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Published: Sep 16, 2023. Modified: Sep 16, 2023 by Wafa Shami. This post may contain affiliate links.

Mutabal Recipe

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This Mutabal recipe which is also known as baba ghanoush, is a Palestinian eggplant dip made with a delicious smoky flavor of roasted eggplant, mixed with tahini paste, garlic, fresh lemon juice, and salt.

This popular Middle Eastern eggplant dip which is part of a mezze (appetizer) is becoming more mainstream around the world. You may call it hummus’ cousin since both dishes have almost the same ingredients. The only big difference is that eggplant is the dominating ingredient in mutabal versus chickpeas in hummus.

mutabal on plate decorated with pomegranate seeds and extra virgin olive oil, next to bread and grapes tomatoes.

This eggplant dip, not only it’s vegan and gluten-free, but also it is a great side dish and super easy to prepare. If you love eggplants, you can try my late dad’s delicious grilled eggplants with tahini and walnuts recipe.

What is Mutabal?

Mutabal also pronounced mutabbal, or moutabal comes from the Arabic verb tabal, which means adding (tawabel) spices to the food to make it tastier.

Mutabal is an eggplant dip, where the star of the dish is the roasted smoked eggplants. Once eggplant is roasted, it’s peeled, mashed, and mixed with tahini paste, fresh lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Mutabal which is often mistaken for baba ghanoush, also pronounced baba ganoush as the later name gained more popularity across the globe. However, there is a slight difference between the two.

So, what’s the difference between mutabal and baba ghanoush? Well, it seems that the big difference is the use of tahini: Mutabal calls for it, while Baba Ganoush doesn’t. In addition, baba ganoush usually includes chopped vegetables, such as tomato, pepper, and garlic mixed with pomegranate molasses.

Jump to:
  • What is Mutabal?
  • Equipment
  • Ingredients
  • Instructions
  • Substitutions and Variations
  • Pro Tips
  • Storage
  • MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES
  • Mutabal Recipe

Equipment

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Bowl – to mix roasted eggplants and the rest of the ingredients
Potato Masher – This will help mash the eggplants.

Ingredients

Mutabal ingredient
  • Eggplants – Choose large and fresh eggplant, and look for one that is firm, shiny, and heavy for its size.
  • Tahini (sesame paste or sesame oil) – It is important to find a good brand for tahini paste, most Arabic brands are good and can be found at any of the Middle Eastern grocery stores.
  • Garlic Cloves – Fresh garlic adds an extra deep garlicky flavor to this dip.
  • Fresh Lemon Juice – Is an essential ingredient, that gives the dish that extra tangy kick.
  • Sea Salt – Balances the flavors between tahini and lemon.
  • Extra Virgin Olive Oil – A drizzle of olive oil goes a long way.
  • Fresh Parsley – For garnishing.

Instructions

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

eggplant with cut slits before grilling

Step 1 | Cut a few slits through the eggplant skin.

Eggplant after grilling

Step 2 | Place the eggplant on top of the stove, let it grill over an open flame, and switch to all sides.

Eggplant skin peeled after grilling

Step 3 | Once cooled, peel the skin off.

Eggplant mashed with a potato masher in a bowl

Step 4 | Mash eggplants with a fork or a potato masher.

Eggplant mashed with ingredients in a bowl

Step 5 | Add tahini paste, salt, lemon juice, and crushed garlic over eggplant and mix everything well together.

close up photo of mutabal on plate decorated with pomegranate seeds and extra virgin olive oil, next to bread and grapes tomatoes.

Step 6 | Garnish with extra virgin olive oil, and pomegranate seeds.

Substitutions and Variations

  • You can use pine nuts instead of pomegranate seeds.
  • You can sprinkle cayenne pepper or chili flakes over mutabal.
  • If you like your eggplant dip to be spicy you can add fresh chili peppers, finely chop, and mix well with the dip.

Pro Tips

  • Whether eggplants are roasted in the oven, gas stove top, or charcoal grill, make sure that the inside is very soft.
  • You can grill eggplants under the broiler, but what gives them that smokey flavor is when they’re grilled on top of the stove or any open flame.
  • You can get away with using less tahini, but mutabal certainly needs a lot of lemon juice.
  • Once ready to mix, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt to get a lighter color
  • You can mash eggplants with a fork instead of a potato masher.
  • If you’d like to store grilled eggplant before mixing, add lemon juice which would prevent it from getting a darker color.
  • Get rid of any excess liquid from eggplant once grilled and peeled.

Storage

  • Mutabal can be stored in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the fridge.
  • Unmixed grilled eggplants can be placed in the freezer for up to 3 months, once ready to use, defrost and mix with the rest of the ingredients.
Holding mutabal bite on a piece of bread
1. Do I have to grill eggplant on top of the stove?

