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    Home » Recipe » Appetizers » Mutabal-Middle Eastern Eggplant Dip

    Mutabal-Middle Eastern Eggplant Dip

    Published: Mar 18, 2021 · Modified: May 9, 2022 by Sabrina Currie · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Mutabal is a creamy, garlicky and slightly smoky dip that is sooo tasty! This quick and easy dip pairs perfectly with some flatbread and a few olives. (Gf, and vegatarian)

    Closeup of mutabal with olives
    Mutabal with olives

    What inspired this recipe

    This dip that can be eaten like a salad with cucumbers. I first tried it in a restaurant and knew I had to recreate it. Mutabal is healthy and delicious so I make it often and keep it handy for snacks or serve it with cucumber at dinner. (For more cucumber ideas, check out 35+ Easy Cucumber Snack Ideas And Appetizer Recipes).

    Jump to:
    • What inspired this recipe
    • What is mutabal, moutabal or muttabal?
    • What's the difference between mutabal and baba ganoush?
    • Step By Step Instructions
    • What To Serve With This
    • What To Drink With Mutabal
    • Is Mutabal Vegan?
    • Related Recipes
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    Middle eastern dips are some of my favorites for their wholesome ingredients. If you like them too, you'll probably like my Easy Healthy Hummus or Baba Ganoush Without Tahini (Roasted Eggplant Dip). The refreshing Mediterranean Cauliflower Salad, Fresh Medjool Date and Carrot Salad and Vegan Lebanese Stuffed Peppers are some of my other favorite dishes from the region.

    What is mutabal, moutabal or muttabal?

    Mutabal is not baba ganoush, at least not in it's homeland of Syria, Lebanon, Armenia and surrounding areas. It is roasted eggplant, tahini, garlic and lemon seasoned with salt and olive oil. Mutabal seems most common in these countries. Other regions seem to use the terms baba ganoush and mutabal interchangeably without as much regard for their differences. To many, these differences may seem subtle however to those in the know, these two dips are different.

    What's the difference between mutabal and baba ganoush?

    Mutabal is the more earthy of the two with it's reliance on heavily charred eggplant, tahini and lots of garlic. Moutabal uses lemon to lighten and compliment the richness. It may include just one or two spices like cumin or paprika but not more. Baba ganoush or baba ganouj is the more fragrant cousin of mutabal with more ingredients. Often it is made as or referred to as a salad with the addition of onion, tomato and cucumber mixed in. Additionally it tends to use more spices and usually includes pomegranate molasses.

    Their are arguments as to whether baba ganouj should include tahini or not but mutabal definitely includes tahini. Both can contain yogurt but their are many variations of each without. Baba ganoush varies regionally with some adding walnuts and pomegranate while others add hot pepper, cumin, lemon, onion and tomato and even some other variations.

    I've made a little table to help illustrate their differences. (Try my version of Baba Ganoush without tahini here.)

    Difference between baba ganoush and mutabal
    Difference between baba ganoush and mutabal

    Step By Step Instructions

    However you spell it, moutabal/mutabal/muttabal is very simple to make, the time to roast the eggplant is the longest part. Traditional recipes fire roast the eggplant until it is charred on the outside, soft and collapsing on the inside. If you don't have access to a cooking fire, use your grill or broiler.

    It is important to roast it close to the heat source until the skin is mostly black and getting deeply wrinkled or crackly looking all over. This will take anywhere from 15-25 minutes depending how hot your fire/grill is. Poking a few holes in your eggplant will prevent any vegetable explosions as well as letting out some of the water to help keep your dip thick.

    Once you've roasted your eggplant, let it cool enough to handle.

    While it's cooling, grind your garlic and salt together, then add the tahini and mix.

    Lemon, tahini, chili, garlic bulb and cloves laid on a dark counter with a dark bowl.

    Scoop the eggplant pulp out of it's skin and add to your mixture along with lemon juice. Mix it with a fork, mortar and pestle or your food processor/Vitamix, season with salt and pepper and that's it!

    How to make muttabal with a mortar and pestle
    How to make muttabal with a mortar and pestle
    Muttabal on a white divided platter with cucumber slices on one side and black olives on the other.

    What To Serve With This

    Mutabal is often part of a mezze/meze platter-an Arabic (or Mediterranean) dinner platter consisting of lots of small dishes and flavors. Traditional accompaniments include flatbread or pitta and veggies along with hummus, yogurt, olives, feta, nuts and more. It is also a common condiment or side dish with grilled meat or kebab.

    Stoneware platters and bowls and iron serving dishes from West Coast Kitchen Garden
    Small Iron Dishes For Mezze Platter
    Nuts are a common food on mezze platters alongside mutabal
    https://westcoastkitchengarden.com/collections/kitchen-collection

    What To Drink With Mutabal

    Middle Eastern classic drinks are black tea, fresh mint tea, or cardamom scented coffee. These are enjoyed with pretty much any food. For something a little stronger try Arak, an anise flavored and strong alcoholic beverage popular in the area. Did you know that tea and coffee are often served in tall glass cups in these Eastern countries? I love the elegant look of tea in a glass.

    Mezze platter with muttabal
    Mezze platter with muttabal

    Is Mutabal Vegan?

    Mutabal often contains yogurt which is the only non-vegan ingredient. I have made this recipe vegan multiple times by simply omitting the yogurt. It is every bit as delicious and I highly recommend this vegan version of the dip. If you love vegetarian recipes, try this awesome vegan Korean Avocado (Mayak Avocado), luxurious Creamy Hazelnut Soup or one o the recipes from the 65 Best Lazy Vegan Recipes (From 5 to 40 minutes!).

