Best Muhammara Recipes

LAMB KöFTE WITH YOGURT SAUCE AND MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• For yogurt sauce:
• Stir all ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Cover and chill.
• For Köfte:
• Line large rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap. Gently mix lamb and next 8 ingredients in large bowl. Using moistened hands and scant 2 tablespoonfuls for each, roll meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. Arrange on sheet.
• Preheat oven to 300°F. Place large sheet of foil on work surface. Heat large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add flatbreads to skillet 1 at a time; cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Enclose in foil; place in oven to keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté until golden brown, about 8 minutes.
• Transfer onions to 1 side of large rimmed baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil to same skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Sauté half of meatballs until just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs, adding oil to skillet if dry. Reserve skillet.
• For muhammara:
• Add roasted peppers to reserved skillet; stir 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses. Bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits. Cook until reduced to 2/3 cup, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Mix in parsley. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and more pomegranate molasses, if desired. Transfer to small bowl.
• Arrange onions and meatballs on platter. Serve with warm breads, yogurt sauce, and muhammara.
• Available at some supermarkets, natural foods stores, and Middle Eastern markets.
• ** A thick pomegranate syrup; available at some supermarkets, at Middle Eastern markets, and from adrianascaravan.com.

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.

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.

MUHAMMARA (ROASTED RED PEPPER AND WALNUT SPREAD)

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the peppers and all the remaining ingredients.
• Taste, and add more spice or salt as necessary.

MUHAMMARA CHICKEN SANDWICHES

Steps:

• Poach the chicken: Place the chicken breasts in a medium saucepan, add enough water to cover by 1 inch and turn the heat to medium-high. Add the peppercorns, bay leaf and garlic, and season with salt. Bring to a boil, skim and discard foam, and reduce heat to maintain a low simmer. Cover and simmer chicken until tender and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the muhammara: In a food processor, combine the roasted red peppers and walnuts. Pulse for about 30 seconds to coarsely chop. Add the Aleppo pepper, cumin, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses and 1 teaspoon salt. Puree until smooth, about 1 minute. Keep the processor running and pour in the olive oil in a thin stream. Process until incorporated, and add more salt if necessary. Transfer to a bowl or airtight container and cover. Muhammara will keep in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
• Transfer chicken to a cutting board and discard the poaching liquid. When cool enough to touch, thinly slice the chicken against the grain at an angle.
• To assemble the sandwiches, generously spread the muhammara on each piece of the bread. (Save any leftovers to enjoy as a dip or spread.) Divide the chicken slices among the bread bottoms. Top with the arugula, cover with the bread tops and press down slightly to adhere. Serve immediately, or wrap and chill to serve up to 4 hours after assembly.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In a food processor blend together the peppers, the bread crumbs, the walnuts, the garlic, the lemon juice, the pomegranate molasses, the cumin, the red pepper flakes, and salt to taste until the mixture is smooth and with the motor running add the oil gradually. Transfer the muhammara to a bowl and serve it at room temperature with the pita triangles.

LAMB KOFTE WITH YOGURT SAUCE AND MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• yogurt sauce:.
• Stir all ingredients in medium bowl to blend. Cover and chill.
• kofte:.
• Line large rimmed baking sheet with plastic wrap. Gently mix lamb and next 8 ingredients in large bowl. Using moistened hands and scant 2 tablespoonfuls for each, roll meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. Arrange on sheet.
• Preheat oven to 300°F Place large sheet of foil on work surface. Heat large nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add flatbreads to skillet 1 at a time; cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side. Enclose in foil; place in oven to keep warm.
• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in same skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Sauté until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer onions to 1 side of large rimmed baking sheet; place in oven to keep warm.
• Add 1 tablespoon oil to same skillet; heat over medium-high heat. Sauté half of meatballs until just cooked through, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs, adding oil to skillet if dry. Reserve skillet.
• Muhammara:.
• Add roasted peppers to reserved skillet; stir 1 minute. Add 1/2 cup water and 2 tablespoons pomegranate molasses. Bring to simmer, scraping up browned bits. Cook until reduced to 2/3 cup, stirring occasionally, about 4 minutes. Mix in parsley. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and more pomegranate molasses, if desired. Transfer to small bowl.

