Muhammara Dip Recipe (2024)

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This Turkish Muhammara Dip is made with juicy bell peppers, walnuts and spices. It is so easy to make and is sure to become your favorite appetizer for a crowd. It's naturally Vegan, easily Gluten-Free and loaded with good-for-you ingredients.

Muhammara Dip Recipe (1)

There's no denying that Middle Eastern cuisine is one of the most flavorful ones. Any recipe, even the simplest one like Turkish Lentil Soup or my vegan Muhammara is usually transformed into a celebration of flavor.

My favorite thing is that most of the times the recipes are healthy and easy to prepare with the common ingredients.

Muhammara, is how they call it in Turkey and other Middle Eastern countries - is a spicy dip or sauce made of bell peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs and olive oil.

Thanks to the addition of simple spices, this delicious appetizer comes out super flavorful and of course delicious.

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Muhammara Dip Recipe (2)

Although originated in Syria, Muhammara is also very popular in Turkey, Lebanon and Palestine. It is usually spicy, but you can easily make it more kid-friendly by reducing the amount of chili peppers.

This roasted red pepper walnut dip is usually served as a sauce for meat or fish, but I think it works beautifully as a dip along some Tortilla chips or crackers.

Another great thing about this recipe is that you can prepare it ahead of time. In fact, it's best to give it at least 2 hours before serving. That way, the flavors will meld and marry for an utterly satisfying bite.

Is it Healthy?

Absolutely! This Turkish Muhammara recipe is loaded with good-for-you ingredients. Bell peppers are good for eye health and Walnuts are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that combat the inflammation.

Muhammara is a feel-good appetizer without sacrificing flavor.

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Ingredients

Originally, this recipe contained hot Allepo peppers however it may be hard to find these in stores, so Chili peppers are a good replacement. Other ingredients include:

  • onion and peppers - I used both bell peppers and chili peppers;
  • flavor inducers - brown sugar, cumin and garlic;
  • healthy fats - Walnuts are best, however you can use Pecans instead;
  • something acidic - to balance out the sweetness from the bell peppers and onion, I used a combination of lemon and Pomegranate juice;
  • breadcrumbs - for thickening the dip and make it more hearty
  • olive oil- for richness
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Instructions

1. Start off with preheating your oven to 400 F. Place the bell peppers on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Remove peppers from the oven and place them in a bowl covered with a lid for 10 minutes.

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2. Peel off the blackened skin, remove the seeds and discard any liquid.

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3. Next, add walnuts (or pecans) to a large pan and toast on a medium heat stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.

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4. In the same pan heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and saute for 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. If at any moment the onion starts to stick to the pan, you can add another tablespoon of oil.

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5. In a bowl of food processor add bell peppers, toasted walnuts or pecans, chili peppers, cumin, pomegranate and lemon juice, breadcrumbs, sugar, sautéed onion, garlic and the remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil.

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6. Season with ½ teaspoon of salt and blend until mixture is smooth. Taste the seasoning and add more salt or pepper if you like. Serve.

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Storing

This Turkish Walnut Dip can be stored in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Ways to enjoy it

This vegan Muhammara can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Some of my favorite ones are:

  • dress up your grilled food in this beautiful sauce
  • spread Muhammara on a piece of baguette or toasted bread
  • use it as a dip for chips, celery sticks, carrots or crackers
  • serve it as a sauce for pasta or baked potatoes

If you're planning a party or doing a backyard BBQ, give this piquant appetizer a try and it'll sure to become your favorite healthy dip.

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If you're looking for a quick overview of the recipe, please check out my Muhammara Dip web-story.

Recipe

Muhammara Dip Recipe (15)

Turkish Vegan Muhammara Dip Recipe

Pungent and delicious, this Turkish Muhammara Recipe is sure to become your favorite appetizer for a crowd. It's naturally Vegan, easily Gluten-Free and loaded with good-for-you ingredients.

5 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: Turkish

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 320kcal

Author: Iryna Bychkiv

Ingredients

  • 3 red bell peppers
  • 1 c Walnuts you may use Pecans instead
  • 1 large yellow onion minced
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 chili peppers seeded and diced, see Note 1
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 2 tablespoon pomegranate juice
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • ½ c breadcrumbs you may substitute with GF breadcrumbs
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar you may replace with coconut sugar
  • 4 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt, pepper to a taste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400 F. Place bell peppers on a parchment lined baking sheet and bake for 40 minutes. Remove peppers from the oven and place them in a bowl covered with a lid for 10 minutes. Peel off the blackened skin, remove the seeds and discard any liquid.

  • Add walnuts to a large pan and toast on a medium heat stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Remove to a plate.

  • In the same pan heat 2 tablespoon of olive oil. Add onion and saute for 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook for 1 more minute. If at any moment the onion starts to stick to the pan, you can add another tablespoon of oil.

  • In a bowl of food processor add bell peppers, toasted walnuts, chili peppers, cumin, pomegranate and lemon juice, breadcrumbs, sugar, sauteed onion, garlic and the remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil. Season with ½ teaspoon of salt and blend until mixture is smooth. Taste the seasoning and add more salt or pepper if you like.

