Staple Corner: Homemade Harissa Recipe

Harissa is a classic dried red chili based sauce in North African cooking, and it is often what gives the regional vegetable dishes, soups and stews their distinct fieriness. It's also used as a spicy hot condiment to dress eggs, couscous and flatbreads or to whisk into salad dressings. But harissa is more than just heat, despite the large number of chilies that go into it. Harissa has a unique flavor all of its own from garlic, cumin and caraway seeds, and sometimes tomatoes as well.

Like most traditional foods, there are countless variations of harissa made in kitchens all across North Africa, and I have shared one such version previously. This one is different, however, and has a deeper flavor due to the addition of sun-dried tomatoes and some lemon juice for a bit of refreshing zest to compliment the aromatic and fiery heat of the chilies. Other optional enhancements that are often added are roasted red peppers, saffron, mint, or even rose petals.

However you make harissa, be sparing with it at first until you're used to the heat. This harissa is easy to prepare if you use a blender or food processor rather than the traditional method of grinding the ingredients with a mortar and pestle. It keeps well for up to two months when stored in a jar with a tight-fitting lid and with olive oil poured over the top.

Homemade Harissa

Recipe by Lisa Turner Cuisine: North African Published on May 26, 2019 The traditional Tunisian condiment of red chilies and spices is easy to make at home and adds flavorful heat to vegetables, soups, stews and salad dressings Preparation: 10 minutes Print this recipe Ingredients: 3 sun-dried tomatoes 12 dried whole red chilies 1 tablespoon coriander seeds 2 teaspoons cumin seeds 1 teaspoon caraway seeds 2 cloves garlic 1 teaspoon sea salt 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice 1/4 cup olive oil Instructions: Place the sun-dried tomatoes and red chilies in a medium bowl and cover with boiling water. Let sit for 30 minutes until softened. In a small unoiled skillet or saucepan, dry roast the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and caraway seeds over medium heat, until they darken a few shades and are aromatic. Grind into a powder using a spice or coffee grinder, or with a mortal and pestle. Drain the tomatoes and chilies and transfer to a small blender or food processor. Add the ground coriander seeds, cumin seeds and caraway seeds, and toss in the garlic, salt and lemon juice. Blend until thickened, adding the olive oil gradually until you have a paste with a salsa-like consistency. Transfer the harissa to a jar with a tight-fitting lid and cover with a thin layer of olive oil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 2 months, adding a little more oil to cover the top as needed after each use. Makes aboout 1 cup

Other ethnic condiments and spice blends from Lisa's Kitchen:
Homemade Za'atar
Classic Tamarind Chutney
Fresh Coconut Chutney with Tamarind and Cilantro
Basic Fresh Salsa
Mexican Tomato and Jalapeño Salsa