View source for Baba ghanoush

{{short description|Levantine dish of cooked eggplant}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}} 
{{Use American English|date=March 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox food
| name               = Baba ghanoush
| alternate_name     = Baba ganoush, baba ghanouj
| image              = Baba Ganoush 05of05 (8735238183).jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = 
| associated_cuisine = [[Iraq]], [[Armenia]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thearmeniankitchen.com/2011/11/baba-ghanoush.html|title=Baba Ghanoush|work=The Armenian Kitchen|date=4 November 2011|access-date=May 19, 2020}}</ref> [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], [[Lebanon]], [[Palestine]], [[Greece]], [[Egypt]], [[Tunisia]], and [[Turkey]]
| place_of_origin    = [[Levant]]<ref name="Britannica">{{Britannica|author=LeBlanc, Beverly; McNamee, Gregory Lewis|id=2033086|title=baba ghanoush|access-date=April 5, 2022}}</ref>
| course             = [[Appetizer]]
| served             = 
| main_ingredient    = [[Eggplant]], [[olive oil]]
| cookbook           = Baba Ganoush
}}
{{Infobox food
| name               = Mutabbal
| alternate_name     = Moutabbal, m'tabbal
| image              = Baba ganoush and pita.jpg
| image_size         = 
| caption            = Mutabbal and [[pita]] bread
| place_of_origin    = [[Levant]]
| course             = [[Appetizer]]
| served             = 
| main_ingredient    = [[Eggplant]], [[olive oil]]
}}

'''Baba ghanoush''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|b|ɑː|b|ə|_|ɡ|ə|ˈ|n|uː|ʃ}} {{respell|BAH|bə|_|gə|NOOSH}}, {{IPAc-en|UKalso|-|_|ɡ|æ|ˈ|n|uː|ʃ}} {{respell|-_|gan|OOSH}}, {{IPAc-en|USalso|-|_|ɡ|ə|ˈ|n|uː|ʒ}} {{respell|-_|gə|NOOZH}};<ref name="OED1">{{Cite OED|baba ganoush|5274143737}}</ref><ref name="AHD">{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|baba ghanouj|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref><ref name="OED2">[https://web.archive.org/web/20190425111057/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/baba_ghanouj "baba ghanouj"] (US) and {{Cite dictionary |url=http://www.lexico.com/definition/baba+ganoush |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322185721/https://www.lexico.com/definition/baba_ganoush |url-status=dead |archive-date=2020-03-22 |title=baba ganoush |dictionary=[[Lexico]] UK English Dictionary |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]}}</ref><ref name="Webster">{{Cite Merriam-Webster|baba ghanoush|access-date=25 April 2019}}</ref> {{Langx|ar|بابا غنوج|bābā ġannūj}} {{pronunciation|Q1072192-ar.ogg|listen|help=no}}), also spelled '''baba ganoush''' or '''baba ghanouj''',<ref name="Britannica"/><ref name="OED1"/><ref name="AHD"/><ref name="OED2"/><ref name="Webster"/><ref name="Marks">{{cite encyclopedia | title = Baba Ghanouj | encyclopedia = Encyclopedia of Jewish Food | author = Gil Marks  |author-link1=Gil Marks | publisher = Houghton Mifflin Harcourt | year = 2010 | isbn = 9780544186316 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=gFK_yx7Ps7cC&pg=PT162 }}</ref> is a [[Levantine cuisine|Levantine appetizer]] consisting of finely chopped roasted [[eggplant]], olive oil,  lemon juice, various seasonings, and [[tahini]].<ref name="Webster"/><ref name="Marks"/><ref>{{Cite book|section=Baba ganoush|date=September 2006|title=[[Oxford English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|edition=3rd|quote=A Middle Eastern (originally Lebanese) dish of puréed roasted aubergine, garlic, and tahini.}}</ref> The eggplant is traditionally roasted, baked or [[broiled]] over an open flame before peeling so that the pulp is soft and has a [[Smoke flavor|smoky taste]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Karam Khayat|first1=Marie|last2=Clark Keatinge|first2=Margaret|title=Food from the Arab World|publisher=Khayats|location=Beirut, Lebanon}}</ref> It is a typical ''[[meze]]'' (starter) of the regional cuisine, often served as a side to a main meal and as a [[Dip (food)|dip]] for [[pita]] bread.<ref name="Marks" />

== Etymology ==
The word {{Transliteration|ar|bābā}} in [[Arabic]] is a [[term of endearment]] for 'father', while {{Transliteration|ar|Ġannūj}} could be a personal name.<ref name="OED2" /> The word combination is also interpreted as 'father of [[coquetry]]' or 'indulged/pampered/flirtatious daddy' or 'spoiled old daddy'.<ref name="AHD"/><ref name="Marks" /><ref name="Habeeb">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v5TTAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA34|title=The Arabian Nights Cookbook: From Lamb Kebabs to Baba Ghanouj, Delicious Homestyle Arabian Cooking|last=Salloum|first=Habeeb|date=2012-02-28|publisher=Tuttle Publishing|isbn=9781462905249|language=en}}</ref> However, it is not certain whether the word {{Transliteration|ar|bābā}} refers to an actual person indulged by the dish or to the eggplant ({{Transliteration|ar|bāḏinjān}} or {{Transliteration|ar|bātinjān}} in Arabic).<ref name="Marks" />

