Walnut Pepper Spread Recipes

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.

ROAST PEPPER SPREAD WITH WALNUTS AND GARLIC

Steps:

• Make sure the peppers are without seeds. Combine them in a food processor along with the walnuts, garlic, olive oil, the grated zest of the lemon, and the cumin.
• Pulse to process so the ingredients are pulverized but not pureed; you want a paste, but one with a little texture. (If you are feeling energetic and have a mortar and pestle, you can also process by hand.).
• Transfer the paste to a bowl and add the juice of the lemon, hot red pepper flakes, and salt. Taste and adjust seasoning.
• Serve, or cover and refrigerate for a day or two (bring back to room temperature before serving).

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.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND WALNUT DIP (MUHUMMARA)

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Roast the red peppers. Place each bell pepper over the open flame of a gas burner or grill, cooking until the skin blackens and blisters. Rotate the peppers and blacken all the way around, about 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can roast the peppers in the oven by placing the bell peppers on a baking sheet and placing under the broiler, turning frequently, until the peppers are blackened and blistered all over. Put the blackened peppers in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside to steam.
• Toast the walnuts. Spread the walnuts on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Pop into the oven until light golden brown and aromatic, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool.
• Peel the red peppers using a paring knife. Discard the peels, stem and seeds. Throw the roasted red peppers, walnuts, garlic, paprika, cumin, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and olive oil into a food processor with a teaspoon of salt, and run until the dip is smooth. Taste for seasoning and adjust accordingly. Cool and serve.

WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Put 2-4 walnut halves apart to use as garnish.
• Mix walnuts, ricotta cheese honey and salt together, either in a food processor or by hand held blender.
• Taste and adjust salt to your liking.
• Put the spread in a bowl and garnish with walnut halves and sprinkle with half a tablespoon honey.

TANGY ROAST PEPPER & WALNUT DIP

Steps:

• In a pan, heat the ground cumin and pimenton in the olive oil until fragrant. Combine the rest of the ingredients in a food processor, then season with salt and pepper. With the motor running, slowly pour in the spiced olive oil until incorporated. Add a tbsp of water if it's too thick. Scoop into a bowl and serve with freshly ground black pepper and pimenton on top.

ROASTED RED PEPPER AND WALNUT DIP

Steps:

• Roast peppers over a gas burner until blackened all over, turning with tongs as each side is blistered. (Alternatively, place under a broiler.) Transfer to a bowl, and cover with plastic wrap; let stand about 15 minutes. Peel, and discard skins, stems, and seeds. Set peppers aside.
• Toast pita bread until crisp and golden. Break into 2-inch pieces; place in a bowl, and cover with the water. Soak until soft, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a sieve, and drain well, pressing out excess water. Set aside.
• Combine garlic and walnut pieces in the bowl of a food processor; process until fine crumbs form, about 10 seconds. Add paprika, cumin, and reserved peppers and pita bread; process until smooth, about 10 seconds. Add vinegar, lemon juice, oil, and salt, and season with black pepper. Pulse until combined.
• Transfer to a serving bowl; cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight. Before serving, bring to room temperature. Drizzle with oil; sprinkle with walnuts or paprika, as desired.

WALNUT BUTTER SPREAD

Steps:

• Place walnuts, orange peel, pepper and salt in a food processor; cover and process until creamy. Spread on toast, with preserves and Brie if desired.

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.

ROASTED RED PEPPER–WALNUT DIP

Steps:

• Blend together walnuts, roasted peppers, bread pieces, garlic paste, lemon juice, cumin, and cayenne in a food processor until as smooth as possible, about 1 minute.
• With motor running, add oil in a slow stream and blend until combined well. Season to taste with salt and additional lemon juice, as well as additional cayenne and minced garlic.