Turkish Muhammara Recipes

TURKISH MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In mortar using pestle, pound walnuts into very small pieces. (Don't do this in food processor or it will turn to paste.).
• Transfer to large mixing bowl and add feta, bread crumbs, oil, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, pomegranate juice, tomato paste, hot paprika mix, sweet peppers, oil-packed crushed red peppers, hot sauce, cumin, paprika, chili flakes, oregano, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder and sugar.
• Mix very well by hand, squeezing and mixing.
• In small bowl, combine yellow and green onions.
• Sprinkle with salt.
• Let stand several minutes.
• Squeeze mixture by hand, discarding liquid.
• Add onions to walnut mixture and mix well by hand.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to let flavours develop. Serve with pita, bread or crackers. (Keeps several days. If needed, drizzle with olive oil before serving to loosen mixture.).

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.