Mutabal / Baba Ganoush Eggplant Dip Recipe

Bowl with mutabal or baba ganoush with parsley and olive oil on top.

Mutabal / Baba Ganoush Eggplant Dip Recipe

5 from 1 vote

This authentic homemade mutabal recipe is also known as baba ganoush. It has the rich flavors of traditional Lebanese and Arabic cuisine. This easy Middle Eastern eggplant dip combines creamy tahini, zesty lemon, and premium olive oil for a versatile Mediterranean dip or spread that's terrific as part of a mezze platter.

Servings servings

Ingredients

2 lbs eggplant 1 kg
¼ cup tahini
½ teaspoon garlic minced
2 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon salt
parsley for garnish
⅛ teaspoon liquid smoke [See Note 2]

Instructions

Grill the Eggplant in the Oven

Line a baking sheet with foil and grease lightly.
Pierce the eggplant all over with a fork and place it on the greased foil.
Grill the 2 lbs eggplant under the broiler until the skin darkens and wrinkles on all sides, about 30 to 40 minutes, turning every 5 minutes.
The eggplant will be soft and begin to collapse when pressed with a spoon. Remove from heat.
When cool enough to handle, trim off the top and bottom of the eggplant and slit lengthwise.
Scoop out the hot pulp from the skins and place the pulp in a colander. Let it drain for 10 minutes. You should have about 2 cups of pulp. Transfer to a bowl and mash with a fork or potato masher.

Make the dip

Transfer the pulp to a food processor. Add the ¼ cup tahini, ½ teaspoon garlic, 2 tablespoon lemon juice, and ½ teaspoon salt.
Process in 1-second pulses until the dip has desired texture. [See Note 1].
Taste and adjust seasonings as desired. Add the ⅛ teaspoon liquid smoke (or more), if using.
Transfer to a shallow serving dish and spread it almost to the edge if the dish. Make a trough in the center with a spoon. Pour in some extra virgin olive oil. Garnish with paprika, olive oil, and/or chopped parsley.

Video

Notes

Use high-quality olive oil and tahini.
Note 1: Baba ganoush can be smooth or course with some texture. It's up to individual taste.
Note 2: Authentic baba ganoush or mutabal is made with eggplant grilled over an open fire. When mixing the ingredients, add a few drops of liquid smoke (about ⅛ to ¼ tsp) to get the smoky flavor.

Nutrition