World Cuisine - Middle East

Many countries in the Middle East may not be in agreement on many things, but they sure do share a love and passion for its cuisine. Many of the famous dishes that come from the Middle East are shared by a number of countries in the region, such as hummus, falafel, baba ganoush, taboulli and many more.

Today we will focus on an eggplant dish called Baba Ganoush. According to a food history website,  the name literally means “spoiled father”. According to Middle Eastern food lore, it alludes to an elderly, toothless father, whose daughter had to mash his food for him. It looks a little bit similar to hummus, but vastly different in its ingredients and flavor. Baba Ganoush is a puree of roasted eggplants mixed with lemon, garlic and tahini. The irresistible smokiness and creaminess combined create such a unique flavor that keeps you begging for more. I got hooked on Baba Ganoush the first time, and had to work hard to remember the name in order to be able to find the dish again in the future.

The name and flavor may intimidate you, but this simple recipe can recreate its freshness and flavor very well!

With summer in full bloom, try out this recipe with your bounty of eggplants!