Red Pepper Spread Recipes

ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Place all ingredients in a small food processor; cover and process until pureed. Store in the refrigerator.

5-MINUTE ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Add all the ingredients to a food processor or blender.
• Process until you reach your desired level of smoothness.

RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Immerse nine 8-ounce jars in simmering water. Wash lids and rings in warm soapy water.
• Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add red bell peppers, onion, and habanero pepper; cook and stir until softened, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in sugar, vinegar, garam masala, and coriander; cook until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Stir apricot nectar and orange juice concentrate into the skillet. Bring to a boil; simmer for 5 minutes.
• Whisk water and 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons flour together in a bowl until no lumps remain. Pour into the skillet; cook, whisking constantly, until mixture thickens, 5 to 10 minutes.
• Pack mixture into the hot, sterilized jars, filling to within 1/4 inch of the top. Run a clean knife or thin spatula around the insides of the jars to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims with a moist paper towel to remove any residue. Top with lids and screw on rings.
• Place a rack in the bottom of a large stockpot and fill halfway with water. Bring to a boil and lower jars 2 inches apart into the boiling water using a holder. Pour in more boiling water to cover jars by at least 1 inch. Bring the water to a rolling boil, cover the pot, and process for 10 minutes.
• Remove the jars from the stockpot and place onto a cloth-covered or wood surface, several inches apart, for 24 hours. Press the center of each lid with a finger to ensure the lid does not move up or down. Store in a cool, dark area.

AJVAR (ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD)

Steps:

• Preheat oven to broil. Halve each pepper, discarding stems and seeds. Place peppers, cut side down, on an old baking sheet or one lined with foil.
• Cut eggplant in half lengthwise and score with a knife, drizzle it with about 2 tablespoons olive oil and a little salt and place it on a second baking sheet.
• Place one of the oven racks roughly 3 to 4 inches below the heat; place peppers on this rack. The eggplant should sit on a lower rack.
• Broil the peppers and eggplant, turning the peppers occasionally until they are well roasted on all sides, roughly 15 to 20 minutes. The eggplant may be done first; if so, remove it and set it aside to cool. To test eggplant for doneness press on it with a fork to make sure it's soft all the way through. I use an an outdoor grill to cook the peppers and eggplant, no oil. I make sure most of the skin on the peppers are blackened.
• When you remove the peppers from the oven, place them in a bowl, sprinkle them with a little water, and cover with a clean dishcloth. Leave it for about 10 minutes. This step steams and lifts the skins, making it easy to peel the peppers once they've cooled. (Another method to loosen skins is to place the peppers in a paper sack, fold over to close and leave it for 15 minutes).
• While waiting for the red pepper skin to lift. Use a large spoon to remove the pulp of the eggplant, leaving the skin behind. Discard the thickest seeds, but don't get nit-picky. Put eggplant in a food processor or a blender (I use a stick blender in a deep bowl) with olive oil and smashed and chopped garlic cloves. Pulse the eggplant a few times so that it's chopped with the other ingredients but not totally pureed. Put this in a bowl and set aside.
• Once peppers are cool enough to handle, peel them with your fingers or a knife. Add peppers to the food processor or blender and pulse 5 to 8 times to chop coarsely. Add the eggplant mixture to the chopped peppers, season to taste with salt, pepper, vinegar and dried chili flakes, pulse 3 or 4 times to mix.
• If you wish, garnish it with more finely diced garlic and a few scattered basil leaves. Serve ajvar with toasted bread slices drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with salt.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Arrange drained peppers on a double layer of paper towels; let dry.
• Process the remaining ingredients in the bowl of a food processor or blender, until the capers and parsley are very finely chopped.
• Add peppers and process with on-off switch until the peppers are coarsely chopped. Do not overprocess. Stop several times to scrape down the sides of the bowl to make sure mixture is evenly chopped.
• Check the seasonings and adjust as necessary.
• Serve with crudites.

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.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Roast red peppers, tomatoes, garlic and onion under a broiler or on a grill at 425 degrees F, turning to roast all sides, until tomatoes and peppers are blistered, blackened and softened and garlic and onion are blackened in spots. Remove from heat.
• Place pepper and tomatoes in paper bags, secure opening and let cool about 15 minutes. Allow garlic and onion to cool. Peel garlic and onion. Finely chop garlic. Set aside. Finely chop onion, measuring 1/4 cup. Set aside. Peel and seed peppers and tomatoes. Place peppers and tomatoes in a food processor or blender, working in batches, and process until smooth.
• Prepare boiling water canner. Heat jars and lids in simmering water until ready for use. Do not boil. Set bands aside.
• Combine pepper and tomato puree, garlic, onion, vinegar, basil, sugar and salt in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until mixture thickens and mounds on a spoon, about 20 minutes.
• Ladle hot spread into hot jars leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Wipe rim. Center hot lid on jar. Apply band and adjust until fit is fingertip tight.
• Process in a boiling water canner for 10 minutes, adjusting for altitude. Remove jars and cool. Check lids for seal after 24 hours. Lid should not flex up and down when center is pressed.

QUICK ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Place ingredients in the bowl of a food processor fitted with the blade attachment; process until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Red pepper spread can be refrigerated up to 2 weeks or frozen up to 3 months.

EASY RED PEPPER JELLY SPREAD

Steps:

• Place cream cheese on serving dish.
• Top with jelly.

MELTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Thinly slice onions and place in large pan with the olive oil and some salt.
• Cook uncovered until soft, stirring frequently to avoid over-browning.
• Meanwhile, thinly slice peppers and garlic.
• When onions are very soft, add peppers and garlic to pan, along with some salt. Saute for c. 10 minutes until most of the juices have cooked off.
• Cook for another 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture becomes jam-like and caramelized.
• Salt again to taste, then add some thyme and a splash of vinegar.
• Cook for another 1-2 minutes, then remove from heat and let cool.
• Store in an airtight container in the fridge; will keep for up to 2 weeks.

ROASTED RED PEPPER SANDWICH SPREAD

Steps:

• If using a jarred pepper, dry well.
• Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor (I sometimes just place it in a deep bowl and use my wand mixer).
• Process until well blended.
• Refrigerate at least 1 hour before using.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Purée roasted red peppers, bread crumbs, walnuts, vinegar, cumin, cayenne, and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a food processor until almost smooth.
• With motor running, add oil in a slow stream, blending until incorporated.

LAYERED BASIL-ROASTED RED PEPPER SPREAD

Steps:

• Cut star shape from 1 pepper, using 1/2-inch cookie cutter; set aside. Chop pepper trimmings and remaining peppers; mix with olives.
• Blend cream cheese spread, basil and garlic in blender until smooth. Wash cream cheese tub; line with plastic wrap, with ends extending over side of tub.
• Spoon 1/2 cup cream cheese mixture into tub; top with olive mixture and remaining cream cheese mixture. Press firmly into tub with back of spoon.
• Refrigerate 1 hour. Unmold cheese spread onto plate; discard plastic wrap. Top cheese spread with nuts and pepper star. Serve with crackers.