Mediterranean red pepper & tomato spread

Mediterranean red pepper & tomato spread with roasted peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, olives and basil – savoury, creamy and ideal as a dip or on bread.

At a glance

• Serves 6
• Prep time: 10 min
• No cooking needed
• Total time: 10 min
• Calories: 90 kcal per serving
• Protein: 2 g
• Fat: 6 g
• Carbs: 6 g

Ingredients

• 50 g sun-dried tomatoes (in brine or olive oil)
• 30 g olives
• 1 clove of garlic
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 2 peppers
• 1 handful of basil
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of pepper

Method

You’ll need: frying pan · blender · chopping board · knife

1. Wash and deseed the peppers and cut them into rough pieces. Roughly chop the sun-dried tomatoes.
2. Fry the fresh peppers in a hot frying pan with olive oil until soft and lightly charred. If you're using peppers that are already roasted, you can use them straight away.
3. Put the peppers in a blender or tall mixing beaker with the sun-dried tomatoes, olives, garlic, olive oil, balsamic vinegar and basil.
4. Blend everything into a creamy spread. A few small pieces can stay – that gives it more texture.
5. Season to taste with salt and pepper and spoon the spread into a clean jar. Keep it covered in the fridge.
6. To serve, spread on toasted sourdough bread or serve as a dip with raw veg, roasted vegetables or crackers.

Good to know

A spread like this turns very little effort into lots of flavour. Savoury, aromatic and just right when you want it simple but not boring.

Swaps

Olives → capers (a punchy, salty flavour) | Basil → parsley (also contains vitamin K and aromatic plant compounds) | Balsamic vinegar → lemon juice (fresher acidity, a little vitamin C) | Sun-dried tomatoes → oven-roasted fresh tomatoes (milder and often a little less salty)

Allergens

The recipe is naturally vegan and free from the most common classic allergens, but depending on the olives or sun-dried tomatoes used, it may contain sulphites; use less garlic for children, and in pregnancy make sure it's hygienically prepared and well chilled.

Dairy-free recipes