Muhammara

Sometimes we like cooking something fancy in our kitchen right, muhammara fell on my sight for such a trial.  This is a Syrian dip made primarily out of red bell pepper and walnut which I replaced with almonds. I had bought this lovely bright triangles from store though. Until I ate it, I did not think that it could taste as good as it looks, yummm... If you have the required ingredients at home, it is worth a try definitely.

Ingredients:

1. Red bell pepper - 1 large

2. Walnut or roasted almonds - 1/2 cup

3. Garlic - 4 cloves

4. Roasted cumin seeds - 1/2 tbsp

5. Crushed pepper - 1 tsp

6. Cinnamon powder - 1/2 tsp

7. Chili powder - 1 tsp

8. Salt to taste

9. Bread crumbs - 1/2 cup

10. Lemon - 1

11. Olive oil - 1/4 cup

Method:

Step 1: Wash and pat dry the bell pepper. Brush some olive oil onto the surface of it and roast it on direct stove. You can also roast it in a microwave oven. Cool it down, peel of the charred skin, de-seed and chop them roughly.

Step 2: Now in a mixer jar, add bell pepper and all other ingredients and grind into a thick dip. (My bell pepper is not roasted enough and hence looks stiff; ideally it should be pliable)

 Step 3: Garnish with coriander or mint and drizzle some olive oil over it and serve with crispy nachos/ tortilla chips.

TIPS:

* Pomegranate molasses is another key ingredient used in traditional recipes of muhammara, you may get that sweet and sharp pungency by adding it.