• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Oh My Veggies logo

  • Recipes
    • Vegetarian Recipes
    • Vegan Recipes
    • Vegetarian Main Dishes
    • Vegetarian Appetizers
    • Vegetarian Breakfast Recipes
    • Vegetarian Side Dishes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Snack Recipes
    • Drinks
    • Sauces, Spreads and Condiments
    • Holiday Recipes
    • From our Readers
  • Cooking Tips & Hints
    • Cooking Tips
    • Plant-Based Nutrition
    • Product Reviews
  • Shop Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Find Recipes
  • Cookbooks
  • About Us
  • Freebies!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Find Recipes
    • Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Freebies!
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Oh My Veggies » Vegan Recipes » Vegan Side Dishes

    Recipe | Mama Ghannouj (Baba Ghannouj made with zucchini!)

    Published: Jun 20, 2013 · by Nicole · Updated: Feb 15, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    Mama Ghannouj - Baba Ghannouj made with zucchini!
    We used to live a few minutes away from the most amazing Middle Eastern fast food restaurant. The food was cheap, delicious, and plentiful, which worked well for us since we were on a tight budget. And whenever we went there, we'd always order what we called The Trifecta: Hummus, Baba Ghannouj, and Mama Ghannouj. With enough pita bread, you could make a meal out of those alone, and we often did. Because, you know, the whole tight budget thing.

    After we moved away, that restaurant was one of the things we missed most. And even now, 7 years later, we still talk about it once in a while. Because no one else sells mama ghannouj! I'm sure it exists outside of that restaurant, but I haven't seen it. Which is a sad thing, because it's delicious.

    Mama Ghannouj - Baba Ghannouj made with zucchini!
    Mama ghannouj is baba ghannouj made with zucchini. That was pretty much all I had to go on when working on this recipe. (Well, that, and a very hazy memory of what it tasted like.) So I used the same ingredients in baba ghannouj for this recipe, minus the eggplant. I tried oven-roasting the zucchini, but you really need to grill it--the smoky flavor of slightly charred squash is an important component of this dish. To cut back on calories, I used a little less olive oil than you'd typically use in baba ghannouj--I think the resulting dip is still creamy and smooth without it, but if you're an olive oil fan, feel free to add as much as you like.

    We're coming upon that time of year when everyone has an abundance of zucchini (well, everyone except me--thanks, vine borers!), so this recipe is perfect for when you can't even look at another loaf of zucchini bread. Throw some zucchini on the grill and make some mama ghannouj!

    Recipe

    Mama Ghannouj Recipe

    Mama Ghannouj

    Mama ghannouj is baba ghannouj made with zucchini instead of eggplant. It's a great way to use up a surplus of summertime zucchini!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Email Recipe
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: baba ganoush, baba ghannouj, Mama Ghannouj, roasted Eggplant Dip
    Servings: 6 servings
    Calories: 100kcal
    Author: Oh My Veggies

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ lbs. zucchini grilled whole until softened and lightly charred on the outside
    • ¼ c. tahini
    • Juice from 1 large lemon
    • 1-2 garlic cloves 2 if you want your mama ghannouj to be extra garlicky
    • 1 tbsp. olive oil plus extra for drizzling on top
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Cut the top and the bottom off of each zucchini and allow them to cool. Once cooled, cut them into large chunks.
    • Combine zucchini, tahini, lemon juice, garlic cloves, and olive oil in blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and drizzle additional olive oil over the top, if desired. (I also like sprinkling mine with a little smoked paprika. It's not traditional, but it's delicious!) Serve with fresh veggies, pita bread or chips, or crackers.

