Hot Red Pepper Dip

This Hot Red Pepper Dip can be used as a spread or dip. It goes great in Veggie Wraps, and is perfect for crudités (a traditional French appetizer of sliced whole raw vegetables dipped in a puréed sauce or vinaigrette). Serve it on Superbowl Sunday or other favorite game day, or any day!

Ingredients:

• 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 4 coves cloves garlic
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1 cup cooked chickpeas*
• 1 stalk celery, roughly chopped
• 1 red chilli, seeded
• 1/4 cup gluten-free sesami tahini
• 2 teaspoons tamari
• dash cayenne
• 1/2 teaspoon finely ground Himalayan salt, or to taste
• dash ground black pepper

Directions:

1. Brush both sides of the red bell pepper and garlic with the olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Roast in a preheated  400º F, oven for 10 minutes. Remove the garlic and set aside. Use tongs to flip the pepper and roast an additional 10 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from oven and let sit 10 minutes or until cool enough to touch.
2. Process the pepper, garlic, and remaining ingredients in a food processor for 2 minutes or until you have a thick paste. Use immediately or store refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Variations:

1. For a milder dip, omit the red chili or use only half. For a hotter dip, don’t remove the red chili seeds.
2. Roasting the bell pepper and garlic gives the dip a rich flavor, but if you’re short on time you can add these ingredients without roasting them.

Yield:
Makes about 2 1/2 cups.

* Dried chick peas, also referred to as garbanzo beans, double in size after cooking, so 1/2 cup of dried beans will give you 1 cup cooked. Rinse and drain the dried beans, then soak them over night in enough filtered water to cover at least 2 1/2-inches above the beans. Drain beans in a colander, transfer to a large pot with enough fresh water to cover at least 3-inches above the beans. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes or until tender. When short on time, use canned chickpeas, since canned beans are precooked.