Muhammara (or Acuka) is a delicious Middle Eastern dip/spread/meze made with red pepper paste, garlic, walnuts, spices, and olive oil. It is extremely easy to prepare and is ready in 15 minutes with minimal cleaning up! This spicy and aromatic dip is also known as Ajika (or Adjika) in Russia and Georgia.
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In Turkey, Muhammara (or Acuka) is served as a breakfast spread along with Homemade Sandwich Bread or Simit (Turkish Sesame Bagel). It is also perfect as a part of a mezze platter, for making sandwiches, or for serving with roasted meat and fish.
What Is Muhammara?
Muhammara is a popular Middle Eastern/Turkish dip made with red pepper paste, walnuts, breadcrumbs, garlic, spices, and olive oil. This versatile dish is also known as acuka, adjika, or ajika and can be served as an appetizer, meze, dip, spread, or sauce.
Muhammara is similar to red pepper pesto and might contain roasted red pepper or red pepper paste, depending on the region. I prefer using red pepper paste as it intensifies the flavor. However, you can use roasted red peppers instead for a lighter taste and smoother texture.
Why This Recipe Works?
- Muhammara is very easy to prepare and ready in just 15 minutes.
- The leftovers will keep for up to two weeks when refrigerated in an airtight container or in a jar.
- It is a versatile dish, you can serve this spicy Acuka as a spread, dip, appetizer, mezze, or sauce.
- You can play around with ingredients by adding or removing ingredients and creating your own version of Muhammara dip.
Ingredients and Substitutes
- Pepper paste - Turkish red pepper paste is a rich, delicious paste made with juicy, spicy red peppers and I use it quite often in my Turkish recipes. You can buy it from Turkish or Middle Eastern shops or online from Amazon. You can substitute it with jarred or freshly roasted red peppers. However, your Muhammara will have a lighter taste and a smoother texture.
- Tomato paste - It mellows the flavor profile and adds sweetness as well as adding bright red color. You can find it in Turkish or Middle Eastern shops. You can also buy it from Amazon .
- Walnuts - They are one of the key ingredients for the Muhammara (acuka/adjika) recipe. Walnuts add texture and nutty flavor to this deliciously spiced dip. Lightly toast them before using them for intensifying the flavor.
- Breadcrumbs - They add extra texture and body to the spread. Leave them out for making this delicious dip gluten-free.
- Spices - I use paprika, chili flakes, cajun spices, and thyme for making Muhammara dip. You can adjust the amount to your taste, or add your favorite spices.
How To Make Muhammara?
Muhammara - Acuka (Red Pepper Dip) is extremely easy to make and requires a few pantry ingredients. However, to achieve the best results, you need to follow a few simple steps:
Place a pan over medium heat and add the olive oil. Add the red pepper paste and tomato paste to the pan and cook together for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
If you want to add roasted red peppers to your Muhammara, blitz 2 large roasted red peppers and reduce the amount of red pepper paste by half.
Add blitzed peppers to the pan along with the red pepper paste and tomato paste.
Stir in the garlic, chili, paprika, sesame seeds, cajun spices, and thyme, and sauté together for another minute.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs along with the walnuts.
Let the mixture cool down before transferring it to a serving dish.
Top Tips From The Chef
- Lightly toast the walnuts before using them for intensifying the flavor.
- Substitute red pepper paste with jarred or freshly roasted red peppers. However, your Muhammara will have a lighter taste and a smoother texture.
- Leave the breadcrumbs out for making this delicious dip gluten-free.
- Check the seasoning before adding the salt as most of the ready-made tomato paste and red pepper paste contains some salt already.
How To Use Muhammara?
- You can spread it on toast or sandwiches.
- Use it as a dip and serve it with Pita Bread or crudités.
- Muhammara is also great for use as a pizza sauce.
- Serve it as a breakfast spread along with tangy feta cheese.
- Acuka (or Adjika) will be a delicious addition to your dips and mezze selection.
Recipe FAQs
The leftovers would keep for up to two weeks when refrigerated in an airtight container or a glass jar.
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container or a glass jar for up to five months.
Yes, you can add roasted red peppers to your acuka mixture and leave the red pepper paste out. Simply blitz them before adding to the pan with olive oil and tomato paste.
Alternatively, you can use red peppers and red pepper paste together.
They all will give you a different taste&texture so you can experience and decide what works best for you.
Related Recipes
For more delicious dip and spread recipes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious Muhammara (or Ajika) Dip as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet Olsun!
Muhammara - Acuka (Red Pepper Dip)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoon red pepper paste (or 2 tablespoon red pepper paste+2 large roasted red peppers)
- 3 tablespoon tomato paste
- ⅓ cup olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 100 g walnuts (finely chopped)
- 15 g breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme or oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cajun spices
Instructions
- Place a pan over medium heat and add the olive oil.
- Add the red pepper paste and tomato paste to the pan and cook together for 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
- If you want to add roasted red peppers to your Muhammara, blitz 2 large roasted red peppers and reduce the amount of red pepper paste by half. Add it to the pan along with the tomato paste and red pepper paste.
- Stir in the garlic, chili, paprika, sesame seeds, cajun spices, and thyme, and sauté together for another minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs along with the walnuts.
- Let the mixture cool down before transferring it to a serving dish.
Notes
- Lightly toast the walnuts before using for intensifying the flavour.
- You can substitute red pepper paste with jarred or freshly roasted red peppers. However, your Muhammara will have a lighter taste and a smoother texture.
- Leave the breadcrumbs out for making this delicious dip gluten free.
- The leftovers of this dip will keep for up to two weeks when refrigerated in an airtight container or in a jar.
- It is a versatile dish, you can serve this spicy Acuka as a spread, dip, appetizer, mezze, or sauce.
- Check the seasoning before adding the salt as most of the ready made tomato paste and red pepper paste contains some salt already.
Nutrition
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Dana
Great recipe! Thank you for sharing it, on my list to make this weekend...