Americans have their BBQ sauce, Italians have their marinara, Greeks have their tzatziki. You can spend years exploring all the sauces from around the world. One sauce that is new to me, and one that I am really excited about, is harissa. Let’s talk about it.
What is harissa?
Harissa is a pepper-based sauce that originates from the Northern Arabic countries of Africa: Algeria, Morocco, Libya, and Tunisia. Way back in the Age of Exploration, when European countries transported things back and forth between the Americas, Africa, and Europe, it is believed that Spanish colonists introduced the chili pepper into Northern Africa.
Over time, the chili pepper evolved into its own local cultivar: the Baklouti pepper. Primarily grown in Tunisia, they are the basis for harissa. Today, Tunisia is the largest exporter of harissa around the world and UNESCO lists harissa as part of Tunisia’s Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Cooks often add harissa to meat and vegetable stews and use it as accoutrement to couscous. It can also be used as a sauce on grilled meats and vegetables.
What is in harissa?
There are many variations on harissa; each country listed above has their own slightly different version and there are even regional variations within Tunisia. But there are a few constant ingredients.
First is the Baklouti pepper; every Tunisian version of harissa starts here. The peppers are roasted and ground into a paste and then mixed with salt, garlic paste, coriander, caraway seeds, cumin, olive oil, and lemon juice. There are varieties out there that add onions or crushed red pepper. There is even a version that uses rose petals.
What does harissa taste like? Is harissa spicy?
Harissa is very pepper forward and often has a strong smoky taste thanks to the roasted peppers. There are also strong hints of garlic and citrus from the lemon juice. The flavor is slightly similar to sriracha, but sriracha tends to be sweeter than harissa.
The Baklouti pepper falls between 1,000-5,000 on the Scoville scale, which is about the equivalent of a jalapeño. Harissa does tend to taste spicy, though, because there is not much in there to help cut the heat.
Harissa sauce vs harissa paste vs harissa seasoning: What’s the difference?
Harissa paste has the same texture and consistency as canned tomato paste. This version is a better ingredient to use in soups and stews. Harissa sauce is harissa paste diluted with olive oil, making it a better option for a dip or spread. Harissa seasoning is a powdered version of the paste that attempts to replicate the flavor of the paste/sauce. It usually has a base of chili pepper with cumin, coriander, and ground caraway seeds.
What is the correct harissa pronunciation?
Google says “huh-REE-suh,” so stick with that!
FAQs
Harissa is very pepper forward and often has a strong smoky taste thanks to the roasted peppers. There are also strong hints of garlic and citrus from the lemon juice. The flavor is slightly similar to sriracha, but sriracha tends to be sweeter than harissa.
What is harissa? ›
Harissa (Arabic: هريسة, romanized: harīsa, from Maghrebi Arabic) is a hot chili pepper paste, native to the Maghreb. The main ingredients are roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers (بقلوطي), spices and herbs such as garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin and olive oil to carry the oil-soluble flavors.
Is harissa paste hot or spicy? ›
Harissa is a North African red chile paste or sauce made of a few simple ingredients including chiles, garlic, olive oil, citrus and a few warm spices. This versatile harissa recipe is slightly sweet, smoky, tangy, and just enough spicy but not too hot.
Where can I find harissa in the supermarket? ›
Harissa is most commonly found ready-made in jars, tubes and cans. A spice powder version is also available. Your best bet for finding harissa is Middle Eastern markets, specialty stores and in the ethnic section of most grocery stores.
Is harissa the same as sriracha? ›
They're similar in that they're both made with spicy peppers and garlic. But they're different in that sriracha also includes sugar and vinegar, whereas harissa includes olive oil and spices. In a pinch, sriracha can be substituted for harissa, but just know that the flavor profile will be different.
Can you eat harissa? ›
Or, try our harissa Ranch on fried chicken sandwiches, as a dip for Buffalo wings, and, of course, on any salad. If you like plain harissa as a condiment, go for it, though I usually loosen mine up with labne, or purée it with crumbled feta, fresh herbs, lemon, and olive oil.
Is harissa healthy? ›
The combination of capsaicin from peppers and the heart-protective properties of olive oil makes harissa a potentially beneficial addition to a heart-healthy diet. Immune System Support: Garlic is renowned for its immune-boosting properties.
How long can you keep harissa in the fridge? ›
How to store harissa. Keep in a cool, dry place. Once opened, it should be stored in the fridge and will last for up to six weeks.
Is harissa wet or dry? ›
If you buy the powder, then you're simply getting a dried version of the peppers and spices. If you choose to cook with the powder, you can use it in the same way you'd cook with any dried spice blend, or you could mix it with oil and water to create a quick harissa paste.
Is there a mild version of harissa? ›
MINA'S MILD HARISSA SAUCE IS MILDER THAN THE ORIGINAL RED SPICY HARISSA. IT'S PERFECT FOR PUTTING ON YOUR FAVORITE FOODS OR USING AS AN INGREDIENT FOR COOKING.
Hot Sauce
If a recipe calls for Harissa, often you just want some heat. In this case whatever hot sauce you have in the house will do the trick. Tabasco, sriracha, sambal oleck, chilli bean paste or korean Gochujang will all prove the kick needed. Just be careful to match the amount to your heat tolerance.
Can I use paprika instead of harissa? ›
A combination of smoked paprika and cayenne makes a great harissa powder substitute. Add some coriander for earthiness, and mix with a dash of water if you need a paste-like consistency. Can you substitute paprika for harissa? Yes!
Why is harissa paste so expensive? ›
“A lot of people think harissa is about spiciness,” he says, “but it's really about the quality of the chiles, the olive oil, the spices. The traditional harissa is valuable in two senses: the time and labor required to make it, and the value that you're getting, the amount of chiles and flavor instead of water.”
What grocery aisle is harissa in? ›
Look for harissa in jars, cans or tubes in the international foods section. You can also sometimes find it as a spice powder instead of a paste, which we really love, too.
What ethnicity uses harissa? ›
Harissa is most closely associated with Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Libya. However, it is most deeply rooted in Tunisian cuisine, and is sometimes described as Tunisia's national condiment.
How healthy is harissa? ›
Harissa Health Benefits
Aside from good flavor, capsaicin improves heart health, lowers blood pressure, aids in digestion, boosts metabolism and improves immunity. The spices: The coriander, caraway and cumin spices involved in traditional harrisa provide a complex flavor profile, but so much more.
Is harissa similar to chipotle? ›
I'm assuming whatever you're making that calls for harissa is Mediterranean flavored. Subbing chipotle will change the flavor profile and probably make it taste Mexican instead. Could definitely still be tasty, but just different from the original recipe.
