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This is the archived version of the Milk Street website and is no longer up to date.

Please visit 177milkstreet.com to see the current website with all of the latest recipes!

Eggplant and Tahini Dip (Mutabal)

6 to 8 Servings

50 minutes 20 minutes active

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The roasted eggplant and tahini dip called mutabal (also spelled mutabbal or moutabbal) is what many of us in the U.S. think of as baba ghanoush. We found that even in the Middle East, where both dips originate, the names often are used interchangeably, though baba ghanoush typically includes other ingredients, such as tomato and walnuts. Jordanian home cook Ihab Muhtaseb taught us his method for making mutabal, so that’s what we’re calling this dip. This adaptation of his recipe includes chopped parsley, which adds fresh, grassy notes, and a finishing drizzle of pomegranate molasses for tangy-sweet contrast. If you’d like to further embellish the mutabal, as many restaurants in Jordan do, make the simple tomato-cucumber salad that follows and spoon it on top just before serving. Offer warm flatbread on the side.

6 to 8

Servings

Tip

Don’t forget to pierce the eggplants before roasting them. This allows steam to escape during cooking, which not only prevents the eggplants from bursting, but also allows them to shed some of their abundant moisture, resulting in a richer flavor and texture.

50 minutes

20 minutes active

Ingredients

  • 2

    large or 3 medium eggplants (about 2½ pounds)

  • 2

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to serve

Directions

Reviews
Danette M.
April 3, 2025
Best babaganoush EVER!!!
My family and I are IN LOVE with this recipe! I make it about every other week—-best eggplant dip we ever had. The cucumber tomato salad should not be omitted—-it adds such a great flavor and texture. Also, the pomegranate seeds and molasses are not only beautiful, they add bright flavor as well…
Steve B.
August 28, 2022
Good stuff
Really good, and quite easy. Made it twice. The first time, I thought that I could skip the step of chopping and just use a potato masher on the cooked eggplant. This was a mistake. Eggplants have fibers that aren't easily broken down with a masher. Followed the recipe the second time and chopped the eggplant, which produced a much better texture.
JONNA H.
November 23, 2025
Not Smoky Enough
Though all the ingredients are wonderful and the recipe is simple, the result seemed blander than expected. Even after extra roasting and then broiling to try for real char on the eggplant, and extra lemon and garlic…still less overall flavor than hoped for. How to get that good baba smoke?
Donna T.
October 1, 2022
Eggplant made even better
This is a great way to use eggplant. My only variation was to chop the eggplant rather than put in food processor, because it was already so soft. Only complaint was that my pomegranate molasses ran all over top rather than staying in pretty drizzle.
Dennis D.
August 13, 2025
Be sure to blacken the eggplant skins before removing from oven
I actually did this on my Weber BBQ and roasted at 475 degrees. After 45 minutes, I removed it, but the skins were not blackened. This resulted in a dip that did not have the concentrated flavor it otherwise might have.

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