    Notes

    To grill the zucchini, lightly oil the outside and place them directly on the grates of your grill. The cook time depends on the type of grill you have and how hot it is, so it's hard to be precise. Just keep an eye on the zucchini and turn them every so often. You don't want them to burn, but they should have nice grill marks on them.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 100kcalCarbohydrates: 6gProtein: 3gFat: 8gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 343mgFiber: 2gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 233IUVitamin C: 21mgCalcium: 33mgIron: 1mg
    Craving more veg-friendly recipes? Shop our collection of vegetarian and vegan cookbooks, including our new Vegan Thanksgiving and Vegan Christmas cookbooks!
    « Vanilla & Orange Cake
    Zucchini cannelloni - vegetarian and pasta free »

    Snack Recipes, Vegan Recipes, Vegetarian Appetizers, Vegetarian Recipes, Vegetarian Side Dishes 30 minutes or less, gluten-free, snacks, summer, zucchini

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Hannah @ CleanEatingVeggieGirl says

      June 20, 2013 at 8:19 am

      This sounds absolutely amazing! I LOVE Indian food :). I would love to dip about a billion pita chips into this ;).

      Reply
    2. Anele @ Success Along the Weigh says

      June 20, 2013 at 8:30 am

      This sounds awesome! Will definitely give it a go!

      Reply
    3. Suzanne says

      June 20, 2013 at 8:32 am

      I laughed out loud at the recipe title; I've never heard of Mama Ganouj before! It sounds like a family haha 😛

      Reply
    4. Christine @ Gotta Eat Green says

      June 20, 2013 at 8:45 am

      I've never even heard of mama ghannouj before! I'm not totally sold on baba ghannouj... but I do love zucchini so I see some ghannouj making in my future. Thanks for the awesome recipe!

      Reply
    5. Caitlin says

      June 20, 2013 at 9:44 am

      i've never heard of this! i love baba ghannouj..and i love zucchini..so i'm guessing i would love this!

      Reply
    6. cassie says

      June 20, 2013 at 9:50 am

      I already know I will love this...so glad to learn something new today. I had no idea that mama ghannouj existed! Your photos are amazing, Kiersten!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm

        Maybe it doesn't outside of that restaurant?! And my blog, I guess. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Dixya @ Food, Pleasure, and Health says

      June 20, 2013 at 10:04 am

      i have never heard of mama ganoush but would love to try it. Since I dont have grill i will try broiling it and see what happens

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm

        Broiling works too, it just doesn't have as much of the smoky flavor. Adding some smoked paprika will make up for it. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Joy // For the Love of Leaves says

      June 20, 2013 at 10:43 am

      Oh man, I bet this is fantastic. I love grilled zucchini! I love baba ghannouj! The two married together... Dangerous.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:43 pm

        It's so not dangerous! It's healthy! 😀

        Reply
    9. Erin says

      June 20, 2013 at 11:13 am

      So for 1 1/2 lbs of zucchini, would it be 2 medium or small or 1? Just wondering because I have some zucchini but don't know the weight. Thank you!!! 🙂

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:43 pm

        It would probably be about 2 large zucchini or maybe 3-4 small ones. With a recipe like this, you can just grill what you have and add the other ingredients to taste. 🙂

        Reply
    10. Freda Love Smith says

      June 20, 2013 at 11:28 am

      I've never heard of Mama Ghannouj! Ridiculously excited to try this recipe, especially with the hot smoked paprika I recently bought and want to put on everything! Thanks for the inspiration.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:42 pm

        I LOVE smoked paprika. I have a smoked paprika salt that I put on everything too. Sometimes I'll just eat a pinch of it straight, which is so, so wrong, I know.

        Reply
    11. Kiran @ KiranTarun.com says

      June 20, 2013 at 12:45 pm

      Love the idea of grilling veggies for a dip! Filled with flavors!!

      Reply
    12. Alecia says

      June 20, 2013 at 12:46 pm

      I'm so happy right now... As much as I really, really WANT to like eggplant, I just can't do it. I've tried Baba G before & literally can't swallow it, but on some level, enjoyed the flavor profile, if that makes any sense. 😛 I've never heard of his skinny, sexy green friend Mama G before & would never have thought to swap the purple thing for zucchini -pure brilliance! I'm making this for lunch today and you just made my day, thank you!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:39 pm

        Oh, that totally makes sense to me--I'm the same way with a lot of foods myself. 🙂 I'll like the flavor, but not the texture, or the texture, but not the flavor.

        Reply
    13. Laura (Tutti Dolci) says

      June 20, 2013 at 2:01 pm

      This dip looks like it would be just perfect with my daily snack of pita chips!

