Muhammara Recipes

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the red bell peppers on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and roast for about 35 to 45 minutes.
• Turn the sides of peppers at least once, and roast until they are soft, well cooked and the skin is charred.
• Transfer the roasted bell peppers to a preparation bowl and cover with a cling wrap. Once cooled, peel the skin and remove the seeds.
• Cut the roasted peppers into strips or pieces and place in a food processor. Add the bread crumbs, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, red pepper flakes (if using, see note), cumin and grated garlic.
• Use the pulse option on the food processor and process the ingredients into a slightly coarse but cohesive mixture.
• Next, add finely chopped walnuts, Turkish red pepper paste (if using, see note), olive oil, about 1/3 tsp salt and pulse it again to combine well.Tip: Lightly toast the walnuts for flavor.
• Adjust the amount of pomegranate molasses, lemon juice, garlic and seasonings to your taste.
• Transfer the muhammara dip into a shallow serving bowl and use the back of a spoon to create some curvy patterns.
• Drizzle some more olive oil. And garnish with chopped fresh mint or chives and some walnut halves. Store it in refrigerator for about 5 days.

MUHAMMARA (RED PEPPER AND WALNUT SPREAD)

Steps:

• Combine pepper, scallions, lemon juice, cumin, salt, 2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes, 4 tablespoons olive oil and all but 2 of the walnuts in a food processor and purée until mostly smooth.
• Add 4 tablespoons bread crumbs and pulse to combine. If mixture is still too loose to hold its shape, add remaining bread crumbs and pulse again. Season to taste with salt and red pepper flakes.
• Scrape spread into a bowl and make a well in the center with the back of a spoon. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 teaspoon pomegranate molasses and ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes in the well. Crush the reserved walnuts between your fingers and sprinkle over the top.

TRADITIONAL MUHAMMARA (SYRIAN HOT PEPPER DIP)

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place the bell peppers with cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet; roast under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Toast the bread slices in a toaster and let cool; place into a resealable plastic bag, squeeze out air, seal bag, and crush with a rolling pin to make crumbs.
• Transfer peppers to a bowl and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Set aside until the skins of the peppers are loose, about 15 minutes; remove and discard skins. Mash the peeled peppers with a fork.
• Combine mashed peppers, bread crumbs, walnuts, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, pomegranate molasses, garlic, cumin, and salt in a food processor; pulse the mixture a few times to blend before running at lowest setting. Slowly stream olive oil into the pepper mixture as it blends until integrated completely; transfer mixture to a serving dish. Sprinkle sumac over the mixture to serve.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Place the peppers in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and pulse several times, until they are reduced to a pulp. Add the walnuts, bread crumbs, spices, and sugar and process until the ingredients are ground and amalgamated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add all of the remaining ingredients. Process to a paste, scraping down the processor from time to time. Taste and adjust salt. If desired, thin out with a little more olive oil. Refrigerate until close to serving time, then bring to room temperature to serve, with vegetables and/or bread.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In a food processor blend together the peppers, the bread crumbs, the walnuts, the garlic, the lemon juice, the pomegranate molasses, the cumin, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil gradually. Transfer the muhammara to a bowl and serve it at room temperature with the pita triangles.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In the container of a food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, bread crumbs, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, cumin and red pepper flakes. Process until smooth. Serve with pita triangles.