Midnight Sun Charcoal Crackers (Printer View)

Elegant charcoal crackers surround a vivid roasted carrot and turmeric dip, perfect for sophisticated gatherings.

# Components:

→ Charcoal Crackers

01 - 1 cup all-purpose flour
02 - 2 tablespoons activated charcoal powder (food-grade)
03 - 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
05 - 1/3 cup water

→ Roasted Carrot & Turmeric Dip

06 - 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
07 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
10 - 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
11 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
12 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt (or plant-based alternative)
13 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
14 - 1 tablespoon tahini
15 - 1 small garlic clove, minced
16 - 1 teaspoon honey (optional or maple syrup for vegan)
17 - Pinch of black pepper

# Method:

01 - Heat the oven to 400°F.
02 - Combine chopped carrots with olive oil, salt, turmeric, smoked paprika, and cumin. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25 to 30 minutes until tender and lightly caramelized. Allow to cool slightly.
03 - In a bowl, whisk together flour, charcoal powder, and salt. Add olive oil and water, stirring until a dough forms. Knead briefly until smooth.
04 - Roll out the dough very thinly between two sheets of parchment paper. Remove the top sheet and cut into desired shapes.
05 - Transfer the crackers on parchment to a baking sheet and bake for 10 to 12 minutes until crisp. Cool completely.
06 - In a food processor, blend roasted carrots, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, tahini, garlic, honey or maple syrup if using, and black pepper until smooth. Adjust seasoning to taste.
07 - Spoon the dip onto a plate forming a bright yolk-like circle. Arrange charcoal crackers in a ring around the dip to create a striking contrast.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The contrast between jet-black crackers and glowing orange dip makes people stop and stare before they even taste it.
  • It's vegetarian, naturally elegant, and comes together in less than an hour with zero pretension required.
  • Once you master the crackers, you have a showstopping component for any gathering.
02 -
  • The crackers must be rolled genuinely thin—if they're too thick, they'll remain chewy in the center instead of becoming uniformly crisp.
  • Don't skip cooling the roasted carrots before blending; warm carrots will make the dip grainy and separated.
  • Activated charcoal can stain your work surface and hands; lay down parchment paper and don't panic if your fingers turn dark gray.
03 -
  • If the dough resists rolling thin, let it rest under the parchment for 5 minutes—the gluten needs time to relax.
  • For extra depth, toast the cumin and smoked paprika briefly in a dry pan before adding them to the carrots.
Return