Perfect Pairings: 8 BEST Side Dishes for Baba Ganoush

Baba ganoush is a Middle Eastern dish that is often served as an appetizer or side dish.

Delicious, healthy, and made from common ingredients, baba ganoush is the best thing to serve with pita bread when you’re looking for something beyond hummus.

The flavor of baba ganoush will vary slightly depending on the ingredients used to make it.

Generally, it has a creamy, smoky flavor that makes a perfect addition to your lunch or dinner meal.

Even if you’re not a huge fan of eggplant—or veggies in general—this recipe might change your mind.

If you’re looking for something different to serve with pita bread, baba ganoush is the way to go.

Not only does it taste better than hummus, but it’s also healthier and contains fewer carbs.

And if you want something to bring along that everyone will love, consider making baba ganoush.

In this article, we will list eight side dishes you can serve with baba ganoush.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Baba Ganoush?

Baba ganoush is a fantastic appetizer and the perfect addition to any dinner.

However, most people only eat it as a dip – with some pita bread or vegetables on the side.

This limits how often you can enjoy this creamy chickpea delight, as it’s usually served at parties, along with many other dishes.

What if you could enjoy this appetizer as a side dish? It’s not too much to say that this simple addition can make baba ganoush taste like the most delicious and filling meal.

With a few more ingredients and slight changes in how it is served and cooked, you can turn baba ganoush into a smoky and rich side dish that will complement any dinner.

Another reason to consider baba ganoush as a side dish is that it can make for a fantastic and unique breakfast or brunch.

And you don’t even have to tell your guests what it is or where it came from.

Above all, you should consider serving baba ganoush as a side dish because of its health benefits and simplicity to make.

With a few tricks in serving and cooking the dish, anyone can turn a simple appetizer into a satisfying meal or an exotic breakfast.

What to Serve with Baba Ganoush? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Here are eight of the best side dishes to serve with baba ganoush.

1 – Chips and Salsa

Many people are already familiar with pairing chips with salsa.

But what about baba ganoush? While the two dips do have their differences – for example, baba ganoush is made with garlic while salsa usually omits it – they’re both made of vegetables that come together to form a tasty side dish for your main course.

What makes chips and salsa work as a great accompaniment? They’re flavorful without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that it’s really easy to make your own.

Whether you want to serve chips and salsa for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even a late-night snack is up to you.

2 – Greens Salad

A fresh salad is a classic for a reason. Greens are healthy, and they provide a pleasant crunchiness to any dish.

There’s so much you can do with greens – from chicken salads to pasta salads, this ingredient works well in a variety of different recipes.

What makes greens work as a great accompaniment? They’re tasty without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that you don’t even have to limit yourself to lettuce.

Greens also include other healthy options like spinach and arugula, so there’s plenty of variety in what you can do with salads.

3 – Oven-Roasted Root Vegetables

Root vegetables are another classic side dish.

The best thing about oven-roasted root vegetables is that they’re cooked long enough to be soft, but not too long so that they become overly mushy or lose their color and nutrients (like in boiled potatoes).

What makes root vegetables work as a great accompaniment? They’re healthy without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that there are plenty of options to cook them in.

You can bake them in the oven or roast them on a sheet tray in the summertime.

For colder weather, you can even boil them over a fire in a crockpot.

4 – Sautéed Vegetables

A sauté one of the most versatile ways to cook your vegetables.

You can combine any vegetable in a sauté, and you generally have more control over how they’re cooked than oven-roasted or boiled vegetables.

This makes them ideal for those who love crispy vegetables.

What makes sautéed vegetables work as a great accompaniment? They’re healthy without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that there are plenty of options to cook them in.

Sautés can be finished on the stovetop or finished in the oven (making cleanup a breeze).

5 – Pita Bread

Pita bread is a great side dish for baba ganoush because it gives your meal a Mediterranean flair, but it remains light and fluffy rather than being at all filling.

What makes pita bread work as a great accompaniment? It’s tasty without being too filling, so it pairs perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that it doesn’t take any advanced preparation (unlike some of the other options on this list).

You can buy pitas from your local grocery store and serve them alongside baba ganoush.

6 – Fries

Fries go great with various dishes, not just those that are of the Mediterranean variety.

They pair well with both lighter dishes and heavier meals, so they can be an on-the-fly choice for a side dish when you’re in a rush to get dinner done.

What makes fries work as a great accompaniment? They’re flavorful without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that they’re easy to make.

You can cut potatoes into sticks and toss them in oil (or seasonings, if you prefer) before roasting or frying them.

7 – Wild Rice

Wild rice is a great side dish because it’s hearty without being too filling, which means it can be combined with a wide variety of different main courses.

It pairs well with lighter dishes, but you can also eat wild rice on its own for an easy lunch or dinner option.

What makes wild rice work as a great accompaniment? It’s healthy without being too filling, so it pairs perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that it’s easy to make. You can boil wild rice like you would other types of rice.

There are many different types of wild rice that you can buy, but be sure to check the nutritional information because some are healthier than others.

8 – Steamed Veggies

Steamed vegetables are a great side dish because they’re healthy without being too filling, which means they pair perfectly with a variety of different main courses.

Plus, you have an infinite amount of options for steamed veggies – feel free to use any green vegetable that you like.

The best part about steamed veggies is that they’re easy to make.

You can cut any vegetables you want into pieces and then steam them in a pot over the stove or in a rice cooker.

They’re healthy without being too filling, so they pair perfectly with various main courses.

And the best part is that there are plenty of options to cook them in.

Sautés can be finished on the stovetop or finished in the oven (making cleanup a breeze).

Conclusion

Baba ganoush pairs well with a wide variety of different foods, and it’s easy to find recipes that use baba ganoush as an ingredient.

The most important part is that you experiment and try out new things.

Keep it simple with fresh vegetables, or get creative by using spices and combos you haven’t tried before.

Use any of the side dishes on this list to help find what works, and don’t be afraid to try out new recipes.

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