What Is Harissa and How Can I Use It?
Here's everything worth knowing about harissa and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 8 recipes to cook tonight.
What is harissa?
Harissa is a spicy paste (tabal) used as a condiment, originating from North Africa and the Middle East.
It is made from chillies, olive oil, garlic, cilantro leaves, cumin and ground corriander. It sometimes also includes dried mint leaves or verbena leaves. The ingredients are pounded using a petal and mortar into a paste. Once prepared it should be left for 12 hours before it is used. When covered with olive oil, it keeps well in a sealed container.
It can be diluted with some stock and added to couscous, dried meats, and soups or used as a table condiment.
Where found
Harissa is usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
| In Chinese: | HARISSA | |
| British (UK) term: | ||
| en français: | harissa | |
| en español: | harissa |
Recipes using harissa
There are 8 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Morocco Kefta
I sometimes pan fry these then let them simmer for at least an hour in a spicy Moroccan tomato sauce (recipe to follow). I usually serve the kefta with couscous, a vegetable, some cucumber yogurt sauce, and warmed pita.
Another Falafel Recipe
Falafel patties pan-fried from cooked chickpeas with cumin, coriander, garlic, and parsley, then tucked into pita with homemade harissa. A quick vegan main that lands in 30 minutes.
Spanish Baked Eggs
Spanish style eggs flavored with Chorizo and harissa, tomatoes, roasted red peppers and green olives. Bursts of flavor in every bite.
Spicy Chick Peas & Spinach
Light, healthy chickpea and spinach soup with Moroccan harissa spice over rice or couscous. Quick vegetarian dinner ready in 30 minutes with bold flavor.
Harissa Spiced Green Bean Salad
Harissa spiced green bean salad with blanched carrots, chickpeas, and crisp cucumber in a North African chile-lemon dressing. A bright, fiery cold salad ready in 20 minutes.
Lamb Patties Moroccan Style with Harissa Sauce
Moroccan-spiced lamb patties with cumin, paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic, and parsley, pan-fried and served with harissa sauce on the side.
Chickpea, Winter Vegetable & Couscous Stew
A North African-inspired vegetarian stew with chickpeas, butternut squash, turnips, and carrots simmered with harissa and served over fluffy couscous. Warm, spiced, and feeds 8.
