½ cup tomato paste
¼ cup (or more) hot red pepper paste, available at Middle Eastern stores
½ large lemon juice
½ cup good olive oil
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts
¼ cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
¼ cup finely chopped dill fronds
2 scallions, both white and green parts, very thinly sliced
• Mix tomato and pepper paste thoroughly and thin it out with lemon juice and olive oil.
• Add remaining ingredients and incorporate. It should have the consistency of mayonnaise. Plate it, cover with plastic wrap and let it rest.
Serve it as a spread on a coarse peasant bread.
A hoppy beer, such as Pilsner Urquell, is a happy accompaniment.