Roasted Red Pepper & Walnut Dip
Inspired by the classic Middle Eastern muhammara, this dip is smoky, sweet, tangy, and nutty all at once. It's incredibly easy to make and is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
- 1 jar roasted red peppers (approx. 280g drained weight), roughly chopped
- 100g walnuts toasted
- 1 garlic clove roughly chopped
- 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses 1 tbsp | pomegranate molasses
- 1 tsp smoked paprika 1 tsp | smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1/2 tsp | ground cumin
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil 2 tbsp | extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 tbsp | lemon juice
- Pinch of chilli flakes ((optional, to taste))
- Salt to taste
- To serve: (Chopped walnuts, fresh parsley, extra olive oil)
Instructions
- To toast the walnuts (if they aren't already), spread them on a dry baking sheet and bake at 180°C (160°C Fan) for 5-7 minutes until fragrant and lightly browned. Alternatively, toast them in a dry frying pan over a medium heat for a few minutes, tossing frequently. Let them cool slightly
- Place the drained roasted peppers, toasted walnuts, garlic, pomegranate molasses, smoked paprika, cumin, olive oil, lemon juice, and chilli flakes (if using) into a food processor
- Blitz the mixture until it forms a coarse paste. You can make it as smooth or as chunky as you like. Scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice during processing
- Taste the dip and season with salt. Add a little more lemon juice or pomegranate molasses if you think it needs more acidity or sweetness
- To serve, spoon the dip into a bowl and use the back of a spoon to create a swirl on top. Drizzle with a little extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with some extra chopped walnuts and fresh parsley
- Serve with gluten-free crackers, breadsticks, or fresh vegetable sticks like carrot, cucumber, and bell pepper
Notes
Pomegranate molasses is a key ingredient for the authentic tangy flavour and is available in most larger supermarkets or online. If you can't find it, a squeeze of lemon juice and a tiny drizzle of honey or maple syrup can be a substitute, but the flavour will be different.
Equipment Needed
- Food Processor
- Baking Sheet (for toasting walnuts)
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.