LAMB KöFTE WITH TAHINI YOGURT SAUCE AND MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• 1. Stir together all of the Tahini Yogurt ingredients in a medium bowl until well blended. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
• 2. Line a large baking sheet with foil.
• 3. In a large bowl, combine lamb, mint, finely chopped onion, garlic, paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and cayenne. With your hands, roll into 1 1/2-inch meatballs. Arrange on the foil-lined rimmed baking sheet.
• 4. Preheat oven to 300°F.
• 5. Heat 1 tbsp oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion slices and season with salt and pepper. Saute about 6 minutes or until browned. Transfer cooked onions to one side of the baking sheet. Place in oven to keep warm.
• 6. Add 1 Tbsp oil to the same skillet over medium heat, and saute half of the meatballs about 7 to 9 minutes or until browned on all sides. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Repeat with remaining meatballs, adding oil to skillet if needed.
• 7. To the same skillet, add chopped roasted peppers and stir for 1 minute. Add water and 2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses. Bring to a simmer, scraping up bits with a wooden spoon, and cook for about 4 minutes or until reduced to about 2/3 cup, stirring occasionally. Mix in parsley, breadcrumbs, chopped walnuts, cumin and more pomegranate molasses (if desired, for taste). Transfer to small bowl.
• 8. Place a little oil in a large skillet, add flatbreads, one at a time, and heat in hot skillet for about 2 minutes each side.
• 9. For each serving: Arrange a bit of the cooked onions and meatballs on each warmed flatbread. Spoon yogurt sauce and muhammara (red pepper spread) on top, and serve immediately, while still warm.

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

Steps:

• In the container of a food processor or blender, combine the olive oil, bread crumbs, walnuts, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, cumin and red pepper flakes. Process until smooth. Serve with pita triangles.

GREEK PATTY MELTS WITH KASSERI CHEESE AND MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Preheat a grill over indirect medium-high heat.
• In a large bowl, combine the parsley, yogurt, garlic, coriander, salt, cumin, paprika, and allspice. Add the lamb and mix gently by hand until evenly combined. Shape the meat into 4 patties, each about 4 by 6-inches by 1/2-inch.
• Oil 1 side of the pizza dough very lightly. Grill, oiled side down, over medium-high heat until the bottom side is blistered. Lightly oil the top and flip over. Scatter the cheese over the dough and cook until the underside is blistered. Move to indirect heat, cover, and cook until the cheese is melted and the dough is cooked through, about 3 to 5 minutes. Cut the dough into rough rectangles about the size of the patties and keep warm while you grill the burgers.
• Lightly oil the patties and arrange them on the hot side of the grill. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes, flip, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes for medium-rare to medium. Transfer the burgers to the bread, top with some Muhamarra and grilled onions and top with another piece of the grilled pizza dough. Put them back on the grill over low or indirect heat for a few seconds per side. Remove them from the grill, halve the sandwiches on a long diagonal, and serve immediately.
• Put all of the ingredients, except the lemon zest, in a food processor and process until a smooth paste forms. (Start with 1 hot pepper, taste, and then add more if you want it hotter.) If the mixture is too thick, drizzle in a little more olive oil. Stir in the lemon zest by hand. Taste and add more salt and hot pepper, if desired.

TRADITIONAL MUHAMMARA (SYRIAN HOT PEPPER DIP)

Steps:

• Set oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source and preheat the oven's broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• Place the bell peppers with cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet; roast under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes.
• Toast the bread slices in a toaster and let cool; place into a resealable plastic bag, squeeze out air, seal bag, and crush with a rolling pin to make crumbs.
• Transfer peppers to a bowl and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Set aside until the skins of the peppers are loose, about 15 minutes; remove and discard skins. Mash the peeled peppers with a fork.
• Combine mashed peppers, bread crumbs, walnuts, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, pomegranate molasses, garlic, cumin, and salt in a food processor; pulse the mixture a few times to blend before running at lowest setting. Slowly stream olive oil into the pepper mixture as it blends until integrated completely; transfer mixture to a serving dish. Sprinkle sumac over the mixture to serve.

