Zaalouk (Moroccan Smoky Eggplant and Tomato Salad)
Local name: زعلوك
In short: Roasted eggplant mashed with tomatoes, garlic, cumin and paprika into a warm, smoky cooked salad that is scooped up with bread. It takes about 1 h 30 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 1 h 15 min
- Total
- 1 h 30 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 150 kcal
Zaalouk sits on almost every Moroccan table as one of the small cooked salads served before the main dish. Eggplant is roasted until soft, peeled and cooked down with ripe tomatoes, garlic, cumin and paprika until the mixture turns thick and jammy. A final splash of olive oil and lemon brightens it. Serve it warm or at room temperature with bread, and expect to refill the bowl.
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 220°C (425°F). Prick the eggplants all over with a fork and roast on a baking sheet for 40 to 45 minutes, turning once, until very soft and collapsing.
- When cool enough to handle, peel the eggplants and chop the flesh coarsely. Drain it in a sieve for 5 minutes.
- Heat 2 tbsp of the oil in a wide pan over medium heat. Cook the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes, cumin, paprika, cayenne and salt. Simmer for 10 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick.
- Add the eggplant and mash it into the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring often, until the mixture is thick and jammy.
- Stir in the herbs, the remaining oil and the lemon juice. Taste for salt and serve warm or at room temperature.
Tips
- No oven? Char the eggplants directly over a gas flame or a hot grill, turning them until blackened and soft all over. The smoky flavor is the same.
- Zaalouk tastes better the next day. Keep it covered in the fridge for up to 4 days and serve at room temperature, or warm it gently with a spoon of water.
Questions and answers
Is zaalouk a dip or a salad?
Both. In Morocco it is one of the cooked salads served with bread alongside other small dishes. Outside Morocco many people serve it as a dip with flatbread or vegetable sticks.
How is zaalouk different from baba ghanoush?
Zaalouk is cooked down with tomatoes, garlic, cumin and paprika, and it has no tahini. Baba ghanoush is mashed roasted eggplant mixed with tahini and lemon.
Can I freeze zaalouk?
Yes, for up to 2 months in a sealed container. The texture is a little looser after thawing, so reheat it in a pan for a few minutes to thicken it again.
How long does it take to make Zaalouk (Moroccan Smoky Eggplant and Tomato Salad)?
About 1 h 30 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 1 h 15 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Zaalouk (Moroccan Smoky Eggplant and Tomato Salad)?
About 150 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 14 g of carbohydrates and 9 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 150 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 14 g |
| Fat | 9 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 8 g |
| Sodium | 420 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
