Mediterranean Walnut Spread Recipes

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.

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.

MEDITERRANEAN WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Drain garbanzo beans, reserving the liquid. In a blender or food processor bowl combine beans and 2 tablespoons of the reserved liquid, the walnuts, basil leaves, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Cover and blend until nearly smooth (scrap down sides and add additional reserved liquid if mixture appears stiff).
• Serve on toasted baguette slices or pita slices. Store, covered, in the refrigerator up to 5 days. Makes about 20 (1 tablespoon) servings.

LENTIL-WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• Combine lentils and 1 1/2 cups water in a small saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer until lentils are tender and water is absorbed, 35-40 minutes. Drain well. Transfer to small bowl.
• In small food processor (or blender), process walnuts and oil to smooth paste. With a spatula, scrape mixture into bowl with lentils. Mash to paste with a fork.
• On a cutting board, cut garlic in half. Sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt. With flat side of knife, mash together. Add to lentil-walnut mixture along with spinach, broth, cumin, coriander and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. Mix well. Cover and refrigerate up to 4 days.

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.

DATE AND WALNUT SPREAD

Steps:

• In a small bowl beat together the neufchatel cheese, powdered sugar and spices.
• In a food processor finely chop the walnuts. Add chopped nuts to cream cheese mixture then finely chop the dates. Add in dates and stir with a rubber spatula until blended.
• Place mixture into a custard cup, cover and refrigerator until chilled. Serve with bagels and quick breads for a delicious treat.