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    Cheers friends! Sabrina

    Cheers, Friends

    Sabrina

    📖 Recipe

    Mutabal recipe on mezze platter with olives, cucumber and bread

    Mutabal-A Traditional Eggplant Dip

    Delicious and nutritious, mutabal is similar to baba ganoush but also different. A classic Middle Eastern recipe especially popular in Syrian, Lebanon and Armenia. Serves 4-8 people depending on how many other dishes are served with it. Makes 3 cups
    5 from 60 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer, Condiment, Dip, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Middle Eastern
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Servings: 8 servings
    Calories: 90kcal
    Author: Sabrina Currie

    Ingredients

    • 2 Eggplants (Medium-Large size)
    • 2 Garlic cloves
    • ⅓ c Tahini (Sesame paste)
    • 2 tablespoon Lemon Juice
    • Salt and Pepper to taste (I used 1 teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon pepper)
    • Optional: Olive oil, cumin, paprika, chopped parsley.

    Instructions

    • Preheat your fire, broiler or grill to highest heat. Once preheated, pierce your eggplants 5 or 6 times each and place whole eggplants on or under the heat source. Turn every 5 minutes or so until the whole outside is charred and the eggplants are soft inside. This will take approximately 20 minutes. Remove and let cool until you can handle it.
    • Puree your garlic with the salt with a mortar and pestle, (add ¼ teaspoon cumin at this point if you are using it) in a bowl with a fork or in your food processor. Then add tahini and mix well.
    • Remove eggplant pulp from it's skin and add to your tahini mixture. Add lemon juice and start mashing or mixing until you reach the texture you like. This can be chunky and rustic, smooth and silky or anywhere in between. Season with salt (½-1 tsp) and pepper to taste and serve with pita bread or other foods to dip in it.
    • Optional garnishes: Drizzle with olive oil or sprinkle with paprika or parsley.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 315mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 33IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @wckitchengarden or tag #wckitchengarden!
    Mezze platter with muttabal
    Mezze platter with muttabal
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    About Sabrina Currie

    Classically French trained cook, photographer and food stylist living on beautiful Vancouver Island, BC.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Deb

      March 18, 2021 at 10:16 pm

      Mmmm memories of our middle eastern trip; so many good flavors....I lean to the Mutabal as my favorite flavor of these two recipes.

      Reply
      • SabCurrie

        March 18, 2021 at 10:21 pm

        Food memories are the best! After family memories of course. Did you eat bread or vegetables with the mutabal when you were there?

        Reply
    2. Vanessa

      May 04, 2021 at 7:54 pm

      5 stars
      I live on snack trays in the summer. What a delicious dip to add to my arsenal!

      Reply
    3. Shareba

      May 05, 2021 at 10:00 am

      5 stars
      Absoultely delicious! I love your photos on this post too 🙂

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        May 05, 2021 at 10:53 am

        Thank you so much Shareba 🙂

        Reply
    4. Marieke

      May 05, 2021 at 10:56 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for sharing a vegan version - this looks delicious!! Also, I appreciate the drink recommendation 🙂

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        May 05, 2021 at 11:05 am

        You’re welcome! Cheers Marieke 🙂

        Reply
    5. amyg

      May 05, 2021 at 5:04 pm

      5 stars
      Love this healthy dish. Great for snacking.

      Reply
    6. Colleen

      May 06, 2021 at 10:28 am

      5 stars
      I do love baba ganoush, so I can't wait to try this delicious looking dip! Beautiful photos, too!

      Reply
    7. nancy

      May 07, 2021 at 9:01 am

      THanks for the explanation of the difference between Mutabal and baba ganoush, I had no idea! I thought they were the same!

      Reply
    8. Sharon

      May 09, 2021 at 5:21 pm

      5 stars
      MmmmMmmm! I love the cuisine from this part of the world. SO fresh tasting with all of the lemon. Can't wait to give this dish a try.

      Reply
    9. Audrey

      June 14, 2021 at 11:24 am

      5 stars
      This looks so good- I can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
    10. Jessica Formicola

      June 14, 2021 at 11:33 am

      5 stars
      I'm always looking for new dips to try, and this eggplant dip looks amazing! I can't wait to make it with dinner this week!

      Reply
    11. Amyg

      June 21, 2021 at 5:08 pm

      5 stars
      I've never tried making an eggplant dip, but this recipe was so easy to follow and my friends liked it very much. I ended us serving it with Tostitos - a great winner!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        June 22, 2021 at 7:13 am

        I’m so glad Amy! Thank you for taking the time to let me know. Tostitos are a tasty dipping choice 🙂

        Reply
    12. Jerika

      December 13, 2021 at 1:14 pm

      5 stars
      Came to know Mutabal because of your recipe. Thanks, can't wait to try this unique dish!:)

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        December 13, 2021 at 2:31 pm

        I’m so glad, such a popular dish in many parts but not in North America. Thanks for sharing 🙂

        Reply
    13. Jeannie

      December 13, 2021 at 3:28 pm

      5 stars
      Looks so good, A great alternative to hummus as well. Cant wait to try this recipe.

      Reply
    14. nancy

      December 13, 2021 at 3:56 pm

      5 stars
      It's me again! Just want to tell you how much our family loves this dish!

      Reply
      • Sabrina Currie

        December 17, 2021 at 8:55 am

        That's so awesome Nancy! Thanks so much for coming back to let me know. Cheers!

        Reply

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