Crispy Phyllo Eggplant Rolls with Tahini Sauce

These Crispy Phyllo Eggplant Rolls with Tahini Sauce are filled with golden fried eggplant, two types of Mediterranean cheeses, cream cheese, and fresh dill, then baked to perfection, resulting in a crispy, buttery finish. Furthermore, they are topped with a signature yogurt tahini sauce, making them the ideal accompaniment to Shawarma, Fried Cauliflower, or a delicious dipping sauce. To add an extra touch, they are garnished with pomegranate seeds, which creates a perfect blend of savory and flavorful. Additionally, I’m truly excited to share this festive recipe with you, along with many more holiday-inspired treats and savory bites that are sure to elevate your celebrations this season!

This delightful festive treat is perfect for any upcoming holiday event or even for an ordinary day! Furthermore, you can elevate this delicious appetizer by decorating it with fresh dill leaves and pomegranate seeds, adding a beautiful festive touch. Crispy, buttery, savory, and absolutely delicious—it’s oh-so-good!

This is the perfect appetizer to bring to a party, host at your own holiday gathering, or even take to a Christmas potluck! Traditionally, I serve this dish during the holidays, including Easter, as it’s both beautiful and delicious. Honestly, this holiday appetizer is a crowd-pleaser! The best part is its versatility and ease of preparation, thanks to ready-made store-bought phyllo dough. If you’re short on time, you can skip the phyllo dough and enjoy the eggplant cheese rolls on their own with my tahini dipping sauce. However, I wouldn’t recommend it—you won’t want to miss the crispy, buttery finish!

The crispy phyllo dough is what truly makes this dish shine! In addition, it features a blend of three different cheeses, all easily found at your local international markets. For example, I used Mediterranean feta, which is slightly dry and crumbles like Parmesan, yet still retains a creamy texture. Lebni, a yogurt-based cheese typically sold in plastic containers, has a texture similar to cream cheese but with a tangy, mildly creamy flavor. And of course, there’s classic cream cheese. The combination of these three cheeses brings a rich, traditional taste to this dish!

I love these bite-size cuties because they’re not only tasty but they’re the talk of the party every time I make them!

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IN THIS POST: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT CRISPY PHYLLO EGGPLANT ROLLS W/ TAHINI SAUCE

• THE SECRET BEHIND USING PHYLLO DOUGH
• TAHINI YOGURT SAUCE
• 🍴INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THESE CRISPY PHYLLO EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH TAHINI SAUCE
• HOW TO ROLL YOUR EGGPLANT ROLL
• STEPS TO MAKE THIS PHYLLO WITH EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH TAHINI SAUCE
• PREFER TO WATCH STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO INSTEAD OF READING?
• JUMP TO RECIPE CARD

THE SECRET BEHIND USING PHYLLO DOUGH

Here are a few tips before using phyllo dough…

Phyllo dough is typically found in the freezer section of most grocery stores. Be sure to keep the phyllo dough in its packaging and store it in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. For best results, remove it from the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight to thaw. If you’re using it the same day, simply remove it from the freezer, keep it in its packaging, and allow it to thaw at room temperature for 1-2 hours before using.


It’s important not to remove phyllo dough from its packaging until you’re ready to use it. Phyllo dough dries out very quickly and becomes difficult to handle if not kept moist. Only remove the sheets from the packaging when you’re ready to start. Roll up the remaining phyllo dough and place it back into its original packaging or wrap it in plastic wrap. When handling phyllo dough, be gentle, as it can tear easily, especially if left exposed for even a few minutes.

TAHINI YOGURT SAUCE

My Tahini Yogurt Sauce is the perfect addition to any salad or meal! With just a few simple ingredients, it will leave your taste buds craving more. The best part is that it also makes an amazing dipping sauce for fresh vegetables like cauliflower, celery, carrots, broccoli, and cucumber. We often serve it alongside my family’s favorite Mediterranean dishes, like falafel or a lule wrap sandwich. Moreover, it’s incredibly easy to make and pairs perfectly with just about any meal!

If you’re not familiar with tahini, it’s a Middle Eastern condiment made from ground sesame seeds, blended into a smooth, paste-like consistency. It has a rich, nutty flavor and a creamy texture, similar to peanut butter but lighter in texture with a subtle bitterness. Once combined with yogurt, the bitterness is balanced, enhancing the flavors for a perfect blend. It’s usually a key ingredient in Hummus, Babaganoush!

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🍴INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED TO MAKE THESE CRISPY PHYLLO EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Here is a preview of the ingredients you’ll need to make this recipe! You can find these at your local grocery store or you can shop online. (Detailed Ingredients in Recipe Card down below)

Eggplant / Cheese Mixture

• Eggplants
• Cream Cheese
• Mediterranean Feta
• Lebni (Kefir Cheese)
• Dill
• Walnuts
• Black Pepper

Tahini Sauce

• Tahini
• Garlic cloves
• Sea salt
• Lime juice
• Non-fat Yogurt
• Water

Toppings

• Pomegranate seeds – for garnish

Dough

• Phyllo Dough

HOW TO ROLL YOUR EGGPLANT ROLL

Use 3 layers of phyllo dough for each roll. Cut phyllo dough about 3″ W x 5″ L. Place eggplant on the edge of phyllo dough, fold the sides over the eggplant, and roll until you reach the other side.

STEPS TO MAKE THIS PHYLLO WITH EGGPLANT ROLLS WITH TAHINI SAUCE

Step 1: Preheat oven to 400° F.

Step 2: Slice eggplants about 1/4″ thick. Fill a bowl of cold water place 1 tablespoon of salt and stir in. Place sliced eggplants and soak for 1/2 hour. Remove from water place them on top of a dry towel and pat them completely dry. Fry eggplants in oil, remove and place them on a paper towel to soak up any extra oil they release.

Step 3: Combine your cheese mixture and once eggplants have cooled off place 1 teaspoon of cheese filling at the large rounded base of the eggplant and roll it closed.

Step 4: Cut phyllo dough about 3″ W x 5″ L. Use 3 layers of phyllo dough for each roll. Place eggplant on the edge of phyllo dough, fold the sides over the eggplant, and roll until you reach the other side. Bake at 400° F. for 25 minutes and rotate every 10 minutes until golden brown and crispy.

Step 5: Start on your tahini sauce. In a medium bowl whisk together yogurt, tahini, grated garlic, a pinch of salt, and lime juice until smooth. Depending on how thick your yogurt is, add one tablespoon of water at a time to get it to your desired thinnest.

Step 6: Once the rolls have been baked, cool off before pouring tahini sauce. If you like, you can place it as a side dipping sauce to make handling the rolls easier, and enjoy!

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PREFER TO WATCH STEP-BY-STEP RECIPE VIDEO INSTEAD OF READING?

Have any questions about this recipe or have you tried making our recipe yet? If so, we would LOVE to hear how it turned out! You can post, tag, rate, and comment down below and on Instagram! 👇 Thank you in advance! 

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