[[Hans Wehr]]'s 4th edition of ''[[A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic]]'', released in 1979, described {{Transliteration|ar|bābā ghanūj}} and {{Transliteration|ar|abū ghanūj}} as "dish of mashed eggplants, sesame oil, etc.", attributing the term to [[Syrian Arabic|Syrian]] and [[Lebanese Arabic]].<ref name="wehr1979">{{cite book |last1=Wehr |first1=Hans |author1-link=Hans Wehr |title=A Dictionary of Modern Written Arabic |date=1979 |publisher=Otto Harrassowitz Verlag |isbn=978-3-447-02002-2 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/A_Dictionary_of_Modern_Written_Arabic/WTak55pG-_IC?gbpv=1&pg=PA802&printsec=frontcover |access-date=21 December 2025 |language=en |page=802}}</ref>

==Varieties==
Dishes consisting of mashed eggplant are common in cuisines from [[West African cuisine|West Africa]] to [[Russian cuisine|Russia]].<ref name="Marks" />

[[Eastern Arabian cuisine]] versions of the dish vary slightly from those of the [[Levant]] by spicing it with [[coriander]] and [[cumin]];<ref name="Habeeb" /> those versions might be minimally spiced and topped with thinly chopped [[parsley]] or coriander leaves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yourmiddleeast.com/2013/01/07/baba-ganoush-quintessentially-levantine/|title=Baba Ganoush: Quintessentially Levantine|date=2013-01-07|website=Your Middle East|language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-29|archive-date=29 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729232912/https://yourmiddleeast.com/2013/01/07/baba-ganoush-quintessentially-levantine/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In [[Syria]], the dish is often mixed with sheep cheese, making it creamier.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=October 2020 |title=Baba ganoush ou caviar d'aubergines |url=https://www.panierdesaison.com/2020/10/baba-ganoush-caviar-aubergines.html |access-date=2023-02-28 |website=Panier de Saison: recettes, accords mets-vins, jardinage et tourisme local |language=fr}}</ref> 

In [[Turkish cuisine|Turkey]], the dish is known as {{lang|tr|babaganuş}} or {{lang|tr|abugannuş}}. While the ingredients vary from region to region, the essentials (eggplants, tahini, garlic, lemon) are generally the same.{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}}

The dish became part of [[Israeli cuisine]] during the 1949-1959 period of [[austerity in Israel]] when it was [[Politics of food in the Arab-Israeli conflict|adopted from the cuisines]] of neighboring Arab countries. It was used as a meat substitute and remained popular after the economic crisis ended. It was commonly used for snacks or to serve to unexpected guests, eventually becoming a "cultural icon," according to food writer and historian [[Gil Marks]].<ref name="Marks"/>

== Similar dishes ==
A very similar dish is mutabbal ({{langx|ar|links=no|متبل||spiced}}); mutabbal is sometimes referred to as baba ghanouj.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 October 2022 |title=Make baba ghanouj that’s creamy, balanced and light with these tips |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/food/2022/10/20/baba-ghanouj-ghanoush-recipe-eggplant/ |access-date=28 September 2025 |work=The Washington Post}}</ref> "Mutabbal" however, refers to a dish made with mashed, grilled vegetables and tahini,<ref name="ottolenghi">{{cite web |last1=Ottolenghi |first1=Yotam |author1-link=Yotam Ottolenghi |title=Mutabal {{!}} Ottolenghi Recipes |url=https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/baba-ganoush-burnt-aubergine-tahini |access-date=28 September 2025 |website=Ottolenghi |language=en}}</ref><ref name="muscat">{{cite news |date=20 April 2021 |title=Baba Ganoush vs Moutabel |url=https://www.muscatdaily.com/2021/04/20/baba-ganoush-vs-moutabel/ |access-date=28 September 2025 |work=Muscat Daily |language=en}}</ref> whereas baba ghanouj does not necessarily have tahini.<ref name="ottolenghi" /><ref name="muscat" /> Levantine mutabbal is made with many vegetables besides augerbines.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kalla |first1=Joudie |title=Baladi: Palestine a celebration of food from land and sea |date=18 October 2018 |publisher=Jacqui Small |isbn=978-1-911127-86-4 |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Baladi/PTByDwAAQBAJ?gbpv=1&pg=PA59&printsec=frontcover |access-date=23 December 2025 |language=en |page=59}}</ref> In Palestine and Jordan, pumpkin ''mutabbal'' is a popular traditional dish.<ref>{{cite news |date=2 July 2024 |title=بعد منعها من الغناء في بريطانيا لدعمها غزة.. "قدس" تحاور الفنانة الفلسطينية ريم الكيلاني |trans-title=After being banned from performing in Britain for supporting Gaza, Quds interviews Palestinian artist Reem Kilani |url=https://qudsn.co/post/205575/%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%B9%D9%85%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%AF%D8%B3-%D8%AA%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9 |access-date=8 December 2025 |work=Quds News |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="kalla2019">{{cite book |last1=Kalla |first1=Joudie |author1-link=Joudie_Kalla |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Palestine_on_a_Plate/YfWxDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&printsec=frontcover&bsq=mutabbal |title=Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my mother's kitchen |date=3 September 2019 |publisher=White Lion Publishing |isbn=978-0-7112-4529-7 |language=en |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref><ref name="helou2013">{{cite book |last1=Helou |first1=Anissa |author1-link=Anissa Helou |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Levant_Recipes_and_memories_from_the_Mid/ApHF_ogf898C?gbpv=1&pg=PT36&printsec=frontcover&dq=mutabbal |title=Levant: Recipes and memories from the Middle East |date=20 June 2013 |publisher=HarperCollins UK |isbn=978-0-00-744862-3 |page=36 |language=en |access-date=8 December 2025}}</ref>

