Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip) Recipe

Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Dip)

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Smooth, thick, and layered with flavor, this mildly spicy dip of roasted red bell peppers and toasted walnuts is thickened with finely ground crispy breadsticks. Pomegranate molasses adds a piquancy that plays off the sweetness of the juicy roasted bell peppers, and spicy pepper paste brings just a touch of heat. This dip is delicious on pitas with League of Kitchens instructor Jeanette Chawki's grilled Lahem Meshwy (Lamb Shish Kebabs) and fresh, crunchy Biwaz (Parsley and Onion Salad), or serve it with fresh vegetables for dunking.

By Jeanette Chawki

Updated on August 2, 2023

Tested by

Food & Wine Test Kitchen

Muhammara — Photo: Photo by Victor Protasio / Food Styling by Margaret Monroe Dickey / Prop Styling by Lydia Pursell

Active Time:

25 mins

Total Time:

45 mins

Yield:

4 to 6

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

2 medium-size red bell peppers
½ cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, plus more for drizzling
4 ounces plain breadsticks (such as Baraka or Ziyad) (about 8 pieces)
1 cup toasted walnut halves, plus 11 toasted walnut halves, divided
¾ cup minced white onion
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoon spicy pepper paste (such as Mis)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses (such as Cortas or Ziyad) or 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon Aleppo pepper
3 tablespoons tahini
½ teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside. Trim and discard tops and bottoms from bell peppers. Cut each trimmed bell pepper lengthwise into 4 equal pieces; remove and discard ribs and seeds. Toss together bell pepper pieces and 1 tablespoon oil in a medium bowl. Arrange pepper pieces, skin side up, in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Roast in preheated oven until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Transfer roasted bell peppers to a medium bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Let stand at room temperature to steam until completely tender and cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Remove and discard skins from bell peppers; set bell peppers aside. Reserve any juices in bowl.
Process breadsticks in a food processor until finely ground. Pass finely ground breadsticks through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a medium bowl. Set aside 1/2 cup fine breadcrumbs in a small bowl; reserve any remaining breadcrumbs and large unsifted crumbs for another use. Process 1 cup walnuts in food processor until finely ground, about 30 seconds. Place ground walnuts in a separate small bowl; set aside. Pulse onion and garlic in food processor until well combined and finely minced, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, 3 to 5 pulses. Add roasted bell peppers and reserved juices to food processor; process until smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, about 1 minute. Add ground walnuts, reserved 1/2 cup breadcrumbs, spicy pepper paste, tomato paste, pomegranate molasses, cumin, paprika, and Aleppo pepper; process until smooth, about 1 minute. Add tahini, salt, and remaining 1/2 cup oil; process until smooth and thick, stopping to scrape down sides as needed, about 30 seconds.
Scoop muhammara onto a plate, and smooth out into an even circle. Using the back of a large spoon, swirl just inside the border to create a shallow moat, keeping the middle slightly mounded. Arrange 10 walnuts around border, and place remaining 1 walnut in the middle. Garnish with a drizzle of oil.