Quick Vegan Muhammara recipe (Mediterranean Roasted Red Pepper Dip) using pomegranate and roasted red bell peppers. Its a healthy appetizer to put in wraps, or pita sandwich. Works as a dip or spread.

Have you tried muhammara before?

This is a spicy appetizer common in Turkey cuisine.  Traditionally, its made with 3 ingredients: red pepper, walnuts and bread crumbs.

I tasted once in my life on a night that included belly dancers!

overhead view of muhammara in a bowl with pita chips
The aromas, alone, from this dip will make you fall in love with the dip

Tips for making it

  • Use red bell pepper only for this recipe and roast it in the oven first.  The red bell pepper should be roasted just enough so that the skin peels off easily
  • In my version, I use pomegranate seeds which adds an exotic flavor to the recipe.  Do not skip this ingredient
  • I used homemade panko breadcrumbs in this recipe.  If you are able to, please use freshly made bread crumbs.
  • Traditionally, this recipe calls for using alepo red pepper.  I couldn’t find them here, so, I used (affiliate link) dried red chili pepper.  Cut the chili pepper in half and discard the seeds inside
  • If you don’t have dried chili peppers, you can always use (affiliate link) crushed red pepper

Origins of this recipe

It was a rainy Sunday night in the lower East side (Manhattan).  We walked into a Turkish restaurant!

Immediately greeted with a very festive atmosphere which included traditional music and belly dancers. It was an amazing experience.

There wasn’t much I could eat from the menu, but, I was able to enjoy muhammara which is vegan friendly.  It was one of the tastiest dips I have ever had.

I saw Mike of Chili Pepper Madness post this recipe and it brought bad a flood of memories.

overhead view of muhammara in a bowl with pita sandwich
Muhammara is a must-make dip for any occasion

What ingredients are needed?

– Red peppers

– Breadcrumbs (Or use croutons that you can easily blend with the other ingredients)

– Walnuts

– Lemon juice

Using these ingredients, the recipe is more of a red pepper paste and less of a dip.  Its comes out as very dark red color which is where it gets its name.  Muhammara translates as “reddened”.  Source: Wikipedia.

overhead view of muhammara in a bowl with pita chips
A healthy vegan dip with exotic ingredients! YUM!

Non-traditional ingredients

I am always looking to change up traditional recipes.  Whereas muhammara is great with its traditional ingredients, I think it can be even better with extra ingredients.  Here are the other ingredients I added to my muhammara recipe

Tahini

– Pomegranate

– Agave

– Cumin powder

Za’atar

– Red onions

– Roasted red bell pepper

This recipe was also another excuse for me to use my favorite new spice.  Za’atar has taken over my life and I seem to put it in everything.  Check out two of my recipes where Za’atar is the star: Mixed Nuts and Amaranth Tabouli

The best part of this recipe is the roasted red bell pepper.  If you happen to have more bell peppers lying around, roast more and use them in a tasty mozzarella cheese sandwich.

Overhead view of pita chip loaded with muhammara and pomegranate
Use Muhammara as a dip or a spread

Make it without breadcrumbs?

Yes, you can make it without breadcrumbs, but, it may not have the same texture or taste.  Find something to give a similar texture to breadcrumbs. 

I think roughly chopped almonds would do the trick.  You can also try canned beans like Navy beans.  It will be more of a hummus recipe, but, its a great alternate to breadcrumbs.

What to serve with it?

  • Homemade pita chips – Because the sweet and spice is a delicious combination.
  • Use it in a Hummus Club Sandwich – Put muhammara instead of hummus
  • BEST Tomato Sandwich – Replace pesto with muhammara for an out-of-this-world tomato sandwich experience
  • Broccoli Dippers – Dip these broccoli fritters in the muhammara and your taste buds will love it.
  • Dip for fries – Forget boring old ketchup! Dip your fries in this muhammara and you will see what you have been missing.
  • Sahlab – This unique, warm Middle Eastern sweetened milk drink by Plant Based Folk is the perfect drink to serve with muhammara
Front view of pita sandwich filled with spinach and muhammara
Put Muhammara in a Pita Sandwich recipe. You won’t regret it.

