Zaalouk
Smoky Moroccan eggplant and tomato dip.
Ingredients
- 2 Eggplant
- 3 Tomato
- 3 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Ground cumin
- 1 tsp Smoked paprika
- 4 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ tsp Salt
- 3 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
- 1 Lemon (optional)
Method
- Char the whole eggplants over a gas flame or under the broiler, turning often, until the skins blister and blacken and the flesh collapses, about 15 minutes. Let cool, then peel off the skin and chop the soft flesh.
- While the eggplants char, chop the tomatoes and mince the garlic.
- Warm the olive oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, tomatoes, eggplant flesh, cumin, smoked paprika, and salt and cook down, mashing with a spoon, until thick and jammy and the oil pools at the edges.
- Off the heat, squeeze in the lemon and stir through the cilantro.
- Serve warm with bread.
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About Zaalouk
Zaalouk is a Moroccan cooked salad of eggplant and tomato, one of the small dishes that traditionally opens a meal alongside bread. The eggplants are charred whole until their skins blacken and the flesh collapses, then simmered down with tomato, garlic, cumin, and smoked paprika into a thick, jammy dip. That fire-roasting is what sets zaalouk apart from a plain eggplant mash, lending it a deep, smoky backbone.
The result is soft, silky, and richly spiced, with the sweetness of cooked-down tomato balanced by earthy cumin, warm paprika, and a squeeze of lemon stirred in at the end for lift. Cilantro brightens the whole thing, and good olive oil pooling at the edges signals it is done. It is eaten warm or at room temperature, scooped up with flatbread as part of a mezze spread or served as a side to tagines and grilled meats; naturally vegan and ready in about thirty-five minutes, it keeps and even improves overnight as the flavors meld.
Zaalouk: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Zaalouk?
A serving has about 194 calories — 2.5g protein, 13.9g carbs, 14.8g fat, 5.2g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Zaalouk gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Zaalouk has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Zaalouk?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro, lemon — they're optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Zaalouk make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.