This recipe is my take on muhammara, the Syrian red pepper dip. Nutty, zingy, spicy, and sweet, it's best enjoyed with warm pita and fresh veggies.
This recipe is my take on muhammara, the Middle Eastern red pepper and walnut dip. I love to make it in the summer, when peppers are abundant and a cool dip sounds like the perfect starting point for a meal or snack.
In case you’re not familiar with muhammara, here’s a little background: this punchy dip originated in Syria, and it’s now common throughout the Middle East. 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. I still remember the first time I tried it at a restaurant – its bold flavor really wowed me. Now, I love making this version at home. I hope you do too!
Muhammara Recipe Ingredients
To make this muhammara recipe, you’ll need these basic ingredients:
- Roasted red peppers – Use jarred ones, or roast your own.
- Bread crumbs – They thicken the dip.
- Walnuts – They make it rich and nutty.
- Extra-virgin olive oil – It adds more richness and helps the ingredients blend together.
- Garlic – For savory bite.
- Fresh lemon juice – It adds brightness.
- Ground cumin – For earthy, aromatic flavor.
You’ll also need two special ingredients: pomegranate molasses and Aleppo pepper flakes.
Pomegranate molasses is very concentrated pomegranate juice. It has a syrupy consistency and a bold tart/sweet flavor. I highly recommend seeking it out for this muhammara recipe, as it gives the dip the perfect balance of sweetness and tang. Look for it in a well-stocked grocery store, a Middle Eastern market, or online. If you can’t find it, you can sweeten the dip with maple syrup and add extra lemon juice. Find measurements in the recipe below.
Aleppo pepper flakes are named after the Syrian city of Aleppo. They have a bold red color, a medium heat level, and a sweet/salty finish. If you can’t find them, swap in half the amount of regular red pepper flakes.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
Though muhammara is traditionally made with a mortar and pestle, I like to use a food processor to simplify the process. Just add all the ingredients, and pulse until smooth. Season to taste and enjoy!
Muhammara Serving Suggestions
The simplest way to serve this muhammara is on its own as a dip. Scoop it up with warm pita bread, pita chips, crackers, or fresh veggies like cucumbers, carrots, or radishes. It’s also a wonderful addition to a mezze platter. Pair it with another tasty spread or two, fresh veggies and pita, and flavorful nibbles like olives, cheese, or roasted nuts. Set out the platter for guests to graze on at a gathering, or enjoy it as a casual, no-cook summer dinner.
Want more ways to use muhammara?
- Spread it on a sandwich with halloumi and grilled veggies.
- Dollop it onto a bowl with couscous, crispy chickpeas, diced cucumbers, tomatoes, and mint.
- Spoon it over frittata slices for a burst of flavor.
How do you like to serve muhammara? Let me know in the comments!
More Favorite Spreads and Dips
If you love this muhammara recipe, try one of these tasty dips or spreads next:
Muhammara
Ingredients
- 3 roasted red bell peppers
- ½ cup bread crumbs, fresh or store-bought
- ½ cup walnuts
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1½ tablespoons pomegranate molasses*
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Aleppo pepper or ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon ground cumin
- Freshly ground black pepper
- Fresh mint, for garnish
- Pita bread, for serving
Instructions
- In a food processor, place the red peppers, breadcrumbs, walnuts, olive oil, pomegranate molasses, garlic, lemon juice, Aleppo pepper, cumin, and several grinds of pepper. Pulse until creamy and season to taste.
- Garnish with fresh mint. Serve with pita bread or follow one of the serving suggestions in the blog post above.
Stand-out dip! Great depth of flavour and nuttily delicious.
So glad you loved it!
Excellent recipe
what is the jarred equivalent for the 3 red peppers?
Hi – it’s the same – you should be able to pull out whole peppers from the jar (unless yours are sliced).
I would like to use jarred peppers. I see that someone else asked what the jarred equivalent is to the fresh roasted peppers, but did not see a reply. Can you help me out with that information, please? Thanks in advance.
Hi Susan, usually jarred peppers are whole in the jar – so we just pull out 3 individual peppers from the jar. I’m not sure of the equivalent if they’re sliced.
The flavors were really nice, but the crushed red pepper version (I didn’t have aleppo pepper) was very spicy, even with the smaller amount as indicated, and I say that as someone with a pretty high spice tolerance. Next time I’ll cut to 1/4t. It will go well with tzatziki or whipped feta to cut down the heat!
I made this recipe for the first time and included it on a mezze platter with hummus, tzatziki, olive tapenade and whipped feta. Everything went over great! However, I did have leftovers, and decided to coat the muhammara on cod fillets and also chicken breasts and then added the olive tapenade on top of that. Baked on a bed of halved cherry tomatoes and sliced yellow peppers that were leftover and it was absolutely scrumptious!!! I will make this dip just so I can make this dish again.. and again .. and again!!
I’m so glad it was so versatile!
Really great recipie.
Thank you.
Came out on par with the very nice Resturaunt I first had this dish.
Type of breadcrumbs really affect the density.
Made my own pomegranate molasses for it as well.
Not tough to do, and makes a great cocktail mixer
As a bonus.
Very long shelf life with the stuff, tho it doesn’t survive long in my fridge.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Absolutely delicious and simple to make. Definitely will become a staple. Thank you.
Hi! I enjoy your recipes. I have never made my own muhammara but I love it and am inspired. There will be some gluten-free people at our gathering. Can you recommend a substitute for the bread crumbs in this recipe, please? Thank you for any guidance you can offer.
Hi Peg, I would get gluten-free bread and pulse it in the food processor to make the breadcrumbs. I hope you love the recipe!
No need to use breadcrumbs. I use about 1:4 cup more walnuts and eliminate the bread crumbs. Nobody will know the difference.
This recipe is incredibly amazing!
they sell pea crumbs as a substitute for bread crumbs at superstore
I’m looking forward to trying this recipe. I have jarred roasted peppers on-hand, so I was planning to use those. Can you tell me the quantity of jarred peppers that would be needed to use this as a substitute? Thanks so much.
Great flavour and versatile!
Hi Bethan, so glad you loved it!
If we have walnut allergy can I substitute something else or just omit?
Thanks!
Can this dip be frozen? Overabundance of peppers this year.
This recipe is fantastic!
Hi Sue, so glad you loved it!
Hi! I’m trying this recipe for a Christmas appetizer, but I don’t have a food processor. Would I be ok to use an immersion blender?
Hi Lisa, I think the mixture is too thick and chunky for an immersian blender.
I made it with an immersion blender Worked out okay
Would you recommend rinsing jarred pepper to remove brine?
Hi Debra, I don’t.
How far in advance can i make this recipe? Planning on a Mezze platter for Thanksgiving lunch; big meal is ~4:00 – 5:00 pm.
Hi Debra – up to 5 days stored in the fridge.
Yummy yum! I just added 2 tsp of sriracha in instead of aleppo and it tastes great! Thanks for such an easy recipe
Hi Seemi, so glad you loved it!
Absolutely delicious! Roasted my own peppers, which I think is well worth the effort.
I did add another 1/2 tsp of lemon juice to add a bit more brightness, and 3/4 tsp of sea salt suited our taste. Thank you for this great recipe, lots of amazing ways to use it!
It’s amazing. I made the whole mezze platter plus hummus – this was the best dip and it was gone by the end of the evening! Didn’t tweak recipe, used jarred roast peppers, was perfect.
Hi Carli, I’m so glad you loved everything on the platter!