Freezing muhammara is good, but…

Yes, you should be able to freeze muhammara, but, you know what I am going to say, right?

Why freeze it when you can make it fresh!!

However, you can roast the bell pepper, remove skin, roughly chop it and freeze.  When you are ready to make the muhammara, just dump the frozen bell pepper into the food processor with the other ingredients.

If you are ever confused about veganism, check out my complete guide! It is very enlightening.

Step by step instructions

1) Preheat oven to 400°

2) Wash the bell pepper and dry it completely.  I wrap it in aluminum foil, but, you can roast it without wrapping.

3) Place the bell pepper in the oven on a baking tray and roast for 20 minutes

4) Remove the skin and roughly chop it before adding to a food processor

overhead view of roasted bell pepper in food processor - Muhammara

5) Add breadcrumbs to the processor

overhead view of breadcrumbs in food processor - Muhammara

6) Add turmeric

overhead view of turmeric in food processor - Muhammara

7) Add cumin powder

overhead view of cumin in food processor - Muhammara

8) Add 4 cloves of garlic

overhead view of garlic in food processor - Muhammara

9) Add red onions

overhead view of red onions in food processor - Muhammara

10) Add Walnuts

overhead view of walnuts in food processor - Muhammara

11) Add Za’atar Spice

overhead view of za'atar in food processor - Muhammara

11) Add salt to the processor

overhead view of salt in food processor - Muhammara

12) Add Tahini (I used paste form of tahini)

overhead view of tahini in food processor - Muhammara

13) Add nutritional yeast

overhead view of nutritional yeast in food processor - Muhammara

14) Add dried red peppers

overhead view of dried red peppers in food processor - Muhammara

15) Add extra virgin olive oil

overhead view of olive oil in food processor - Muhammara

16) Add agave syrup to the food processor

overhead view of agave in food processor - Muhammara

17) Add balsamic vinegar to the food processor

overhead view of balsamic in food processor - Muhammara

18) Add pomegranate seeds

overhead view of pomegranate in food processor - Muhammara

19) Finally, add lime juice to the food processor

overhead view of lime in food processor - Muhammara

20) Blend on low speed until everything is well blended

overhead view of blended muhammara in food processor

21) Serve this muhammara immediately

Greek dipping oil

Mexican bean dip

overhead view of muhammara in a bowl with pita chips

How to Make Muhammara

Rini
A simple, spicy roasted bell pepper dip with walnuts
5 from 3 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Servings 3 people
Calories 354 kcal

Ingredients
  

For Garnish (Optional)

Instructions
 

  • Preheat oven to 400°
  • Wrap bell pepper in aluminum foil
  • Place the bell pepper in the oven on a baking tray and roast for 20 minutes
  • Remove the skin and roughly chop it before adding to a food processor
  • Add all the remaining ingredients for the muhammara to the food processor
  • Blend the ingredients on low speed until everything is well blended
  • Transfer to serving bowl and serve immediately

Video

Notes

  • Use red bell pepper only for this recipe and roast it in the oven first.  The red bell pepper should be roasted just enough so that the skin peels off easily
  • In my version, I use pomegranate seeds which adds an exotic flavor to the recipe.  Do not skip this ingredient
  • I used homemade panko breadcrumbs in this recipe.  If you are able to, please use freshly made bread crumbs.
  • Traditionally, this recipe calls for using alepo red pepper.  I couldn’t find them here, so, I used dried red chili pepper.  Cut the chili pepper in half and discard the seeds inside
  • If you don’t have dried chili peppers, you can always use crushed red pepper

Nutrition

Calories: 354kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 7gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 2gSodium: 472mgPotassium: 408mgFiber: 5gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 1425IUVitamin C: 60.2mgCalcium: 91mgIron: 4mg
Keyword how to make a bell pepper dip, what is muhammara
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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6 Comments

  1. I learn so much from your website. I always walk away looking forward to trying something new —this is no different. I just added the ingredients to my grocery list for this week. thanks so much….