Try this Muhammara and Mushrooms Recipe the next time you’re looking for an easy starter or canapé idea.
This recipe serves 6.
Ingredients
For the muhammara (roasted red pepper dip):
- 4 large red bell peppers
- 100g walnuts
- 30g fresh breadcrumbs
- 1 Tbsp Aleppo pepper
- 50ml lemon juice
- 2 Tbsp tahini
- ½ tsp sweet smoked paprika
- 2 Tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
For the mushrooms:
- 500g portabellini mushrooms, thickly sliced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small chilli, finely diced
- 2 Tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
To serve:
- 6 pita breads / flatbreads, warmed & charred
- Mixed olives
- Pickled onions
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Method
How to make muhammara:
- Heat the oven on grill and move rack to upper third.
- Slice the bell peppers into quarters, discarding the core and cutting out any white veins.
- Rub them with a little olive oil and place on a baking tray.
- Grill in the oven until skins are very charred and flesh is softened (about 15 minutes).
- Transfer bell peppers to a bowl and cover tightly with cling-film so they can steam.
- When cool enough to handle, peel and discard the skins.
- Lightly toast walnuts in a dry pan.
- Keep a small handful (about 20g) aside to crumble on top of the dip before serving.
- Pulse bell peppers, toasted walnuts, breadcrumbs, Aleppo pepper, lemon juice, tahini, paprika, pomegranate molasses, and olive oil in a food processor until mostly smooth.
- Season muhammara lightly with salt.
- Plate in a shallow bowl and finish with reserved crumbled walnuts, a drizzle of olive oil, and a pinch of Aleppo pepper.
How to make the mushrooms:
- Place mushrooms in a mixing bowl.
- Drizzle with the olive oil, soy sauce, and balsamic.
- Scatter over the garlic, chilli, and freshly ground black pepper.
- Toss to coat the mushrooms well in the mixture.
- Preheat air fryer to 190˚C.
- Place mushrooms in the air fryer basket and air fry for 4 – 5 minutes, depending on their size.
- When golden-brown and tender, remove from the air fryer. (The mushroom cooking juices that accumulate in the bottom of the air fryer make an excellent dressing / sauce).
- Toss mushrooms with the fresh coriander.
- Serve warm mushrooms with the muhammara dip, flatbread, olives, and pickled onions for plenty of dipping, swishing and topping.
Muhammara And Mushrooms Recipe Notes
This Muhammara And Mushrooms Recipe is courtesy of the South African Mushroom Farmers’ Association (SAMFA), a group of farmers who grow and love mushrooms.
They share their passion by promoting all varieties of mushrooms, creating unique recipes that showcase the many flavour profiles of mushrooms, and engaging in charity campaigns that make the world a better place.
Why mushrooms?
These powerful little foods are packed with nutrients and fibres, have very few calories, and are an excellent source of plant protein. If spiced right, they even make a great meat replacement!
You can check out SAMFA’s social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all their latest updates.
We’ve shared dozens of SAMFA recipes, which you can access in our full Recipes Archive. You may just find your next delicious meal there!
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