Eric and Helmut's Muhammara
The Sandcastle Girls - Recipe #6
Muhammara is a traditional Syrian roasted red pepper and walnut dip, perfect for a snack alongside some hummus and pita chips or spread on a sandwich to jazz it up. When I first tried muhammara a few years ago (when I was not yet a vegan), I assumed I was eating some sort of meaty pate, so was astonished to learn it was completely meat-free! This is a perfect dish for vegans and their non-vegan friends alike - I haven't met anyone yet who has tried it and not fallen in love with its delightfully unique, rich flavor.
I am dedicating this dish to the characters of Eric and Helmut, German soldiers who, unlike their government, are appalled by the travesties against the Armenians, and who try their best to help the cause by documenting the events through photographs taken on their beloved camera. When Turkish soldiers catch wind of what the two well-meaning Germans are up to, they destroy the camera and report them to their superiors, who in turn send them away to serve elsewhere as a punishment.
German cuisine is extremely meat-heavy, so I am confident Eric and Helmut would have enjoyed the "meaty" nutty taste of muhammara.
Ingredients:
2 cups roasted red peppers (if from a jar, be sure to drain)
1.5 cups walnuts, halved (or in pieces)
½ cup chopped scallions
1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
½ teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons pomegranate molasses
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
6 tablespoons bread crumbs
Instructions:
Combine the peppers, walnuts, scallions, lemon juice, spices, molasses, olive oil and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth.
Add bread crumbs and pulse until everything is combined. Add more breadcrumbs if a thicker texture is desired, or add more oil if a thinner texture is desired.
Serve with crudites, bread, pita chips, or as a sandwich spread :)
Enjoy!
