Muhammara Recipe

Muhammara is a spicy roasted red pepper and walnut dip originally from Syria but found across the Levant. I first discovered it in Turkey in 2019 as part of the famous Turkish breakfast spread. Muhammara is great as a mezze or side, and a real crowd-pleaser at dinner parties served with lots of fresh pitta bread or carrot sticks.

Ingredients (3-4 people):

3 red peppers (halved and deseeded)

150g walnuts

2 garlic cloves

Juice of 1⁄2 lemon

2 tbsp pomegranate molasses

2 tbsp tahini

2-3 heaped tbsp breadcrumbs

1 tsp tomato paste

1 tsp sumac

1 tsp chilli flakes

Handful of fresh coriander leaves

Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation (30min)

1. Preheat oven to 180C.

2. Put peppers on oven-proof tray and roast in oven for approx 20-25min until skins are charred. Remove from oven and let cool. Remove skins.

3. Toast walnuts in the oven or a pan for 5min until they go brown and smell toasted.

4. In a blender add: roasted peppers, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, tahini, breadcrumbs, tomato paste, sumac, chilli flakes, coriander, salt and pepper. Blend until smooth.

5. Season to taste. Serve warm or chilled.

#food #travel #Turkey #muhammara