Don’t Sleep on Harissa, the North African Chile Paste That Will Level up Your Cooking

When you come across a recipe like Rosy Harissa Chicken that looks incredibly delicious, you may find yourself with a few burning questions: What exactly is harissa? What does it taste like? And can I find it easily? Luckily there are easy answers. Harissa, a smoky chile paste that is used widely in North African and Middle Eastern cuisines, is gaining popularity among home cooks. One of the most attractive things about harissa is its versatility. It can be used as a seasoning for roasted meat and vegetables, serve as a condiment swirled into yogurt or alongside a tagine, and is a delicious flavor booster for bean, rice and pasta dishes. Here's how to use it.

What is harissa?

Harissa is a peppery, garlicky, and smoky chile paste or sauce that originated from Tunisia and is widely used in North Africa. It can have moderate to spicy heat depending on the chiles used and has a multitude of uses. Spread the paste over meat before roasting, or use it to season salmon for a quick but boldly flavored weeknight dinner. Harissa also adds a boost of chile flavor and heat when simply stirred into bowls of cooked rice, couscous, pasta, and beans. 

Where can you find harissa?

Harrisa is available at specialty markets and standard grocery stores, and is available online. You can find the paste sold in a squeeze tube, in a jar, or small can (similar to the size of a small can of tomato paste). You can also find harissa as a dry, ground seasoning blend. For recipes that call for harissa paste opt for a tube or can. Some recipes will employ a dry harissa seasoning blend that you can make from scratch as in this Peel-and-Eat Grilled Shrimp with Harissa or you can purchase a premade in the spice section of the grocery store.

Can you make harissa from scratch?

Homemade harissa isn’t hard to prepare. In Tunisia, where harissa is an integral part of the cuisine and food traditions, harissa recipes and ingredients will vary from region. It is  generally made by grinding sun-dried chile peppers with garlic, salt, and spices such as coriander and cumin. Want to make your own? This homemade harissa a great place to start.

How should I use harissa?

We use harissa in all kinds of recipes. Here are some of our favorite ways to cook with harissa.

1. Add a dollop of harissa paste to  a meat sauce like this Spicy Harissa Ragù. The warm spice of the paste adds depth to the sauce.

2. Stir harissa paste or or ground harissa seasoning to taste into melted butter and drizzle it over popcorn. Or make a compound butter with harissa and drop a pat onto your favorite steak

3. Upgrade roasted butternut squash: this recipe features a homemade harissa paste that’s simply tossed with the vegetable and roasted.

4. Stir harissa into prepared mayonnaise for a peppery, spiced sauce for burgers and sandwiches. Or use it to make rouille, the garlicky mayo in this bouillabaisse. If you don’t want to make the full fish stew, make the rouille on its own and spread it on toasted bread slices and top them with smoked sardines for an elegant appetizer.

5. Make a North African take on skillet lasagna  with lamb and harissa.

6. Give salads a spicy kick: whisk a spoonful of harissa into ranch dressing and serve with chicken wings or crudite.

7. Give deviled eggs a lift by stirring harissa into the yolk mixture. 

8. Make Çilbir — a lovely Turkish yogurt and egg dish topped with harissa crisp.

9. Add spice and heat to mashed potatoes to liven up a big meal.