Appetizer Vegetarian · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Nuts

Muhammara- Middle Eastern roasted red pepper and walnut dip

This is divine and so easy to make. Great for vegans and is also lovely to have on cold salmon or chicken.

3 large red bell peppers
1 tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 1/2 tsp roasted ground cumin
1/2 tsp paprika
1 tsp kosher salt, more to taste
2 tbsp pomegranate molasses, plus more for drizzling
1/2 tbsp Maras or Aleppo pepper flakes, or more/less to taste
1 tbsp tahini
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup walnuts, lightly toasted
1/2 cup fine fresh bread crumbs

Char the peppers on all sides directly on the burner of a gas stove, or roast at 400 degrees until blistered all over and soft. Transfer to a bowl, cover with cling film and let stem so the skins are easier to remove.
When until cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and remove seeds and stem. Roughly chop the peppers.

Pulse the bell peppers, breadcrumbs, olive oil, Aleppo-style pepper, tahini, cumin, lemon juice, paprika, toasted walnuts, keeping back 4 for the topping, and 2 tbsp pomegranate molasses in a food processor until mostly smooth; season the Muhammara with salt.

Transfer the Muhammara to a small bowl, season to taste then drizzle with more pomegranate molasses, olive oil and top with some reserved chopped walnuts.
Serve with warmed pita bread or crackers

Appetizer Vegetarian · Appetizers · Do-ahead · Vegetable-related

Bavarois de Poivrons Rouges. (A mousse of red peppers)

This recipe from Raymond Blanc is truly a treat and is spectacular for a Spring or Summer dinner party.
The texture is so smooth, so melting, the taste so sharp and lively that the dish is WELL worth the effort
It can be made a day in advance and who doesn’t love that!

Screen Shot 2020-07-13 at 11.39.32 AM

You will need
A 10″ wide pastry ring

1/2 onion, peeled and finely chopped
2 fl oz (50ml) olive oil
2 medium ripe tomatoes, seeded and finely chopped
5 red peppers, seeded and finely chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 gelatine leaves (soaked in cold water to soften)
3.5 fl oz (100ml) white wine vinegar
1 tsp raspberry vinegar
cayenne pepper
14 fl oz (400ml) chilled heavy whipping cream

For the jello and julienne of peppers
3.5 fl oz (100 mls)reserved vegetable juices
1 gelatine leaf soaked in cold water to soften
1 red pepper, skinned and seeded

Preparing the mousse
In a large pan, sweat the onion in olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and red peppers. Season with salt and pepper and cook on a medium heat for about 8 minutes, covered with a lid.

Spoon out 3.5 fl oz (100ml) of the juices that the peppers and tomatoes have released. Strain into a bowl, reserving for the jello.
Cook the vegetables for a further 20 minutes without the lid. All the moisture will have evaporated.(You should be left with about 6-7 fl oz).
Add the softened gelatine leaves and stir until dissolved.
Cool down the pulp a little, then puree and force through a sieve or mouli-légumes.

Separately, mix the 2 vinegars in small pan and boil to reduce by two-thirds in volume. Add to the puree. Taste, then add salt and cayenne pepper. Cool down completely to room temperature.

Whip the cream in a bowl until firm and fold delicately (Using a spatula. Don’t over mix as you will lose volume) into the puree. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Place the pastry ring over a flat serving plate and pour in the mousse. Smooth the top with a palette knife and refrigerate for a minimum of 4 hours to set.

Preparing the jello and julienne of peppers.
Bring the reserved juice to the boil and dissolve the single leaf of gelatine in it. Allow to cool down.
Cut the pepper halves. Divide each strip in half horizontally, and cut into very fine julienne strips 1/8 inch thick. Season with salt and pepper and reserve

Finishing the dish.
Scatter the julienne strips over the mousse and spoon the nearly set jello over the top. Refrigerate.

Serving
Loosen the mousse from the ring with the blade of a warm knife and lift the ring off.
Ease onto a flat, wide round platter