Muhammara

Origin: Aleppo, Syria. A thick, russet-red spread of walnuts, roasted red peppers, pomegranate molasses, breadcrumbs, and Aleppo pepper, blended to a coarse paste. One of Aleppo’s signature culinary exports.

Flavor Profile: Sweet-tart and nutty, with a gentle warmth from Aleppo pepper balanced by pomegranate molasses’ tang.

Culinary Uses: Dip for flatbread and vegetables; spread on sandwiches; served as part of a mezze spread.

Regional Variations: Turkish acuka and Gaziantep-style versions are similar but often spicier and use walnuts or hazelnuts interchangeably; some versions substitute pomegranate seeds for molasses.

Storage: Refrigerate; keeps about a week. Does not freeze well due to the breadcrumb texture breaking down.

Notes: Do not confuse with Bulgarian/Balkan ajvar (roasted-pepper based but without walnuts or pomegranate).