No, you don’t. You can place eggplant under the broiler, broil in one piece, place it on a baking sheet, and broil for about 30-40 minutes, then flip to the other side for another 15 minutes. Make sure that the inside is very soft.

2. Can I Use a Food Processor?

Yes, you can but keep in mind mutabal is not supposed to be too soft like hummus, it needs to be a bit chunky. Once it’s blended and turns to be creamy it will lose its texture and become more soft like hummus texture. If you are aiming for a chunkier texture avoid using the food processor.

3. What to serve it with?

Vegetables: cucumbers, peppers, broccoli, carrots.
Bread pita, flat bread.
Chips or Crackers.

Close up photo of mutabal on a plate decorated with pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

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Close up photo of mutabal on a plate decorated with pomegranate seeds and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

Mutabal Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Wafa Shami
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50
  • Total Time: 1 hour
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Top of Stove or Broiler
  • Cuisine: Middle Eastern
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Description

This Mutabal recipe which is also known as baba ghanoush, is a Palestinian eggplant dip made with a delicious smoky flavor of roasted eggplant, mixed with tahini paste, garlic, fresh lemon juice, and salt.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large eggplants
  • ¼ cup tahini sauce
  • 1-2 fresh lemon juice (adjust to taste)
  • 1-2 garlic cloves crushed.
  • ¼ teaspoon sea salt (adjust to taste)

Instructions

  1. Cut a few slits in eggplant then place it either on top of gas stove or on a baking sheet under the broiler for about 30-40 minutes.
  2. Flip to the other side for another 15 minutes and until the eggplants look very soft inside. 
  3. Peel skin once it’s cooled off.
  4. Mash eggplants with a fork or a potato masher.
  5. Add tahini paste, crushed garlic, lemon juice, and salt and mix everything well together.
  6. Drizzle some extra virgin olive, garnish with pomegranate seeds and parsley.

Notes

  • Whether eggplants are roasted in the oven, gas stove top, or charcoal grill, make sure that the inside is very soft.
  • You can grill eggplants under the broiler, but what gives them that smokey flavor is when they’re grilled on top of the stove or any open flame.
  • You can get away with using less tahini, but mutabal certainly needs a lot of lemon juice.
  • Once ready to mix, you can add 2-3 tablespoons of yogurt to get a lighter color
  • You can mash eggplants with a fork instead of a potato masher.
  • If you’d like to store grilled eggplant before mixing, add lemon juice which would prevent it from getting a darker color.
  • Get rid of any excess liquid from eggplant once grilled and peeled.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Layal says

    September 17, 2023 at 8:49 am

    Yum, I love the easy step by step instructions. I actually never new that difference, thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      September 17, 2023 at 12:04 pm

      You are welcome!

      Reply
  2. Hanna says

    November 20, 2023 at 12:43 pm

    This looks amazing and I never realized how easy it is to make a dish like this! I realized I have all of the ingredients at home and will try this tonight. Thank you for sharing your culture and cuisine 🙂

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      November 20, 2023 at 6:26 pm

      Thank you, I'm glad to hear you gonna give it a try. Let me know how it'll turn out.

      Reply
  3. Cindy says

    December 24, 2023 at 11:21 am

    YUM is right!!!! we cooked eggplant on the grill, the smokiness is to die for. Pomegranate seeds make it truly special.

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      December 24, 2023 at 5:29 pm

      Great to hear Cindy, glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  4. L Lagunas says

    May 28, 2024 at 8:56 am

    Delish. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      May 28, 2024 at 4:10 pm

      You're welcome! Glad you liked it.

      Reply
  5. Sabreen says

    December 11, 2024 at 2:48 pm

    I'm going to cook this in a large batch for my kids school celebration tomorrow . Celebrating Arab Language & Culture .

    Thank you for the recipe

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      December 12, 2024 at 6:09 am

      Hi Sabreen, that's awesome. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
  6. HMB says

    December 20, 2024 at 5:46 am

    Do you ever swap out the tahini for pomegranate molasses? If so, how much would you then use?

    Reply
    • Wafa Shami says

      December 20, 2024 at 1:15 pm

      Hello HMB, I never done that, some add molasses for the extra flavor, but you sure can. As for how much depends on the quantity I'd say try 1-2 tablespoons and remember to adjust the lemon quantity since molasses are tangy.

      Reply

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Marhabah and welcome to my site. I’m Wafa founder, creator, and food photographer behind Palestine in a Dish. Here you’ll find authentic-traditional Palestinian recipes and more modern which are inspired by my Palestinian kitchen flavors. My blog is all about my mother's authentic recipes that I grew up eating.

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Last Updated on September 16, 2023 by Wafa Shami