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Baba ghanoush (/ˌbɑːbə ɡəˈnuːʃ/ BAH-bə gə-NOOSH, UK also /- ɡæˈnuːʃ/ - gan-OOSH, US also /- ɡəˈnuːʒ/ - gə-NOOZH;[3][4][5][6] Arabic: بابا غنوج, romanized: bābā ġannūj ), also spelled baba ganoush or baba ghanouj,[1][3][4][5][6][7] is a Levantine appetizer consisting of finely chopped roasted eggplant, olive oil, lemon juice, various seasonings, and tahini.[6][7][8] The eggplant is traditionally roasted, baked or broiled over an open flame before peeling, so that the pulp is soft and has a smoky taste.[9] It is a typical meze (starter) of the regional cuisine, often served as a side to a main meal and as a dip for pita bread.[7]
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A very similar dish is mutabbal (Arabic: متبل, lit. 'spiced'), which is sometimes said to be a spicier version of baba ghanoush.
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The word bābā in Arabic is a term of endearment for 'father', while Ġannūj could be a personal name.[5] The word combination is also interpreted as 'father of coquetry' or 'indulged/pampered/flirtatious daddy' or 'spoiled old daddy'.[4][7][10] However, it is not certain whether the word bābā refers to an actual person indulged by the dish or to the eggplant (bāḏinjān or bātinjān in Arabic).[7]
Dishes consisting of mashed eggplant are common in cuisines from west Africa to Russia.[7]
Eastern Arabian cuisine versions of the dish vary slightly from those of the Levant by spicing it with coriander and cumin;[10] those versions might be minimally spiced and topped with thinly chopped parsley or coriander leaves.[11]
In Syria, the dish is often mixed with sheep cheese, which turns it into a creamier dish.[12]
In Turkey, the dish is known as babaganuş or abugannuş. While the ingredients vary from region to region, the essentials (eggplants, tahini, garlic, lemon) are generally the same.[citation needed]
In Armenia, the dish is known as mutabal. The essential ingredients in Armenian mutabal are eggplant, tahini, garlic, lemon, and onion; and most Armenians also add cumin.[citation needed]
In Romania, a similar dish is known as salată de vinete ('eggplant salad'). It lacks tahini and is made from finely chopped roasted eggplant, finely chopped onions, sunflower oil (explicitly not olive oil[13][14] because it would make the dish bitter), salt and, optionally, mayonnaise.[15]
The dish became part of Israeli cuisine during the 1949-1959 period of austerity in Israel, when it was adopted from the cuisines of neighboring Arab countries. It was used as a meat substitute and remained popular after the economic crisis ended, commonly kept on hand for snacks or to serve to unexpected guests, eventually becoming a "cultural icon" according to food writer and historian Gil Marks.[7]
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- List of dips
- Eggplant salads and appetizers, an overview of similar dishes prepared around the world
- List of Arab salads
- List of eggplant dishes
- List of hors d'oeuvre
- List of Middle Eastern dishes
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