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World's Best Eggplant

Recipe by Zoya Biglary on InstagramAdded 1 August 2026.

15 minutes to prep, 30 to cook. A vibrant, Mediterranean-inspired eggplant dish that balances smoky roasted vegetables with a tangy labneh sauce. The combination of garlic, shallots, and spices creates a savory depth, while lime and sumac add bright acidity. Perfect for a quick dinner that feels both comforting and gourmet.

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World's Best Eggplant by Zoya Biglary, a frame from the Instagram video

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (400°F).

  2. Pat the eggplant slices dry and sprinkle with salt to draw out bitterness.

  3. Brush both sides of the eggplant with oil and season with turmeric, paprika, and pepper.

  4. Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet and roast until golden and tender, about 25 minutes.

    Kitchen notes · Added by ReelsMeals: Eggplant is golden and tender. Arrange slices with space between them for even roasting.

  5. While the eggplant roasts, add roughly chopped shallots and garlic to the baking tray alongside the seasoned eggplant slices and continue roasting until the eggplant is golden and the garlic/shallots are caramelized.

    Kitchen notes · Added by ReelsMeals: Garlic and shallots are caramelized alongside the eggplant. Keep the aromatics on the tray as they roast.

  6. Mash the roasted eggplant, garlic, and shallots together into a thick, textured dip.

    Kitchen notes · Added by ReelsMeals: Dip is thick and textured. Mash until the eggplant, garlic, and shallots are combined.

  7. Season the mashed eggplant dip with a spice from a grinder.

  8. In a bowl, combine the labneh, lime juice, chopped red chili, sumac, and dill; mix until smooth.

  9. Serve the seasoned eggplant dip alongside the labneh sauce, drizzling a little extra oil over the finished dish if desired.

Tips while you cook

Dry and Salt Eggplant First
Pat the eggplant slices dry before sprinkling with salt to draw out bitterness.
Roast Garlic and Shallots Together
Add roughly chopped shallots and garlic to the baking tray with the eggplant and continue roasting until caramelized.
Prepare Labneh Sauce Separately
Combine labneh, lime juice, chopped chili, sumac, and dill in a bowl and stir until smooth while the eggplant roasts.

Notes from ReelsMeals, based on this recipe's ingredients, times and method. They are not the creator's instructions.

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Zoya Biglary made this.

The recipe comes from Zoya Biglary’s Instagram reel. ReelsMeals wrote it down from the caption and the voiceover. Check the original if something looks off, and for anything about allergens.

Are you Zoya Biglary and want this changed? Email [email protected].

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