Anytime street food or party fare is on my mind, I'll throw together this succulent Homemade Chicken Doner Kebab recipe, crunchy Salchipapas recipe, punchy Mexican Pork Carnitas recipe, or these crisp Korean Hobak Jeon recipe. These effortless Air Fryer Zucchini Rings recipe are another favorite of mine for a light starter or snack.

And when I'm hosting and mixing drinks to go with a full spread, dinner often gets paired with this cool Original Cuban Mojito recipe, a strong Long Island Iced Tea recipe, or a pitcher of this sweet Bleeding Spanish Sangria recipe. To bring it all together, I like setting out this zesty French Remoulade Sauce recipe alongside, or capping the meal with this dramatic Mediterranean Black Rice with Squid recipe.

Even More Tasty Recipes the Whole Family Will Enjoy

After countless rounds of testing and tweaking in my own kitchen, I've come to believe the finest dishes are built on straightforward steps, dependable methods, and serious flavor.

The recipes gathered here are the ones I genuinely cook on repeat—whether it's a fast solo meal or something festive for the people I love.

On the sweet side, the lush, velvety Orange Chocolate Mousse Recipe is my pick when I want a dessert that feels fancy yet comes together without fuss. Another treat I adore is the caramelized Trdelnik Slavic Pastry Recipe, modeled on the celebrated 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 light and easy is what I'm after, I lean on the timeless Italian Caprese Salad Recipe or a flawlessly done Simple Poached Egg Recipe. For more filling comfort fare, I frequently suggest the crowd-pleasing Meatball Sandwich Recipe, the luscious Russian Stroganoff Beef Recipe, and the speedy weeknight go-to One Pot Pasta Recipe.

Sharing dishes from across the globe is another joy of mine, among them the genuine Sorropotún de Bonito Fish Stew Recipe, crispy Chilean Pumpkin Sopaipillas Recipe, and the traditional Spanish Cochifrito Segovian Fried Pig Recipe.

Air fryer cooking is yet another category I turn to often, since it delivers speed 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 indulgent, cheesy, and deeply comforting without any gluten.

Gluten free Empanada Dough Recipe 🍕 Fluffy Apple Cake Recipe 🍔 Langos Hungarian Fried Bread Recipe 🌭 Gluten Free French Brioche Recipe 🍟 Madeira British Sponge Cake Recipe 🌮 Chocolate Argentinian Cookies Alfajores Recipe 🌯 Barmbrack Irish Sweet Bread Recipe 🥙 Gluten free Cookies Recipe 🥗 Homemade cream Maruxas Galician Biscuit Recipe 🍝 Japanese Dumplings Gyoza Dough Recipe

American Gluten Free Cookies Recipe 🍜 Gluten Free King Cake Recipe 🍲 Gluten Free Chocolate Cake Recipe 🍛 Extremadura Style Chard Recipe 🍣 Keto Sliced Sandwich Bread Recipe 🍱 Gluten Free Waffles Recipe 🍤 Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe 🍗 Gluten Free Bread Rolls Recipe 🍖 Flourless Gluten Free Bread Buns Recipe 🥓 Protein Ice Cream Recipe 🥞 Chia Pudding Dessert with Seeds Recipe

Fluffy Cloud Bread Pan Nube Recipe 🧇 Quinoa Bread Recipe 🍞 Schiacciata Tuscan Focaccia Flat Bread Recipe 🥐 Shokupan Japanese Milk Bread Recipe 🥨 Potato Sandwich Bread Recipe 🧀 Homemade Breadsticks Recipe 🍳 Stollen German Dried Fruits Cake Recipe 🥚 French Gingerbread Spiced Cake Recipe 🍰 Gluten Free Pancakes Recipe

🥔 Potato-omelet-in-Thermomix 🍓 Smores-Sandwich-Dessert 🍰 Womens-Day-Mimosa-cake ☕ Coffee-Sorbet 🍆 Eggplant-pizza 🍋 Ciambella-Italian-Lemon-Cake 🥖 Zapiekanka-Polish-Snack 🌰 Dukkah-Egyptian-Nuts-Mix 🧆 Best-Hummus 🥑 Best-Avocado