This stuff is great, and I have never tasted it in this country except in my own kitchen. I first had it in Turkey, where it was quite spicy, but have since learned that it’s equally acceptable milder. Dried urpa or aleppo pepper, or hot paprika, is the ideal seasoning—a bit of bite but not overwhelming—but judicious use of hot red pepper flakes is also good. You can also omit the heat entirely. This spread can be made hours or even a day in advance. Always, however, serve it at room temperature, never cold. Serve with bread or vegetable sticks; it makes a great sandwich ingredient too.

　　

Ingredients

makes about 2 cups, enough for 8

　　3 or 4 red peppers, roasted (page 470), or about 1 1/2 cups canned or jarred red peppers (preferably piquillos, but pimientos are okay too)

　　1 cup walnuts

　　1 tablespoon roughly chopped garlic

　　2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

　　1 lemon

　　1 teaspoon ground cumin

　　Hot red pepper flakes, hot paprika, or any small dried chile to taste

　　Salt to taste

　　

Step 1

Make sure the peppers are without seeds. Combine them in a food processor with the walnuts, garlic, oil, the grated zest of the lemon, and the cumin. Process, turning the machine on and off, so the ingredients are pulverized but not pureed; you want a paste, but one with a little texture. (You could use a mortar and pestle if you have one, plus the energy.)

　　

Step 2

Transfer the paste to a bowl and add the hot red pepper flakes, salt, and juice of the lemon. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve or cover and refrigerate for up to a day or two (bring back to room temperature before serving).

　　The Best Recipes in the World by Mark Bittman. © 2005 by Mark Bittman. Published by Broadway Books. All Rights Reserved.MARK BITTMAN is the author of the blockbuster The Best Recipes in the World (Broadway, 2005) and the classic bestseller How to Cook Everything, which has sold more than one million copies. He is also the coauthor, with Jean-Georges Vongerichten, of Simple to Spectacular and Jean-Georges: Cooking at Home with a Four-Star Chef. Mr. Bittman is a prolific writer, makes frequent appearances on radio and television, and is the host of The Best Recipes in the World, a 13-part series on public television. He lives in New York and Connecticut.