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Harissa

Harissa

Cuisine:North African

Course:Sauce

15m prep 3m 0s cook 18m ready

About ⅓ cup This fiery pepper paste from North Africa is stirred into seafood stews, soups, herb salads, and vegetable dishes; tossed with black olives; and used as an ingredient in sauces for brochettes, tagines, and couscous. We also love it as a sandwich spread; an addition to mayonnaise or hummus; or thinned with good olive oil to use as a topping for white-fleshed fish.

Ingredients

Servings:
  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons smoked hot paprika
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or grated on a rasp grater
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Olive oil

Let's Prepare

Collect

Gather these ingredients - no prep needed yet.

  • 1 teaspoon caraway seeds
  • 1 teaspoon coriander seeds
  • ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
  • ¼ cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons sweet paprika
  • 2 teaspoons smoked hot paprika
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced or grated on a rasp grater
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • Olive oil

Let's Cook

  1. Step 1.

    Toast in a small, dry skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan often to prevent burning, until very aromatic, 2 to 3 minutes: 1 teaspoon caraway seeds; 1 teaspoon coriander seeds; ½ teaspoon cumin seeds

  2. Step 2.

    Transfer the seeds to a plate and let cool, then grind to a fine powder with a mortar and pestle or in a spice mill or coffee grinder. Transfer the ground spices to a small bowl and stir in: ¼ cup olive oil; 3 tablespoons sweet paprika; 2 teaspoons smoked hot paprika; 2 garlic cloves, minced or grated on a rasp grater; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ¼ teaspoon salt

  3. Step 3.

    The harissa will be very thick and dry. To store, transfer the paste to a small jar and top with a thin film of: Olive oil

  4. Step 4.

    It will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 3 months.

  5. Step 5.

    About ¾ cup

  6. Step 6.

    When the pungent heat of harissa is stretched and bulked up with roasted pepper and tomato, the result is more of a dipping sauce or spread.

  7. Step 7.

    Prepare version I and transfer to a food processor. Add ½ cup drained jarred roasted red bell pepper and 1 canned whole tomato. Process until smooth.

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