Name: Muhammara
Ingredients: 3 red peppers; 50g fresh breadcrumbs; ½ tbsp lemon juice; 1 tbsp pomegranate molasses; 1½ tsp ground cumin; 1 tbsp aleppo chilli flakes; 1 small garlic clove, peeled and crushed; 50g walnuts, finely chopped by hand; 2 tbsp olive oil, plus extra to finish; salt

Dips and dressings Veganisable

Serves 4

This classic Levantine dip can be made in a food processor, but it will lose some of its lovely texture; I'd use a pestle and mortar, if you can. Muhammara keeps well and even improves after a day in the fridge; just don't serve it fridge-cold.

Ingredients

3	red peppers
50g	fresh breadcrumbs
½ tbsp	lemon juice
1 tbsp	pomegranate molasses
1½ tsp	ground cumin
1 tbsp	aleppo chilli flakes
1	small garlic clove, peeled and crushed
50g	walnuts, finely chopped by hand
2 tbsp	olive oil, plus extra to finish
	salt

Method

Heat the oven to 200C/390F/gas mark 6. Put the peppers on a tray and roast for 30-35 minutes, turning occasionally, until they are cooked and the skin is blackened. Put the peppers in a bowl, cover with cling-film and, once cool enough to handle, peel and discard the skin and seeds.
Pat the peppers dry, and place in a mortar. Add the breadcrumbs, lemon juice, molasses, cumin, chilli and garlic. Work this with a pestle until well combined, but not so much that the peppers no longer have a noticeable texture.
Stir through the walnuts, a quarter-teaspoon of salt and the olive oil. Add more pomegranate molasses and salt to taste – you want the flavours to be pretty intense. Spoon the dip into a shallow bowl, using the back of a spoon to give it a wavy texture, and drizzle with a little olive oil. Serve at room temperature.