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Homemade Harissa Paste is one of my favorite condiments to make. It’s spicy and flavorful and can be used in a variety of different ways. I love to freeze it and add it to stews and soups.
If you’ve never had the pleasure of having and cooking with harissa, you’re in for a real treat! Let’s start with the basics.
What Country is Harissa From?
Harissa is from North Africa. Countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Morocco and Algeria use it often. It’s considered the condiment of choice in Tunisia.
What Flavor Is Harissa?
Harissa is a North African chile paste that is made up of ground up dried chiles, spices and salt. It’s spicy and delicious and can be paired with nearly everything. Harissa paste definitely packs a punch but if you’re adverse to spice, you can scale it back. I would say that harissa sauce has a bit of a smoky, deep and rich flavor. I love it so much!
How to Make Harissa Sauce/Paste?
Making Harissa Paste is surprisingly easy but it does take a bit of time. The good news is that the majority of the time is spent rehydrating the dried chiles. Here’s how to make it:
- Bring a pot of water to a boil.
When the water is hot, add the dried guajillo chiles and dried papilla chiles. Allow them to steep and rehydrate for about 40 to 45 minutes. - Drain them and then cut the chiles into 1-inch pieces.
- Using a mortar and pestle or a food processor, grind up the peppers and spices.
- Transfer everything to the blender, along with fresh garlic and shallot.
- With the blender running, add the vinegar and olive oil until a paste forms. You want it to be smooth-ish but with a bit of texture.
- Season it with a bit of salt and that’s it!
- You can freeze it for up to 3 months or keep it in the fridge for up to a week.
What to Pair with Harissa Paste?
- Olive Oil Fried Eggs
- Harissa Sheet Pan Chicken
- Mini Shakshukas
- Harissa Meatballs
- Harissa Chicken Over Couscous
If you make this Homemade Harissa Paste, let me know on Instagram!Â
Homemade Harissa Paste Recipe
Equipment
- 1 blender
- 1 small saucepan
Ingredients
- 8 large dried guajillo chiles
- 8 medium dried pasilla chile peppers, see note below!
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds
- 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
- 1 teaspoon celery seeds
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 shallot, peeled and ends trimmed
- 1/3 cup olive oil, plus 1 tablespoon more
- 1 tablespoon champagne vinegar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
To Make Homemade Harissa Paste:
- In a medium pot, bring water to a boil. Add the dried guajillo and ancho chile peppers, turn off the heat and cover. Allow to sit until softened, about 40 to 45 minutes. Drain. Remove the stems and seeds from the chiles and cut them into 1-inch pieces.
- In a mortar and pestle (alternatively, you can use a food processor), add the cumin seeds, coriander seeds and celery seeds. Twist and grind the mortar until the mixture has reached a spice blend.
- Transfer to a blender, along with the garlic and shallot. Pulse until finely chopped. Add the chiles and pulse until chopped. With the blender running, pour in the oil and vinegar until just incorporated (the harissa should be the texture of a paste vs. a smooth puree). Transfer to an airtight container. Mixture will last up to 10 days in the fridge.
Notes
- I used pasilla but you could also use dried ancho chiles.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
So my harissa is not a paste it’s a purée. I forgot to drain my chilies How much of it do you think I should cook with??
hmm, i would say use a few tablespoons!
I made this for dinner last night- it was AMAZING!!! My husband loved it!!! It was the perfect dish for this rainy weekend. Any suggestions on what to use the leftover harissa for?
Thank you for the great recipe 🙂
Hi Dana! YAY! So glad you and your man loved it. I ended up putting this harissa on everything: eggs, salmon and even mixed it into salad dressings (a bit of olive oil, red wine vinegar and harissa). It makes so many things better!