Dip - Traditional Muhammara (Syrian Hot Pepper)
Posted: 18 Feb 2017, 11:46
3 slices whole wheat bread, crusts removed
3/4 cup toasted walnuts, chopped
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Aleppo pepper
2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon cumin seeds, coarsely ground
salt to taste
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pinch sumac powder
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.