CHICKEN DRUMSTICKS WITH MUHAMMARA SAUCE

Steps:

• Put oven rack in lower third of oven and preheat oven to 475°F. While oven is preheating, toast nuts on a baking sheet in oven until golden, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Pat chicken dry, then put in a large shallow heavy baking pan (1 inch deep) without crowding and rub with salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons oil. Bake, without turning, until golden brown and cooked through, 30 to 35 minutes.
• While chicken bakes, blend together bell peppers, bread crumbs, walnuts, garlic paste, pomegranate molasses, cumin, and cayenne in a food processor until as smooth as possible, about 1 minute. With motor running, gradually add remaining 6 tablespoons oil and blend until combined well. Season sauce with salt and drizzle over baked chicken.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Blend all ingredients except pita chips in processor until coarse puree forms. Season with salt. Transfer to bowl; serve with chips.
• Available in the Asian foods section of some supermarkets and at Asian markets.

MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Toast walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, tossing halfway through, until golden brown and fragrant, 8-10 minutes. Let cool. Pick out a few walnuts for serving and coarsely chop; set aside.
• Meanwhile, place a rack in upper third of oven and heat broiler. Broil bell peppers on a rimmed baking sheet, turning occasionally, until skins are charred and flesh is softened, 12-15 minutes. (Alternatively, you can char over a gas burner on medium-high, turning occasionally with tongs, 12-15 minutes.)
• Transfer bell peppers to a medium bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap so that they steam, 10 minutes (this extends the cooking and also makes it easier to remove the skins).
• Remove skins from bell peppers (it's okay if some bits don't come off); remove and discard ribs and seeds. Pulse bell peppers, breadcrumbs, oil, Aleppo-style pepper, tahini, lemon juice, paprika, remaining walnuts, and 2 Tbsp. pomegranate molasses in a food processor until mostly smooth; season muhammara with salt.
• Transfer muhammara to a small bowl; drizzle with more pomegranate molasses and top with reserved chopped walnuts.

MUHAMMARA (RED PEPPER & WALNUT DIP)

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 8. Roast the peppers for 25-30 mins, turning halfway, until tender and starting to blister (if they don't blister, grill them for a few minutes). Cool a bit, then peel and discard the skins. Discard the seeds and finely chop the flesh. Toast the walnuts for 5 mins until lightly browned.
• Grind all but four of the walnut halves in a spice grinder until they are quite fine but still have some texture. Mix the ground walnuts with the peppers, then add the molasses, spices, tomato paste, garlic, breadcrumbs and sea salt, mix well and season.
• Serve the muhammara on a small plate, drizzling with some olive oil. Add the whole walnuts to the centre and some coriander around the edge.

BEET MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Puree nuts, beets, garlic, cumin, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, and molasses in a food processor until combined, about 30 seconds. Stream in oil; puree to a coarse but even texture. Season with salt and black pepper. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour and up to 3 days. Serve, topped with more oil and cilantro, with radishes alongside.

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.

TURKISH MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• In mortar using pestle, pound walnuts into very small pieces. (Don't do this in food processor or it will turn to paste.).
• Transfer to large mixing bowl and add feta, bread crumbs, oil, garlic, lemon juice, pomegranate molasses, pomegranate juice, tomato paste, hot paprika mix, sweet peppers, oil-packed crushed red peppers, hot sauce, cumin, paprika, chili flakes, oregano, black pepper, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder and sugar.
• Mix very well by hand, squeezing and mixing.
• In small bowl, combine yellow and green onions.
• Sprinkle with salt.
• Let stand several minutes.
• Squeeze mixture by hand, discarding liquid.
• Add onions to walnut mixture and mix well by hand.
• Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving to let flavours develop. Serve with pita, bread or crackers. (Keeps several days. If needed, drizzle with olive oil before serving to loosen mixture.).

IT'S MUHAMMARA

Steps:

• Make the bell pepper juice: Puree the bell pepper in a high-powered blender (or juice in a juicer). Strain through a fine-mesh sieve.
• For each cocktail: Combine 1 ounce bell pepper juice, the rum, tequila, lemon juice, simple syrup, caraway liqueur and bitters in a shaker with ice; shake for 30 seconds. Strain into a coupe glass. Garnish with lemon peel.