Mutabal-Middle Eastern Eggplant Dip

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)

What inspired this recipe

This dip that can be eaten like a salad is so delicious. 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.

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.)

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.

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!

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.

What to drink with this recipe

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.

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.

Related Recipes

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Cheers, Friends

Sabrina

Recipe

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 59 votes

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Course: Appetizer, Condiment, Dip, Side Dish

Cuisine: Middle Eastern

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 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

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