Middle East Muhammara Recipes

IT'S MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Make the bell pepper juice: Puree the bell pepper in a high-powered blender (or juice in a juicer). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• For each cocktail: Combine 1 ounce bell pepper juice, the rum, tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup, caraway liqueur and bitters in a shaker with ice; shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel.

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.

BEET MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Puree nuts, beets, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, and molasses in a food processor until combined, about 30 seconds. Stream in oil; puree to a coarse but even texture. Season with salt and black pepper. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. Serve, topped with more oil and cilantro, with radishes alongside.

MIDDLE EAST MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In a medium skillet over medium heat, throw in walnuts and sauté until they become more fragrant; toss often, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add to the bowl of a food processor.
• Add roasted red peppers, breadcrumbs, oil, garlic, tomato paste, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, cumin, paprika, aleppo pepper, and salt; process until blended but not completely smooth, keeping the mixture slightly coarse. The process time shouldn't take more than 1 minute. Half way through, clean the sides of the bowl; taste and adjust if necessary.
• Transfer the muhammara in a serving dish, cover with plastic wrap and transfer to the refrigerator for 1 hour to allow the flavors to blend together.
• When ready to serve, sprinkle chopped walnuts, fresh parsley and drizzle about ½ tablespoons oil if desired. Yield 2 cups.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Add the walnuts, breadcrumbs, roasted red peppers, Aleppo pepper, cumin, salt, sumac and cayenne if using to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the pomegranate molasses, oil and lemon juice and process until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with a drizzle of olive oil and the parsley. Serve with crackers.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• To make Pomegranate Molasses:.
• Bring to boil 1 quart Pomegranate Juice (such as Pom Wonderful), 2/3 cup sugar, 2/3 cup lemon juice and simmer on low until reduced to 1-1/3 cups.
• Or even easier: simmer any quantity of pomegranate juice on low heat until it is reduced and thick enough to coat a spoon.
• Recipe Directions:.
• 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 chill in the refrigerator until it thickens.
• Serve at room temperature with the pita triangles.

MUHAMMARA (RED PEPPER & WALNUT DIP)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Roast the peppers for 25-30 mins, turning halfway, until tender and starting to blister (if they don't blister, grill them for a few minutes). Cool a bit, then peel and discard the skins. Discard the seeds and finely chop the flesh. Toast the walnuts for 5 mins until lightly browned.
• Grind all but four of the walnut halves in a spice grinder until they are quite fine but still have some texture. Mix the ground walnuts with the peppers, then add the molasses, spices, tomato paste, garlic, breadcrumbs and sea salt, mix well and season.
• Serve the muhammara on a small plate, drizzling with some olive oil. Add the whole walnuts to the centre and some coriander around the edge.

MUHAMMARA CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Poach the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan, add enough water to cover by 1 inch and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the peppercorns, bay leaf and garlic, and season with salt. Bring to a boil, skim and discard foam, and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Cover and simmer chicken until tender and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the muhammara: In a food processor, combine the roasted red peppers and walnuts. Pulse for about 30 seconds to coarsely chop. Add the Aleppo pepper, cumin, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and 1 teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Keep the processor running and pour in the olive oil in a thin stream. Process until incorporated, and add more salt if necessary. Transfer to a bowl or airtight container and cover. Muhammara will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and discard the poaching liquid. When cool enough to touch, thinly slice the chicken against the grain at an angle.
• To assemble the sandwiches, generously spread the muhammara on each piece of the bread. (Save any leftovers to enjoy as a dip or spread.) Divide the chicken slices among the bread bottoms. Top with the arugula, cover with the bread tops and press down slightly to adhere. Serve immediately, or wrap and chill to serve up to 4 hours after assembly.

MUHAMMARA (ROASTED PEPPER & WALNUT SPREAD)

Steps:

• Heat a skillet over medium heat. Add walnuts and drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Cook and stir frequently until walnuts smell toasted and are lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and transfer walnuts to a plate to cool. Reserve 2 or 3 to coarsely chop and use for garnish.
• Place the skillet over medium heat; add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Sprinkle in the breadcrumbs; cook and stir frequently until crumbs turn golden brown, 3 or 4 minutes. Remove from heat and sprinkle onto plate with walnuts.
• Place peppers in bowl of a food processor. Add walnuts, toasted bread crumbs, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, salt, paprika, Aleppo pepper flakes, cumin, and cayenne pepper. Drizzle with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil.
• Pulse on and off, scraping mixture down occasionally, until mixture is fairly fine and smooth. Transfer to a bowl; cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 2 hours.
• Transfer to a shallow serving bowl. Use the back of a spoon to swirl indentations on the surface to capture the garnishes. Garnish with reserved chopped walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil, pepper flakes, and chopped parsley.