Harissa

Every week, A Word on Food will give you a term that will make your mouth water. Happy eating.

Harissa [hah-REE-suh]: A paste or sauce made with chiles, cumin, garlic, paprika, coriander and olive oil used as a condiment and flavoring in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine 

Origin: Arabic

If you love ketchup, condiments and a little kick, harissa is the perfect addition to your meals. Harissa is a blend of smoky chiles, aromatics, spices and sometimes tomatoes and even rose petals that creates a smooth, rich paste that can be used in soups, marinades, dips and spreads. 

Harissa is commonly found in Middle Eastern markets, specialty stores and the ethnic section of many grocery stores, but it is also extremely simple to make yourself. Ditch the ketchup and try making this simple two-step harissa to add spice, depth and rich flavor to any dish. 

Courtesy of Saveur. 

Ingredients:

Makes 1 cup

8 dried guajillo chiles, stemmed and seeded (about 2 oz.) 

8 dried New Mexico chiles, stemmed and seeded (about 1 1⁄2 oz.) 

1/2 tsp. caraway seeds 

1/4 tsp. coriander seeds 

1/4 tsp. cumin seeds 

1 tsp. dried mint leaves 

3 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed 

1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt 

5 cloves garlic 

Juice of 1 lemon

Directions:

Step 1:

Put chiles into a medium bowl, cover with boiling water, and let sit until softened, about 20 minutes. Heat caraway, coriander and cumin in an 8-inch skillet over medium heat. Toast spices, swirling skillet constantly, until very fragrant, about 4 minutes. Transfer spices to a grinder with the mint and grind to a fine powder. Set aside.

Step 2:

Drain chiles and transfer to the bowl of a food processor with the ground spices, olive oil, salt, garlic and lemon juice. Puree, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the paste is smooth, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a sterilized 1-pint glass jar and fill with oil until ingredients are submerged by 1/2 inch. Refrigerate, topping with more oil after each use. Harissa paste will keep for up to 3 weeks.

If you’re looking for ideas of how to use harissa, try these nine ways, courtesy of Food & Wine. This article includes recipes for burgers, salad dressings, hummus, pasta and even egg dishes to amp up the flavor of classic meals with harissa. 

For even more creative ways to incorporate harissa into your life, try these 13 recipes from Bon Appétit.