Definition:
: a sweet creamy chocolate mixture used especially as a filling or frosting
About the Word:
Sometimes we find a word's etymology in a dictionary that is so clear and explanatory that it serves to instantly clear up any confusion we had about the word (such as the word cyclone, which comes from the Greek word for wheel, kyklÅma). Other times we get words such as ganache.
This term for the chocolate filling or coating used in pastry making comes from the French word (with the same spelling) meaning 'jowl' or 'lower jaw,' leaving the casual reader with some confusion as to how the word took on its modern meaning.
Was it perhaps due to an overindulgence in ganache leading to a fattened jowl? Not likely. The redoubtable Oxford English Dictionary informs us that the French confectioners Maison Siraudin began to use the term ganache for their chocolates in the late 19th century, in reference to a popular comic play, Les Ganaches, written by Victorien Sardou.
Example:
"Pour the cream into the melted chocolate and stir with a whisk to create a delicious ganache." — David Jones, Candy Making for Dummies, 2005
