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Indonesian Pepper Dip 3

Serves 4 to 6 Dip vegan, Appetizers

Indonesian Pepper Dip 3

Indonesian Pepper Dip 3 captures the essence of a traditional home-cooked experience in Indonesia. It's a dish that brings warmth and comfort, typically enjoyed during family meals where the emphasis is on sharing and savoring together. This version reflects the way an Indonesian family cook would prepare it, with a focus on using ingredients by instinct and taste rather than precise measurements.

The dip is a vibrant blend of roasted peppers and garlic, enriched with a generous splash of olive oil and a hint of lemon. The flavors should be bold yet balanced, with the smokiness of the peppers mingling beautifully with the sharpness of garlic and the freshness of lemon. Salt is added by hand, allowing each cook to find the perfect seasoning for their table.

Ingredients

  • 3roasted peppers
  • 2 clovesgarlic
  • 60 mlolive oil
  • lemonjuiced
  • to tastefine sea salt

Method

  1. Begin by placing 3 roasted peppers into a mortar and pestle or a food processor. If using a mortar and pestle, pound the peppers until they break down into a coarse paste. If using a food processor, pulse until you achieve a similar consistency. The texture should be slightly chunky, not completely smooth, to retain some of the peppers' character.
  2. Peel and roughly chop 2 cloves of garlic, then add them to the pepper mixture. Continue to pound or blend until the garlic is fully integrated and the mixture becomes more cohesive. The aroma of the garlic should be prominent but not overpowering.
  3. Slowly drizzle in 60 ml of olive oil while continuing to mix. If using a mortar and pestle, incorporate the oil gradually, allowing it to emulsify with the pepper and garlic mixture. If using a food processor, keep it running on low speed as you pour in the oil. The mixture should become glossy and slightly thickened.
  4. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into the mixture, stirring or blending to combine. The acidity of the lemon will balance the richness of the olive oil and the sweetness of the peppers. Taste the dip at this point; it should have a bright, tangy flavor.
  5. Season the dip with fine sea salt to taste. Start with a small pinch, mix well, and taste on a piece of bread. Adjust the seasoning as needed, keeping in mind that the flavors will meld and intensify as the dip rests.
  6. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and let it rest for about 10 minutes at room temperature. This brief resting period allows the flavors to meld and develop further. Serve the dip cool, inviting guests to enjoy it with bread or as part of a shared meal.
Cover of Authentic Indonesian Cuisine
From the cookbook

Authentic Indonesian Cuisine

This recipe is from Authentic Indonesian Cuisine by Yassine Sbiti — the Indonesian volume in the ComidaTime International Cuisines series.

Available soon on Amazon…

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