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Homemade Harissa Paste Recipe

This homemade harissa paste recipe is a super easy DIY way to make harissa paste. This North African chile paste is versatile. Put it on scrambled eggs, chicken, meats or vegetables.
Prep Time50 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Steeping Time45 minutes
Total Time1 hour 45 minutes
Course: Condiment
Cuisine: American, North African
Servings: 1 cup harissa
Cost: $2

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

Chile Alternatives:
  1. I used pasilla but you could also use dried ancho chiles.
Ingredients: 
Dried Pasilla Chiles | Dried Guajillo Chiles 
Equipment: 
Blender | Silicon Spatula | Mortar & Pestle | Food Processor 
To Freeze: 
Surprisingly this paste freezes very well. To freeze, transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container and keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. 
My grandmother loved freezing pastes (like tomato pastes) in ice cube trays to add to sauces, etc. This would work in this instance, too! 
Store-Bought Harissa Paste: 
And while, this blog post is about a recipe for homemade harissa paste, I do realize that many people love to buy it. I love this store-bought harissa paste. 

Nutrition

Calories: 63kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 2342mg | Potassium: 191mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 103mg | Iron: 4mg