| Barbajuan | |
| Alternate Name: | Barbagiuan |
| Country: | Castellar, |
| Course: | Hors d'oeuvre |
| Main Ingredient: | Swiss chard, spinach, ricotta, Parmigiano-Reggiano, onions, leeks, egg whites, pastry (flour, eggs, olive oil, water) |
Barbajuan (also spelled barbagiuan or barbagiuai) is an appetizer mainly found in the eastern part of the French Riviera, in the western part of Liguria and in Monaco.[1] A kind of fritter stuffed with Swiss chard, rice and ricotta, among other ingredients, it originates from Castellar[2] in France and became popular in Monaco, where it is especially eaten on the national day, 19 November, because women from Castellar used to sell it in the markets of Monaco.[3] The word means Uncle John in the local occitan dialect.[4]
Other fillings can include pumpkin, minced meat, leeks or eggs.[5]