IS BABA GHANOUSH PALEO?
Sometimes it can be difficult to find dips, salsas, and appetizers that are completely Paleo. Loaded with cheese, beans, mayonnaise, and grains, the heavy dips you see at many football parties and family get-togethers are everything but Paleo. What about baba ghanoush, the traditional Levantine dish? Is it Paleo?
What is Baba Ghanoush?
Baba ghanoush looks much like hummus, but it is actually an eggplant-based dip. Mixed with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and sesame seeds, the eggplant takes on a new taste entirely. This Arabic term means, “father of the pestle,” and the dish is common in both Lebanon and Egypt. It is made the same way as hummus, but with eggplant instead of beans.
Is Baba Ghanoush Paleo?
Yes! Baba ghanoush is Paleo! Eggplants are vegetables, and though they’re high in carbohydrates, they’re Paleo. Even Mark Sisson has a few eggplant recipes on his site. Next time you’re throwing a party, make your own baba ghanoush dip and dig in with Paleo-approved dippers.
- Paleo Eggplant Fries (freckleditalian.com)
- Baba Ghanoush with Squash Chips (marksdailyapple.com)
- How Healthy is Eggplant? (sfgate.com)
Photo of baba ghanoush courtesy of Melissa Joulwan, author of the cookbook “Well Fed: Paleo Recipes For People Who Love To Eat” and the blog The Clothes Make The Girl (http://www.theclothesmakethegirl.com). Photo credit: David Humphreys.
