Moohammara Muhammara Traditional Lebanese Appetizer Recipes

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Add the walnuts, breadcrumbs, roasted red peppers, Aleppo pepper, cumin, salt, sumac and cayenne if using to a food processor and pulse to combine. Add the pomegranate molasses, oil and lemon juice and process until smooth. Transfer to a serving bowl and top with a drizzle of olive oil and the parsley. Serve with crackers.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Place the peppers in a food processor fitted with the steel blade, and pulse several times, until they are reduced to a pulp. Add the walnuts, bread crumbs, spices, and sugar and process until the ingredients are ground and amalgamated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.
• Add all of the remaining ingredients. Process to a paste, scraping down the processor from time to time. Taste and adjust salt. If desired, thin out with a little more olive oil. Refrigerate until close to serving time, then bring to room temperature to serve, with vegetables and/or bread.

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.

MOOHAMMARA/ MUHAMMARA - TRADITIONAL LEBANESE APPETIZER

Steps:

• In food processor, combine onions and walnuts.
• Gradually pour in the pomegranate molasses, mix in the peppers or paste.
• As slowly as possible, add both the olive and vegetable oil to the mixture while the machine is running.
• Gradually add bread crumbs until the mixture turns into a thick paste. Drizzle with olive oil and serve with pita wedges, crackers or cut vegetables.