Are you hearing harissa everywhere these days? Seeing it on menus and wondering: Wait, what is harissa?
Harissa is native to North Africa— countries like Morocco and Tunisia— and is a paste-like condiment that might remind you of tomato paste in consistency, but is actually made from a variety of peppers, herbs and spices. It’s sort of like a North African sriracha though it isn’t necessarily spicy.
Ingredients vary from region to region, and even from family to family, but can include roasted peppers or sun-dried peppers, tomato paste or sun-dried tomatoes, herbs such as cilantro and mint, and spices such as caraway seeds and cumin. Harissa was brought to Israel by Jews from Morocco and Tunisia and has become a popular condiment. And now it’s popular even in the United States!
Watch our short video to learn more:
Keep the kitchen humming and the recipes coming. Your support ensures The Nosher remains a free resource for everyone in our community seeking a taste of home or a new tradition. Donate today to keep Jewish food accessible to all.
Now that you know what harissa is….here are some ideas to get cooking with it:
- Harissa Bloody Mary
- Frittata with Spring Greens and Harissa
- Harissa Honey Roast Chicken
- Lemon and Herb Potato Wedges with Harisso Mayo
