If you’re looking to lift your dishes from ordinary to extraordinary, homemade Harissa Sauce is your answer! This North African chili paste packs a punch and is super flexible.
Use it to spice up meats, veggies, or even as a dipping sauce. It combines the rich flavors of roasted red peppers, garlic, and warm spices like cumin and coriander, making it ideal for any culinary adventure. Plus, it’s easy and quick to make, so you can whip it up whenever you need that extra kick!
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
Serve your homemade Harissa Sauce in a variety of ways. Drizzle it over grilled meats like chicken or lamb for an added flavor boost. It’s also excellent for enhancing roasted vegetables or used as a marinade for skewers. You could pair it with Roasted Vegetables or Grilled Shrimp Tacos for a delightful meal.
For a complete spread, serve it alongside Pita Chips or as a topping on Vegetarian Spring Rolls with Sweet Chili Sauce. The options are endless!
Tips and Notes
- Adjust the heat: You can control the spice level by using milder or hotter pepper varieties.
- Fresh herbs: Add mint or cilantro for a fresh flavor twist.
- Storage: Store leftover harissa in a sealed jar in the fridge. It keeps well for up to a month.
- Versatility: Use harissa in soups, stews, or dressings for a flavor boost.
Transform your dishes today! Get creative in the kitchen and spice up your favorites with this amazing Harissa Sauce.
Harissa Sauce
Equipment
- 1 Food processor
Ingredients
- 6 dried red chili peppers - or 2 tablespoons of chili powder, adjust to taste
- 4 cloves garlic - peeled
- 2 teaspoons cumin seeds - toasted
- 2 teaspoons coriander seeds - toasted
- 1 teaspoon caraway seeds - toasted
- 1/4 cup olive oil - plus more for storage
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice - freshly squeezed
- 1 teaspoon salt - or to taste
Instructions
- Soak the dried chili peppers in hot water for about 20 minutes until softened. If using chili powder, skip this step.
- In a food processor, combine the softened chili peppers (or chili powder), garlic, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, caraway seeds, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt.
- Blend until smooth, adding more olive oil to reach desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more salt or lemon juice if needed.
- Transfer to a jar and drizzle a little olive oil on top for preservation. Store in the refrigerator.