Harissa paste recipe | recipe critic

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Harissa paste is a fiery and flavorful North African condiment that packs a punch. It combines dried chilies, smoked roasted paprika, and different flavorful spices to create taste that may elevate any dish!

Harissa dough is in style for making harissa hen, nevertheless it’s truly very versatile. High it with some roasted veggies, add it to your favourite salad dressing, or combine it with selfmade hummus for a deliciously fiery kick.

Main image of harissa dough in a glass bowl.

What’s harissa paste?

Harissa paste is a spicy and savory condiment that originates from North African delicacies. It is made with a combination of chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and an array of fragrant spices like cumin, coriander, and caraway. This vibrant crimson paste brings warmth and a tangy smoky kick to dishes. Folks in locations like Tunisia, Morocco, and Algeria use it to taste soups, pickles, and dips. You will discover it at some grocery shops and locations like Dealer Joe’s, however I personally love making it from scratch! It is the key weapon for including a spicy taste to your cooking.

So, try the ingredient record under and part off your spice rack as a result of harissa paste is a must have! Like different selfmade sauces, you possibly can customise it to your liking. Add extra warmth, tone it down, make it extra scrumptious, you identify it! Then you’ve a scrumptious mix so as to add warmth and taste to your favourite dishes. Harissa paste may be very cool! You’ll like to have it.

Is harissa like sriracha?

Each are scorching sauces, sure, however they’ve some distinct variations. Harissa paste has a thicker consistency and a deeper smoky flavour. Sriracha sauce is thinner, sweeter, and extra flavorful due to the addition of sugar and vinegar. Each are nice, however I would not suggest utilizing them interchangeably.

required parts

I do know it feels like so much, however harissa paste truly makes use of actually easy components! Decide up some peppers and a can of tomato paste from the shop, then break into your pantry to get all of your spices and seasonings! Observe: Actual measurements are within the recipe card under.

  • Dried Guajillo Peppers: These dried peppers pack an intense warmth and impart a wealthy, smoky taste to harissa dough.
  • Tomato pasteTomato paste provides a contact of sweetness and aroma to stability the spices.
  • Roasted crimson pepperYou need to use canned or refrigerated. Roasted crimson peppers carry a scrumptious smoke to the mix.
  • Garlic cloves: Garlic is without doubt one of the stars of the flavors, and it actually shines within the harissa dough. It makes it so scrumptious and irresistible!
  • Lemon juiceLemon juice provides a brilliant, citrusy taste that cuts by the richness of the opposite components.
  • Additional virgin olive oil: Olive oil not solely helps in binding all of the components collectively but in addition contributes to the graceful and fantastic texture of the harissa dough.
  • salt: You solely have to pinch to carry out one of the best components in all of the others.
  • Spices and herbs: This recipe requires a combination of floor caraway, coriander, cumin, and cloves. Collectively, this mix provides a heat, nutty, earthy, and spicy taste!

How one can make harissa paste

So easy! All it’s a must to do is let the peppers soak within the scorching water after which combine your whole components collectively. You may have a scrumptious batter prepared to make use of very quickly.

  1. Soak the chili peppers: Add the dried chili peppers to a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over them. Allow them to soak and soften for half-hour.
  2. Add different components to the meals processor: Whereas the chilies are marinating, place the tomato paste, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and your whole spices right into a meals processor or blender.
  3. mixes: As soon as the chili is prepared, add it to a meals processor or blender and mix all the things collectively till it kinds a clean paste.
  4. Use or retailer: Take away the harissa paste and add it to a bowl with a lid. Refrigerate for as much as 3 weeks.
3- Pictures of all the ingredients needed to make the sauce.

Ideas and variations

Listed below are some methods to customise and ideal your selfmade harissa dough. That is the great thing about making selfmade sauces, you possibly can change them up any manner you want!

  • Alter the warmth degree: Harissa may be fairly spicy, so regulate the quantity of chili or harissa paste in line with your spice tolerance. You’ll be able to add roughly pepper to manage the warmth. Begin with a smaller quantity and step by step enhance if desired.
  • desalination: For those who favor a contact of sweetness to stability the warmth, think about including a teaspoon of honey, maple syrup, or brown sugar to the harissa sauce. Alter to style.
  • spicesHarissa is all about including your favourite spices. You’ll be able to add some additional flavoring like smoked paprika, chili powder, or a little bit cinnamon for a tangy contact.
  • Soften dried chilli: If you’re utilizing dried chilies, soak them in scorching water for 15-20 minutes to melt them. It is going to simply combine right into a clean, flavorful sauce.
  • Permit the flavors to developDepart the harissa sauce for some time earlier than utilizing it for the flavors to meld collectively. This may improve the general taste of the sauce. You’ll be able to retailer it within the fridge for a couple of hours or in a single day earlier than utilizing it.

A top-down view of a jar of harissa dough with a wooden spoon inside.

How lengthy does selfmade harissa paste final?

So long as you retain it in an hermetic container within the fridge, your selfmade harissa paste will final for about 3 weeks. Elements could settle the longer they sit, so stir them shortly earlier than utilizing!

4 pieces of harissa chicken in a white serving plate.


  • Add the dried chili peppers to a heatproof bowl and pour boiling water over them. Allow them to soak and soften for half-hour.

  • Whereas the chilies are marinating, place the tomato paste, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and your whole spices right into a meals processor or blender.

  • As soon as the chili is prepared, add it to a meals processor or blender and mix all the things collectively till it kinds a clean paste.

  • Take away the harissa paste and add it to a bowl with a lid. Refrigerate for as much as 3 weeks.



Serve: 1

Energy391Energy (20%)carbohydrates31g (10%)protein6g (12%)fats31g (48%)Saturated fats4g (20%)Unsaturated fat4gMonounsaturated fat21gsodium3565mg (149%)potassium958mg (27%)The fiber10g (40%)sugar13g (14%)Vitamin A6444IU (129%)Vitamin C61mg (74%)calcium109mg (11%)iron5mg (28%)

All dietary data relies on third occasion accounts and is simply an estimate. Every recipe and dietary worth will range relying on the manufacturers you employ, measuring strategies, and serving sizes for every family.

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