Shortcut Muhammara (Roasted Red Pepper and Walnut Spread) [Vegan]

This Syrian roasted red pepper and walnut spread or dip has become very popular in the last few years, as it is vegan and packed with flavor. The word muhammara in Arabic translates to“browning” or “roasting” something. It also means the color red. In this case, the name refers to the red peppers that are also being roasted. A bowl of muhammara can almost always be found on a mezze spread for dunking a warm piece of pita bread. I like to use the shortcut of buying a jar of store-bought roasted red peppers, which can be found at almost any grocery store. It skips the long process of oven roasting the peppers and peeling off the skins. With the right added flavors, it tastes just as good as freshly roasted peppers. Credit: Reprinted with permission from Yalla, Let’s Eat! by Maha Kailani. Page Street Publishing Co. 2023. Photo credit: Saleme Fayed.