BABA GHANOUSH

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The story: baba ghanoush means "pampered father", which, quite possibly, means that the dish was invented for a sultan (or by a sultan, highly unlikely if w=he was so pampered!). Very popular in Levant, there are versions of this in Turkey, Romania, and more.
The main ingredients: baba ghanoush vs. moutabal, what is what? Just to set the record straight: baba ghanoush is the one with pomegranade molasses, tomato, parsley. Moutabal is the one mixed with tahina. Anyway, the main ingredient is roasted eggplant, very smoky flavour, chopped with a wooden knife rather than a metal one.

When: oh my God, so many times! LAst time in March 2013.
Where: last time? Reem Al Bawadi, Jumeirah Road, 
Verdict: I prefer moutabal to baba ghanoush. I like the mix between the smokiness of the eggplant and the freshness of tomatoes and parsley, but the eggplant is not chopped fine enough for me and,honestly, I don't enjoy its texture. I guess it's a personal thing. Funny enough, I don't know many people who like both moutabal and baba ghanoush, it's either one or the other.



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