Moroccan Olive Dip Recipes

MOROCCAN OLIVE TAPENADE - BLACK OR GREEN OLIVE TAPENADE

Steps:

• Rinse the olives and remove the pits. Combine the olives with the capers.
• Chop the olives and capers as finely as you can by hand, or place them in a food processor and pulse several times until the mixture is almost a paste. If using a processor, be careful not to overdo the blending as you want the tapenade to retain some texture.
• Mix the chopped olives with the remaining ingredients by hand, or in the food processor (again by pulsing several times, just until combined).
• Taste, then add and adjust harissa, garlic, and lemon juice as desired.
• For a thinner tapenade, increase the amount of olive oil, stirring in an additional teaspoon or two at a time, until you achieve the desired consistency. Store the tapenade in a covered glass jar in the fridge.

MOROCCAN OLIVE DIP

Steps:

• In a large covered container, combine the cumin, oregano, fennel seeds, 1 teaspoon of the red pepper flakes, and the rosemary, garlic, and olives. Add just enough water to cover the olives with liquid. Cover and let sit overnight in the refrigerator.
• Strain the liquid from the olives and discard it. Pick out and discard the garlic. Add the olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, sugar, salt, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, the cloves, and the raisins to the olives. Stir and then refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Before serving, let the mixture sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to warm the olive oil. Stir and serve.
• The olive mixture will keep in an airtight container for up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Allow the mixture to come to room temperature before serving. (The oil may congeal while refrigerated.)

MOROCCAN OLIVES

Steps:

• In 8-inch nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil 1 minute. Add fennel seed, coriander seed, cumin seed, pepper flakes and garlic; cook and stir over medium heat 1 minute or until fragrant. Remove from heat. Add olives and orange peel; stir until olives are coated.
• Divide mixture between 2 small jars or containers with tightfitting lids. Pour 3/4 cup oil over mixture in jars. Cover; refrigerate at least 4 hours before serving. Serve at room temperature. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

MOROCCAN EGGPLANT DIP

Steps:

• Mix tomato sauce, red wine vinegar, cumin, salt, sugar, and cayenne together in a small bowl.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add garlic; cook and stir until golden, about 2 minutes. Add eggplant and red bell pepper; pour in tomato sauce mixture. Simmer, covered, until eggplant and red bell pepper soften, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer eggplant mixture to a food processor; pulse until it reaches the desired consistency. Sprinkle cilantro over dip.

MOROCCAN CARROT DIP

Steps:

• Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the carrots and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook until they begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic, coriander, cumin, ginger, chili powder and cinnamon and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the water and bring to a simmer. Cover, reduce the heat to low, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the carrots are tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Off the heat, mash the carrots with a potato masher, leaving a few coarse pieces for texture. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons oil and vinegar. Transfer to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until the dip is chilled, about 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with the cilantro before serving. The dip can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Season with additional vinegar, salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with the cilantro before serving.
• Adjust the oven racks to the upper-middle and lower-middle positions and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread the pita wedges, smooth-side down, over 2 rimmed baking sheets. Spray the top of each chip with oil and then sprinkle with the salt.
• Bake the chips until they begin to crisp and brown lightly, 8 to 10 minutes. Flip the chips over so their smooth side is facing up and continue to bake until the chips are fully toasted, 8 to 10 minutes longer. Remove the baking sheets from the oven and let cool before serving.
• To make Garlic-Herb Pita Chips, mix 1½ teaspoons garlic powder and 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme, basil, or oregano with the salt before sprinkling it over the chips in step 1.
• To make Chili-Spiced Pita Chips, mix 1 tablespoon chili powder (or you can substitute curry powder or smoked paprika), ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch cayenne pepper with the salt before sprinkling it over the chips in step 1.

MOROCCAN CHICKPEA DIP

Steps:

• In food processor process garlic until minced.
• Add cilantro and process until finely chopped, 10 - 20 seconds.
• Add chick-peas, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and hot sauce.
• Process until very smooth.
• Place dip in serving bowl and refrigerate until chilled and ready to serve.
• Serve with veggie slices, pita wedges, fat free pretzels or other chips.

MOROCCAN CARROT DIP

Steps:

• Cook the chopped carrot and garlic in simmering, salted water, for about 20 minutes or until soft.
• Drain well, then return them to the hot, dry pan for a minute or two, over medium heat, to dry them out further.
• Tip the carrots and garlic into the food processor bowl, and process until smooth.
• Add the cumin, paprika, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, sea salt, honey and lemon juice and whizz again.
• With the machine still running, add the olive oil gradually.
• Allow to cool.
• Spoon into a serving bowl, drizzle with a little extra olive oil, scatter with olives and cilantro leaves, and serve with lightly warmed flat bread for dipping.