In [[Romania]], a similar dish is known as {{lang|ro|salată de vinete}} ('eggplant salad'). Like the Greek dish of Melitzanosalata, it lacks tahini and is made from finely chopped roasted eggplant, finely chopped onions, [[sunflower oil]] (explicitly not olive oil<ref name="Marin">{{Cite book |last=Marin |first=Sanda |title=Carte de bucate (Cookbook) |publisher=Editura Orizonturi |year=1995 |isbn=973-95583-2-1 |location=București (Bucharest) |pages=31–32 |language=Romanian}}</ref><ref name="Jurcovan">{{Cite book |last=Jurcovan |first=Silvia |title=Carte de bucate (Cookbook) |publisher=Editura Humanitas |year=2012 |isbn=978-973-50-3475-7 |location=București (Bucharest) |pages=90–91 |language=Romanian}}</ref> because it would make the dish bitter), salt and, optionally, [[mayonnaise]].<ref name="Hansen">{{Cite book |last=Hansen |first=Eliza |title=Meine rumänischen Spezialitäten (My Romanian Specialties) |publisher=Ed. Christians |year=1973 |isbn=3-7672-0229-8 |location=Hamburg |pages=10 |language=German}}</ref>

in [[Greece]], a similar dish is known as ''Μελιτζανοσαλάτα'' ([[melitzanosalata]]; literally translating to eggplant salad). However, the dish does not contain tahini, instead just containing the eggplant itself (hence the name), some olive oil and lemon juice, and spices like garlic and onion, with occasional spices like garlic and pepper flakes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Karadsheh |first=Suzy |date=2020-09-02 |title=Melitzanosalata: Greek Eggplant Dip (tips & recipe) |url=https://www.themediterraneandish.com/melitzanosalata-recipe/ |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=The Mediterranean Dish |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Greek roasted eggplant dip - Melitzanosalata |url=https://akispetretzikis.com/en/recipe/2656/melitzanosalata |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Akis Petretzikis |language=en}}</ref> The dish is extremely popular during the 40-day [[Lent]]en fast as it provides a non-animal-based alternative to dips like tzatziki during the fast. This is due to Greece being a very religious [[Greek Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] country.

==See also==
* [[Dip (food)#List of common dips|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]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{commons category}}
{{Wiktionary|baba ganoush}}

*{{cite book|first=Elizabeth|last=David|date=1950|title=[[Elizabeth David#Books|A Book of Mediterranean Food]]|publisher=Alfred A. Knopf|isbn= 0-394-49153-X}}
*{{cite book|last=Levy|first=F.|title=Feast from the Mideast|publisher=Harper Collins|date=2003|isbn=0-06-009361-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/feastfrommideast00levy }}
*{{cite book|first=Nicolas|last=Trépanier|title=Foodways and Daily Life in Medieval Anatolia: A New Social History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ciXNBAAAQBAJ&pg=PA129|date=30 November 2014|publisher=University of Texas Press|isbn=978-0-292-75929-9}}

{{Cuisine of Lebanon}}
{{Cuisine of the Levant}}
{{eggplant dishes}}
{{portal bar|Food}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baba Ghanoush}}
[[Category:Appetizers]]
[[Category:Arab cuisine]]
[[Category:Assyrian cuisine]]
[[Category:Dips (food)]]
[[Category:Eggplant dishes]]
[[Category:Egyptian cuisine]]
[[Category:Iraqi cuisine]]
[[Category:Israeli cuisine]]
[[Category:Jordanian cuisine]]
[[Category:Lebanese cuisine]]
[[Category:Middle Eastern cuisine]]
[[Category:Palestinian cuisine]]
[[Category:Qatari cuisine]]
[[Category:Syrian cuisine]]
[[Category:Vegan cuisine]]
[[Category:Jewish cuisine]]
[[Category:Russian cuisine]]
[[Category:Balkan cuisine]]
[[Category:Central Asian cuisine]]