Roasted Red Pepper Dip (Muhammara)

👩🏼‍🌾 Ingredients

Roasted red peppers in a colander, walnuts, tomato paste, spices, minced garlic, chopped onion, and pomegranate molasses in white bowls, plus one lemon.

10 Ingredients for making quick Roasted Red Pepper Dip.

Jarred roasted red peppers are loaded with vitamins A and C, and work perfectly in this roasted red pepper dip. They save you having to roast your own.
Walnuts add heart healthy omega-3s to this dish. Toasting them draws the natural oils to the surface, intensifying their nutty flavor.
Nutritional yeast adds vitamin B₁₂, protein, and a cheesy kick.
Pomegranate molasses have an intense sweet-and-sour flavor that bring the other ingredients together deliciously. However, you can use maple syrup instead.
Smoked paprika works well in this recipe, but if you have Aleppo chili pepper, use an equal amount of this instead.

See recipe card for quantities.

🫑 Substitutions

Roasted red peppers - instead of jarred peppers, you can roast one pound fresh peppers in the oven or over a gas stove

Nutritional yeast - use vegan parmesan instead

Pomegranate molasses - substitute with maple syrup to taste as needed

Smoked paprika- use Aleppo chili pepper for a more authentic Muhammara

🍝 Variations

Pasta - This roasted red pepper dip doubles as a romesco sauce for pasta. Heat in a saucepan over medium heat until warmed through.

Spread - use this as a spread for sandwiches

Dip - serve with crackers, crudités, or pita triangles

Sauce - use as a sauce for grilled tofu or veggies

Visit my Vegan Side Dish page for more healthy recipe ideas.

📖 Instructions

Step 1. Toast the walnuts in a skillet over medium-high heat for about 3 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown, stirring constantly. Or you can spread them out on a baking sheet and toast in the oven at 350ºF for about 7 minutes, or until fragrant and golden brown, tossing halfway.

Jarred roasted red peppers draining in a colander.

Step 2. Drain the peppers well and pat them dry to remove any additional liquid. Do not skip this step or the dip will be too watery.

Cooked onion, garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, and tomato paste in a white skillet.

Step 3. Cook the onion until translucent. Add the garlic, and spices. Cook for one more minute. Then add the tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes more.

Roasted red peppers, walnuts, nutritional yeast, pomegranate molasses, and cooked onions in a canister.

Step 4. Transfer the cooked aromatics to the canister of a food processor along with the drained peppers, toasted walnuts, nutritional yeast, olive oil, pomegranate molasses, and lemon juice.

Muhammara topped with vegan feta crumbles and chopped basil in a white bowl.

Step 5. Pulse until mostly smooth with some small chunks remaining. Top with vegan feta crumbles and fresh basil as desired. Serve with crudités or crackers for dipping.

💡 Expert Tips

For the best textured roasted red pepper dip, pat the drained roasted bell peppers dry with a kitchen or paper towel before adding them to the food processor.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. (Optional: A thin layer of olive oil on top helps preserve it.) Or transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to one month. Thaw in the refrigerator.

🙋🏽‍♀️ Recipe FAQs

What to serve with Muhammara?

Muhammara is a Middle Eastern walnut and roasted red pepper dip. It is savory, sweet, smoky, and slightly spicy all at the same time. Serve it with warm pita, as part of a Mezze platter, or with crackers or crudités. You can also spread it on sandwiches, or scoop it on top of grilled tofu or veggies.

Where can I buy jars of roasted bell peppers?

They are available at most major grocery stores. Start by checking the condiment aisle. Most grocery stores keep roasted red peppers near things like pickles, capers and artichoke hearts. Next, look in the aisles canned vegetables and pasta sauces are in.

What is pomegranate molasses made of?

It's a thick syrup made by reducing pomegranate juice and sugar. Prized for its distinctive sweet and tart flavor notes, it's used throughout the Middle East and is an important ingredient in Persian cuisine.
It's very versatile. Use it in salad dressings, marinades, to flavor grains, dips, and roasted veggies.

📖 Recipe