      Reply
    14. Alexis @ Hummusapien says

      June 20, 2013 at 2:08 pm

      I never knew there was a mama version! I made a batch with eggplant last week and it was pretty good, but roasting it in the oven still didn't give it that great smoky flavor that it needed. I bet grilling it would be perfect!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:38 pm

        Yeah, it's still good, but it's just missing a little something when you roast it.

        Reply
    15. houstonalle says

      June 20, 2013 at 4:12 pm

      Has anyone tried grilling these on a electric indoor grill? I wonder whether they will get enough smokey flavor. I know I can get the grill marks on it.

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:37 pm

        An electric grill would work, although outdoor is better. 🙂

        Reply
    16. McKel Hill, MS, RD, LDN | Nutrition Stripped says

      June 20, 2013 at 5:04 pm

      Girl, we think too much alike. I was just whipping up some baba ghanoush in the kitchen yesterday, but traditional style! I'd love to try this one with zucchini 😉

      Reply
    17. Natalie @ Once Upon a Cutting Board says

      June 20, 2013 at 5:34 pm

      I've never heard of mama ghannouj (obviously, I guess, if it's only available at that one place!), and I had no idea you could make baba ghannouj with anything other than eggplant, but zucchini totally makes sense since it's similar in texture, but I bet it tastes even better!

      Reply
    18. Kylee says

      June 20, 2013 at 6:50 pm

      Wow - that looks fantastic!

      Reply
    19. Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie says

      June 20, 2013 at 8:13 pm

      That sounds delicious! I often get zucchini in my organic veggie box and have used them for lots of different things, but never a dip! I shall have to give this a try

      Reply
    20. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      June 20, 2013 at 11:57 pm

      A brilliant idea! Can I roast the zucchini instead of grilling?

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:35 pm

        Grilling gives it the best flavor, but roasting definitely works too. 🙂

        Reply
    21. Marta @ What Should I eat for breakfast today says

      June 21, 2013 at 9:22 am

      I am still living next to one and I eat there too often, I should strt making my own versions 🙂

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:29 pm

        If I lived next to a Middle Eastern restaurant, I don't think I'd ever go home.

        Reply
    22. Liz says

      June 21, 2013 at 3:45 pm

      Do you use a gas grill or a charcoal grill?

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 21, 2013 at 6:07 pm

        I use a charcoal grill, but gas would work too. 🙂

        Reply
    23. Carole says

      June 21, 2013 at 6:07 pm

      Lovely work, Kiersten! Would you be happy to link it in to the current Food on Friday which is collecting snacks and treats? This is the link . I do hope to see you there. There are already quite a lot of links for you to check out. Cheers

      Reply
    24. Ala says

      June 21, 2013 at 7:00 pm

      Cute, cute, and cuter! There are so many zucchinis sitting in my fridge and I was in a panic before moving-time--but I think you've just solved it. Can't wait to give this a shot soon!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 24, 2013 at 9:41 pm

        This is definitely a great way to use a lot of zucchini at once!

        Reply
    25. Lisa @ Greek Vegetarian says

      June 21, 2013 at 8:20 pm

      You'll never believe it but our local Middle Eastern restaurant is called Mama Ganoush! Next time I am there I will see if they have their namesake on the menu!!

      Reply
      • Kiersten says

        June 24, 2013 at 9:39 pm

        That is so funny! You'll have to tell me if they have it on the menu. I'm wondering if maybe it was just something that this restaurant made up since no one seems to have heard of it...

        Reply
    Newer Comments »
    5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

    Something to say? Leave a comment. Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    image of the author

    Nicole is a life long vegetarian and the author of the popular vegan cookbook, Weeknight One Pot Vegan Cooking. She loves sharing her recipes and showing the world just how easy and delicious meatless meals can be!
    Learn more here.

    signature of author

    get a free 5 day vegetarian meal plan

    shop our vegetarian and vegan cookbooks

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    • Shop Cookbooks
    • About Us
    • Work with Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use

    Still hungry? Check out our delicious family of blogs.

    veg kitchen
    step away from the carbs
    all she cooks
    midlife rambler
    wandertooth logo

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Hook & Porter Media

    948 shares

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.