Mutabal or Baba Ghanuj

Polish version

Although mutabal (aka baba ghanuj) is a dish well know all over Arabic "world" and I cannot allow myself not to mention it here! 

I do remember it was one of the first Arabic dishes I tried in my life and I have fallen in love with. 

The taste of the roasted eggplants is unique and mouthwatering. 

I got this recipe from Ordoniyya - a Polish woman living in Jordan. 

You have to make it - it is fast, easy and delicious! 

Ingredients:

• 3 medium eggplants (approx. 0,7 kg)
• juice of 1 medium lemon
• 3 big cloves garlic (if you like garlic, I love it)
• black pepper, salt, cummun
• 1 medium tomato - without seeds, choppped
• handful of parsley leaves
• oil of olive
• 1 small fresh hot pepper (optionally)
• 2-3 tbs tahina (if you mind calories, skip)

HOW 2 DO IT: 

1. Tan eggplants above the burner of your gas kitchen (if you do not have one - try grilling in your oven, or on regular grill), turning from time to time; when eggplants are tender and the skin is burned, cool them and peel of the skin. Drain on a strainer, pressing gently.

2. Chopp garlic (or squize it) into the mortar. Add salt and smash to a pulp. 

3. Place eggplants in a food processor, chop to a smooth paste using the knife blade, adding lemon juice, garlic with salt, 2 large table spoons of oil of olive, black pepper, 2 table spoons of tahina. You can squize also a bit of fresh chilli (through the garlic squizer) - but watch out if kids are to share the meal with you. 

4. Put on a flat plate preferably with raised edges (see photo), dress with pieces of tomato and chopped parsley. Sprinkle cummun over the face, treat tomatoes with a bit of black pepper. Drizzle with oil of olive. 

Serve as an appetizer with worm Arabic pita bread

or eat as a main meal on a hot summer day...