What is Masgouf?

Masgouf is a traditional Iraqi preparation for fresh fish, usually carp. This includes a butterfly large fish, spices of exposed meat and climbing it on a stick or secure it in a flat grill basket, so it can be placed very close to fire or coal. The fish are cooked until it is crunchy and then served immediately on a plate of lemons, tomatoes and other vegetables. The whole process takes several hours and is immersed in traditions, so cooking resembles the same ceremony as the recipe. There are restaurants that have special furnaces for cooking Masgouf, although any hot fire will make a community or home cooking. This can be selected from the fish tank or from a fresh catch of the fisherman. The chosen fish is then a glass to kill it, then split longitudinally along the abdomen, cleaned and spread out of a single flat piece. The fish is stretched by a long skewer so that it can be mounted in front of the fire. Alternatively, butterfly fish sandwiches between a pair of large grilles connected to long handles can be hung at one end.

The marinade of oil, salt and tamarind is applied to exposed fish meat before cooking. This marinade may sometimes include other ingredients such as pepper, turmeric, cumin, ginger or coriander, but most often simple oil and salt. Once the marinade is applied, the fish is located vertically in front of the fire or horizontally inside the hot clay oven. The purpose of the cooking process is to draw all the fat from the fish and leave only meat and spices. One of the reasons why carp is a traditional fish for Masgouf is due to the high fat content.

The whole ceremony surrounding the preparation and portion of Masgouf has a Made IT event that is often very social and sometimes includes the whole community. After the group to be served, he chooses the fish he wants, the group members sit around the table within one to three hours of cooking, eat small appetizers and speak. The size of the fire needed to cook fish makes it easier to prepare many fish at the same time, soLarge groups can be administered. Food is so popular and social in Iraq that Masgouf is often given a visit to the dignitaries during their visits.