Muhammara with Baked Pita Chips

Muhammara is another Middle Eastern dip that I have come to enjoy.It is made of fresh/roasted red bell peppers,walnuts,breadcrumbs and olive oil.But mostly it contains pomegranate molasses along with other spices in it.Now,I found that you can substitute this ingredient with balsamic vinegar or cranberry concentrate.So with the necessary substitutions here's the recipe

Ingredients:

Red Bell Pepper: atleast 1
Bread crumbs: 5 tbsp+
Garlic :1-2 cloves
Walnuts(toasted): handful
Olive oil
Lime juice
Balsamic Vinegar/pomegranate molasses:1-2 tsp
Chilli flakes
Cumin seeds or powder
Salt

Preparation:

You can use store bought roasted peppers drained and rinsed or cut the pepper into half and broil on a baking sheet with their skin side up for 10-12 minutes.Then seal them in a ziploc bag for a few minutes.Then remove their charred skin and chop.You can also roast them on the stovetop.For toasting walnuts,use oven or simply dry roast them on the stovetop.After toasting chop them. Peel and lightly crush the garlic.Seasonings are to be adjusted as per taste.

Puree all the ingredients in a blender drizzling olive oil little by little.Garnish and serve as a dip with pita chips or as per preference.

Baked Pita Chips

Pita bread: atleast 1
Salt & Spices as per taste
Olive oil.

Cut the pita bread into small bite sized pieces.Here I have used pocket less pitas.Any pita will do.Also you can make them thinner by slicing the pita into half and then cutting into triangles or whatever shapes.

In a small bowl,mix together choice of spices and seasonings-onion powder,garlic powder,cumin,pepper,chilli flakes,chilli powder etc.Mix the spices and salt with olive oil.Check for salt and adjust accordingly.Using a pastry brush or any other choice of device,brush each pita piece with this spiced oil.Bake on a preheated oven at 400F for 7-8 minutes.

I love red bell pepper and this dip is perfect for me.Munching on pita dipped in muhammara lets check out what fellow runners are cooking on Recipe Marathon Day #18:

1) DK 2) Srivalli 3) Ranji 4)PJ 5)Medha 6)Priya 7)Bhawna 8)Raaji 9)Ruchii 10)Anu 11)Kamala 12)Roopa 13)Divya Kudua 14)Rekha 15)Divya M 16)Lakshmi 17)Raaga 18)LakshmiVenkatesh 19) Sripriya 20)Viji 21)Kamalika 22)Pavani 23)Karuna 24)Roochi