Eggplant & Tahini Dip (Mutabal)

This roasted eggplant dip is similar to baba ghanoush. In Jordan it is called mutabal, mutabbal or moutabbal. It was silky, creamy, and delicious.

This recipe was adapted from Milk Street Magazine, contributed by Courtney Hill. I modified the method and proportions and omitted the pomegranate seeds. We ate it with warm naan.

According to Milk Street, restaurants in Jordan often top the dip with a simple tomato-cucumber salad. We ate it without the additional topping but may try that next time. 🙂

Yield: Serves 4

For the Mutabal:

• 1 large eggplant (about 1 to 1 1/4 pounds)
• 1 T extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 1/2 T tahini
• 2 T boiling water
• 2 medium garlic cloves, finely grated, or pushed though a garlic press
• 3/4 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• about 2 T fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped, plus more for garnish
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 T pomegranate seeds, optional
• 1/2 T pomegranate molasses
• warm flatbread, such as naan, for serving

1. Heat the oven to 475°F with a rack in the middle position. (I set my oven to convection roast.)
2. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
3. Cut the eggplant in half and pierce the skin several times with the tip of a knife.
4. Coat each half all over with 1/2 tablespoon of the oil.
5. Set the eggplant cut side down on the prepared baking sheet and roast until collapsed, wrinkled and blistered all over, 20 to 30 minutes.
6. Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet for about 20 minutes.
7. With the eggplant still on the baking sheet, trim off and discard the stem.
8. Using a spoon, scoop the flesh from the skin onto a cutting board; discard the skins.
9. Finely chop the eggplant but don’t break it down to a puree; it should retain some texture.
10. In a medium bowl, stir together the tahini and boiling water.
11. Add the roasted and chopped eggplant, garlic and lemon juice; stir until well combined. Mix in the parsley. Taste and season with salt and pepper.
12. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with pomegranate seeds, if using, pomegranate molasses, and garnish with parsley.
13. Serve with warm flatbread. Top with tomato-cucumber salad, if desired. (recipe below)

For the Optional Tomato-Cucumber Salad:

Yield: about 3/4 cup

• 1/2 medium ripe tomato, cored and chopped
• 1/2 Persian cucumber, chopped
• 1/2 jalapeño chili, stemmed, seeded and minced
• 1/2 T freshly squeezed lemon juice
• Kosher salt and ground black pepper

1. Combine ingredients while eggplant is roasting.

Persian Split Pea & Rice Soup with Meatballs (Ash)

This stew-like soup, traditionally called “ash” in Persian cooking, had a wonderful and unique flavor profile. It was loaded with fresh herbs which added lightness and brightness to what would otherwise be a heavy soup. I also added fresh lemon juice which contributed to the brightness.

This recipe was adapted from cookbook author Naomi Duguid, via Food and Wine. I don’t typically eat lamb and my husband is not partial to mint, so I adjusted the recipe accordingly by using ground turkey and dried thyme. I was unable to track down pomegranate molasses (discontinued at Trader Joe’s! ), so I used balsamic vinegar in its place. Very hearty, healthy, and tasty. 🙂

I’m sharing my dish at Angie’s Fiesta Friday #157 this week co-hosted by Andrea @Cooking with a Wallflower and Su @ Su’s Healthy Living. Enjoy!

For the Soup:

• 2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 3/4 cup short-grain white rice (I used arborio rice)
• 3/4 cup dried green split peas, soaked overnight and drained
• 2 cups finely chopped parsley leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish, optional
• 2 cups finely chopped cilantro leaves and tender stems, plus more for garnish, optional
• 1/2 cup finely chopped mint leaves (I omitted the mint)
• 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses or aged balsamic vinegar, plus more for drizzling
• coarse salt
• juice of 1/2 a lemon

For the Meatballs:

• 1 small yellow onion, grated
• 1/2 pound ground lamb or turkey
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the Crispy Onion Topping:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• generous pinch of dried thyme or mint

1. Make the Soup: In a large enameled cast-iron casserole or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, cinnamon and turmeric and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is beginning to soften, 5 minutes.
2. Add the rice, split peas and 10 cups of water and bring to a boil.
3. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the rice and peas are tender and the soup is quite thick, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
4. Add the scallions, parsley, cilantro and mint and simmer for 30 minutes.
5. Stir in the pomegranate molasses/balsamic vinegar and season with salt.
6. Make the meatballs: In a medium bowl, combine all of the ingredients.
7. Roll rounded teaspoons of the ground meat into balls.
8. Add the meatballs to the soup and simmer until cooked through, 10 minutes. If the soup is getting too thick, add water.
9. Meanwhile, Make the Toppings: In a small skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the canola oil.
10. Add the dried thyme or mint and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Scrape the herb oil into a bowl and wipe out the skillet.
11. Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of canola oil in the skillet. Add the onion and cook over moderate heat until golden and crisp, 8 minutes; drain.
12. Serve the soup garnished with the herb oil, fried onions, and additional fresh herbs, as desired.

Note: The soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently before serving. Add the meatballs and simmer 10 minutes before serving.

One Year Ago:

• Caramelized Leek & Potato Soup

Two Years Ago:

• Pressure Cooker Masoor Dal (Split Red Lentils) with Spinach

Three Years Ago:

• Mushroom, Spinach, Barley, & Bacon Soup
• Maushawa: Afghani Bean & Meatball Soup
• Khatti Dal (Sour Lentils), Hyderabad-Style

Four Years Ago:

• Spicy Lentil Chili
• Lentil-Kielbasa Soup