SPICED YOGURT DIP WITH PITA AND PEPPERS

Spiced Yogurt Dip with Pita and Peppers image

Yield Makes 8 servings

Number Of Ingredients 15

2 green cardamom pods
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
1 cup loosely packed fresh sprigs cilantro
2 medium garlic cloves, chopped
1 (3-inch) fresh serrano chile, including seeds, chopped
2 to 3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
4 (6-inch) pita loaves with pockets
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 bell peppers (assorted colors), cut lengthwise into 1/2-inch-wide strips
Special Equipment
an electric coffee/spice grinder or a mortar and pestle

Steps:

Lightly crush cardamom pods with your thumb, then remove seeds, discarding husks. Toast cardamom, caraway seeds, and peppercorns in a dry small heavy skillet over moderate heat, stirring, until fragrant and a shade darker, then cool. Grind spice mixture to a powder in grinder. Purée cilantro with spice mixture, garlic, chile, 2 tablespoons water, and 1 tablespoon oil in a blender until smooth (add remaining tablespoon water if necessary). Stir purée into yogurt and season with salt.
Put oven racks in upper and lower thirds of oven and preheat oven to 375°F.
Split pitas to make 8 rounds. Stir together butter, salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil in a small bowl, then lightly brush on rough sides of pitas. Cut pitas into 1/2-inch-wide strips and arrange in 1 layer on 2 baking sheets. Bake, switching position of sheets halfway through baking, until golden and crisp, about 10 minutes total. Transfer toasts to a rack to cool.3Serve dip with toasts and bell peppers.