Mutabal – Roasted Eggplant Spread with homemade raw tahini

👨‍🍳 Method

For the Roasted Vegetables

1. 1
   Char the eggplants whole directly over the gas flame, turning, until the skin is black and blistered on all sides and the flesh is completely soft (eggplants: 20–30 minutes, about 10 minutes per side).

   Stove

   💡Charring directly over the flame gives the vegetables their smoky flavor; in the oven they soften, but the flavor is milder.
2. 2
   Transfer to a bowl, cover tightly and leave 10–15 minutes.

   Bowl

   💡The steam in the covered container separates the skin from the flesh, so it comes off easily. Don't rinse under water: the smoky flavor washes away with it.
3. 3
   Peel off the charred skin and drain off the liquid (leave the eggplant in a colander 15–30 minutes).

   Colander

   💡Drain the roasted eggplant 15–30 minutes: its bitter juices dilute the salad.
4. 4
   Chop the eggplant flesh with a knife.

   KnifeCutting board

   💡Chop with a knife, not a blender: that way fibers and chunks remain, and the texture doesn't turn to mush.

For the Tahini sauce

1. 5
   Grind the sesame seeds in a powerful blender about 3 minutes, until smooth paste forms.

   Blender

   💡At first the sesame looks like dry crumbs: keep grinding, scraping down the sides, and after a few minutes it releases its oil and turns liquid.

   💡In a food processor, grind in short pulses and check between pulses: it's easy to go from coarse to paste. (Sesame for tahini, on the other hand, is ground continuously.)
2. 6
   Taste and adjust the seasoning.
3. 7
   Mix the tahini, lemon juice, garlic and cumin and season with salt.
4. 8
   Gradually add cold water while stirring, until the sauce is smooth, pale and pourable.

   💡When you add the first water, the tahini thickens and looks like dough: that's fine. Keep adding water and stirring, and it loosens into a smooth sauce.

To assemble

1. 9
   Gently mix the eggplant with the tahini sauce, so that some chunks remain.
2. 10
   Top with the olive oil, cilantro and pomegranate seeds.