Kara'A (Libyan Pumpkin Dip)
- 1 lb pumpkin, peeled, deseeded, and chopped into 1in cubes
- 1 teaspoon caraway seed
- 1 teaspoon cumin seed
- 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 fresh red chile, deseeded and finely chopped
- 1 lemon, juice of
- 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
- pita bread, to serve
- Put the pumpkin in a saucepan with 2/3 cup of water, and bring to the boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes, until soft.
- Drain the pumpkin and return to the empty pan. Season well with salt and pepper and mash with a fork until smooth. Set aside.
- Dry-roast the caraway and cumin seeds in a small frying pan over a medium-high heat for a couple of minutes until aromatic.
- Crush the toasted seeds using a pestle and mortar then add the garlic, chili, and a pinch of salt, and work into a smooth paste.
- Stir the spice mixture and lemon juice into the mashed pumpkin, then mix in the olive oil.
- Serve either hot or cold as part of a mezze, accompanied by lots of hot griddled pita bread.
pumpkin, caraway seed, cumin, garlic, fresh red chile, lemon, extra virgin olive oil, pita bread
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/karaa-libyan-pumpkin-dip-236880 (may not work)