The Essential Harissa Recipe

Unlock the vibrant flavors of Morocco with this authentic Harissa recipe! Inspired by a Moroccan adventure, this recipe delivers a deliciously fiery chili paste perfect for tagines, couscous, salad dressings, marinades, and pasta sauces. Elevate your Mediterranean cooking with this easy-to-make, incredibly flavorful condiment. From "The Essential Mediterranean" cookbook.

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Calories 54.8 kcal
Protein 0g
Rating 5.0 (2 Reviews)
The Essential Harissa 23

Recipe Actions

Share this recipe:

Recipe Author

Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

Ingredients for The Essential Harissa

Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion

Missing an ingredient for this The Essential Harissa? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.

How to Make The Essential Harissa

  1. Roughly chop 1 pound fresh red chilies (such as serrano or Fresno). Cover with boiling water and soak for 1 hour to soften.
  2. Drain the chilies thoroughly. Place them in a food processor along with 1/2 cup packed fresh mint leaves, 2 tablespoons ground cumin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your spice preference), 4 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  3. Process for 20 seconds, scrape down the sides of the bowl, then process for another 30 seconds until roughly chopped.
  4. Add 2 tablespoons olive oil and process for another 20 seconds.
  5. Continue adding olive oil, 1 tablespoon at a time, and processing until a thick, smooth paste forms (you may need up to 1/2 cup total olive oil).
  6. Spoon the harissa paste into a clean, sterilized jar. Cover the surface of the paste with a thin layer of olive oil to prevent oxidation.
  7. Seal the jar tightly.
  8. To sterilize the jar, wash it and the lid thoroughly in hot, soapy water, rinse well in hot water, then bake in a preheated oven at 250°F (120°C) for 20 minutes, or until completely dry. Do not wipe with a tea towel.
  9. Let the jar cool completely before storing in the refrigerator. This hot pepper sauce will keep for up to six months.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

0 g

Sugar

1g

Fat

3g

Carbs

0g

Recipe Tags (Choose a tag and find related recipes!)