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A small bowl of homemade harissa

Homemade Harissa in Under 5 Minutes

Byron
Harissa is a spicy vegan-friendly chili paste or sauce with roots in Southern Mediterranean countries such as Tunisia. It is made from a blend of roasted red peppers, hot chili peppers (such as serrano or baklouti), garlic, spices (like smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, and caraway), and olive oil.
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Prep Time 4 minutes
Cook Time 1 minute
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Appetizer, dips and sauces, marinade, sauce
Cuisine Africa, Mediterranean, Tunisia
Servings 200 ml
Calories 21 kcal

Equipment

  • Small pan or Skillet
  • Food processor
  • Mortar and Pestle (optional)
  • Jars for storage

Ingredients
  

Spice mix

  • 1 tsp Ground Cumin or cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp ground coriander or coriander seeds
  • 2 Tbsp dried Chili pepper flakes
  • 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper add more for extra spicy
  • 1 tsp black peppercorns

Harrisa Ingredients

  • 9 oz. 250g Roasted peppers (bell peppers or piquillo peppers)
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 fresh red chillies diced
  • 4 garlic cloves
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp smoked paprika

Instructions
 

  • Add the spices in a small frying pan or skillet on medium heat and toast just until fragrant (around 1-2 minutes).
    1 tsp Ground Cumin, 1 tsp fennel seeds, 1 tsp ground coriander, 2 Tbsp dried Chili pepper flakes, 1 tsp Cayenne Pepper, 1 tsp black peppercorns, 1 Tbsp smoked paprika
  • Once the spices become aromatic, remove from the heat and grind with a pestle and mortar until a fine powder (this should take around 2-3 minutes).
  • Combine the peppers, chillies, cloves, tomato paste, spices, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in the bowl of a food processor and blend.
    9 oz. 250g Roasted peppers (bell peppers or piquillo peppers), 2 tbsp tomato paste, 2 fresh red chillies, 4 garlic cloves, 1 lemon, 1 tsp Salt, Drizzle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • Blend for 1 minute or until you have a slightly lumpy consistency.
  • Season to taste and then transfer to a sealable jar or container.

Video

Notes

Cooking tips: 

  • Adjust the heat by using more or fewer chilies, or adding a different variety of chili for extra spice.
  • For more complex flavors, you can add roasted bell peppers or sun-dried tomatoes to the mix.
  • Want more heat? Toss in a few super spicy chili varieties such as ghost peppers or de arbol peppers. 
  • For a hint of smokiness, try adding chipotle chile or crushed Nora peppers (from Spain).

Do I need to char the peppers?

Not at all, store-bought roasted peppers or piquillo peppers offer a comparable flavor and are much more convenient when you are short on time or don’t have access to a gas hob. 
The easiest way to char peppers is over a gas hob. Peppers can also be charred under a hot broiler. Once the peppers skin begins to blacken, transfer them to a glass bowl and cover with a lid or plate. 
Keyword 5-minute recipe, bolognese sauce, chicken marinade, Chili, Chili paste, chili sauce, dips, harissa, marinade, spicy, spicy sauce, tunisia, vegetable marinade