  • Serve with some tortilla chips or crackers.

Video

Notes

Note 1

If you don't like very spicy appetizers, start with only 1 Chili pepper. If the dip is still not spicy to your liking, add some more.

Nutrition

Calories: 320kcal | Carbohydrates: 16.7g | Protein: 7.3g | Fat: 27.1g | Saturated Fat: 2.9g | Sodium: 71mg | Potassium: 294mg | Fiber: 3.3g | Sugar: 5.5g | Calcium: 45mg | Iron: 2mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Lavender.And.Macarons or tag #lavenderandmacarons!

Iryna Bychkiv

Website

Iryna Bychkiv is the founder and writer of the culinary website Lavender & Macarons, where she shares clean, European-inspired recipes that are delicious, easy to prepare, and made with wholesome ingredients. Iryna loves creating meals that are simple yet healthy and unique, including vegan and vegetarian recipes.
Iryna is also a freelance writer for MSN and Associated Press Wire.

Muhammara Dip Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is muhammara made of? ›

Its key ingredients are roasted red peppers, walnuts, breadcrumbs, chile flakes, and pomegranate molasses, which combine to make it thick, nutty, zingy, spicy, sour, and sweet.

What does muhammara taste like? ›

Punchy, vibrant muhammara is unlike any other dip around. The Middle Eastern dip made from walnuts and roasted red peppers is smoky, sweet, tangy, nutty, and spicy all at once. It's often part of a meze platter, but it can hold its own, too.

Is muhammara healthy? ›

Finally, garlic and olive oil are of core elements of the Mediterranean diet with a slew of health benefits. But muhammara is not only super-healthy, it's just plain delicious.

What does the word muhammara mean? ›

Muhmmara is a hearty walnut and roasted red pepper dip or spread that's all sorts of savory, sweet, slightly smoky, and just enough spicy! The word muhammara is from the Arabic word ahmar, which literally means red.

What countries eat muhammara? ›

It is associated with Aleppo, but is also found in Turkey, especially in southeastern regions, where Arab dishes are more common in the local cuisine because of the Syrian cultural influence, as well as in Western Armenian cuisine.

What is the difference between muhammara and Romesco? ›

From Spain, you have romesco, a smoky red pepper dip that uses hazelnuts or buttery Marcona almonds and smoked paprika, and is often thickened with stale bread. The other dip, muhammara, hails from Syria and Turkey and is a red pepper and walnut dip slightly sweetened by the tart, tangy pomegranate molasses.

Is ajvar the same as muhammara? ›

Ajvar is very similar to an Eastern Mediterranean roasted red pepper Muhammara with walnuts and pomegranate which you also might like to try.

What can I use instead of pomegranate molasses? ›

A mixture of honey or maple syrup with some lemon juice can be a great replacement for pomegranate molasses in many recipes where you don't really need that pop of bright red color, and are mainly concerned about getting the flavor right. You can also use lemon juice and sugar if you don't have maple syrup or honey.

Is Muhammara high in calories? ›

2 tbsp. of muhammara (Samira's Homemade) contains 105 Calories. The macronutrient breakdown is 25% carbs, 66% fat, and 8% protein. This is a good source of fiber (18% of your Daily Value).

Is cracked red pepper good for you? ›

Immune system support: Red pepper flakes contain vitamin C, which is important for immune system function. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that can help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals. Anti-inflammatory properties: Red pepper flakes contain compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties.

What is the healthiest bell pepper in the world? ›

Red, yellow, and orange bell peppers have similar amounts of nutrients. However, red bell peppers are considered the healthiest because they have more lycopene.

How do British say bell pepper? ›

The term "bell peppers" is rarely used, usually in reference to C. annuum and other varieties which look like a "capsicum" or bell but are fairly hot. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Canada, the heatless varieties are called "peppers", "sweet peppers" or "capsic*ms" (or "green peppers," "red peppers," etc.)

What sauce is hard to pronounce words? ›

Worcestershire sauce

And the winner is… Worcestershire sauce. We're ready to bet that you're pronouncing it “Wor-cest-er-shi-er.” However, the correct pronunciation is “Woo-ster-sher.”

How do British say pepper? ›

2 syllables: "PEP" + "uh"

What is Moutabel made of? ›

Moutabel is a spicier version of baba ghannouj, a popular dip made from eggplant and tahini. Not only is it easy to make, but it is also even better the next day. Eggplant is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern cooking. Also called the aubergine or patlican in some countries, the eggplant is a versatile vegetable.

What are jarred pimentos made of? ›

Pimientos are mild, sweet peppers that are are usually found canned or jarred in grocery stores. You can use them in your cooking the same way you would roasted red peppers.

How many calories are in muhammara? ›

Muhammara is high in vitamin C and vitamin A and it's a good source of manganese and has no cholesterol. 3.5 oz (100g) of Muhammara has 249 calories (181 calories from fat), 5.4 grams of protein and 312mg of potassium.

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