Recipes
Once I started using harissa, I just couldn’t quit. The thick chile paste originated in Tunisia and became a staple in North African cuisine, but it has since found a place in kitchens around the world. It’s a bold, deeply savory condiment that adds a spicy, smoky complexity to everyday dishes.
The spice level varies, as there’s no single recipe for harissa. Some versions are spicy enough to be considered hot sauce, while others lean into warming spices like cumin, coriander and paprika. That range makes harissa especially fun to cook with, and pairing it with sweet, tangy or creamy ingredients can bring out different elements of its flavor. I’ve turned it into a spicy dipping sauce for roasted veggies, swirled it into tomato sauce for an easy shakshuka, and used it as a marinade and glaze for skewered chicken and shrimp. I’ve spread it onto bread to upgrade sandwiches, mixed it into coconut milk to make a flavorful soup base, and turned it into a vinaigrette for next-level salads. I’ve even added it to cocktails!
After plenty of experimenting, I honestly haven’t found a single use that disappointed. Here are a few ideas to get you started on your own harissa journey.
1/11
Recipes
Crispy Smashed Potatoes with Harissa Vinaigrette
From the Recipe Creator:
This harissa-infused vinaigrette tastes good on grain bowls and salads, but it’s especially good with smashed potatoes. It adds the perfect level of spice with a hint of sweetness. —Lindsay Mattison, Beaverton, Oregon
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 331 calories, 21g fat (3g saturated fat), 2mg cholesterol, 415mg sodium, 30g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
2/11
Recipes
Slow-Cooker Harissa Chicken
From the Recipe Creator:
This harissa chicken is made simply in the slow cooker with harissa chili paste, tomato paste, coconut milk and a few other ingredients, resulting in a creamy sauce that’s perfect for serving with rice on a weeknight. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 302 calories, 14g fat (11g saturated fat), 84mg cholesterol, 589mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 32g protein.
3/11
Recipes
Harissa Roasted Vegetables
From the Recipe Creator:
These veggies are tender and slightly spicy, with a creamy whipped feta to balance it all out. Don’t skimp on the mint garnish—it adds another level of flavor! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 403 calories, 22g fat (7g saturated fat), 31mg cholesterol, 900mg sodium, 44g carbohydrate (24g sugars, 6g fiber), 9g protein.
4/11
Recipes
Copycat Cava Harissa Honey Chicken
From the Recipe Creator:
This copycat Cava recipe is made simply with a flavorful marinade and a quick 15(ish) minutes on the grill. Use it just like you would in any bowl, salad or pita at the restaurant. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Nutrition Facts:
1 serving: 326 calories, 12g fat (3g saturated fat), 101mg cholesterol, 484mg sodium, 26g carbohydrate (26g sugars, 0 fiber), 28g protein.
5/11
Recipes
Sweet-and-Spicy Harissa Margarita
From the Recipe Creator:
This harissa margarita gets sweetness and spice from a honey-harissa simple syrup. Pomegranate juice adds a touch of freshness and color, making it a perfectly balanced drink! —Mindie Hilton, Susanville, California
Nutrition Facts:
1 drink: 290 calories, 0 fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 6mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (40g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.
6/11
Recipes
Sweet Potato Fritters
From the Recipe Creator:
I had leftover sweet potatoes and had to think up a new way to use them. We love spice, so I flavored these fun fritters with harissa, just enough for flavor but not too spicy. If you want more heat, you can always adjust the spice to please your taste buds. —Teri Schloessmann, Tulsa, Oklahoma
Nutrition Facts:
2 fritters : 217 calories, 13g fat (10g saturated fat), 69mg cholesterol, 421mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 2g fiber), 6g protein.
7/11
Recipes
Lehmejun (Armenian Pizza)
From the Recipe Creator:
This pizza-style recipe came from my friend Ruby’s mom, who is a crazy-good cook. I added my own flair and tweaked it by using flour tortillas instead of making a dough. —Tamar Yacoubian, Ketchum, Idaho
Nutrition Facts:
1 filled tortilla: 371 calories, 19g fat (7g saturated fat), 72mg cholesterol, 464mg sodium, 24g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 3g fiber), 24g protein.
8/11
Recipes
Slow-Cooker Chickpea Tagine
From the Recipe Creator:
While traveling through Morocco, my wife and I fell in love with the complex flavors of tagines. Resist the urge to stir as it will break down the vegetables. You can serve this with grilled fish if you like, or add shredded cooked chicken in the last 10 minutes. —Raymond Wyatt, West St. Paul, Minnesota
Nutrition Facts:
3/4 cup: 127 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 224mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 6g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic exchanges: 1-1/2 starch, 1/2 fat.
9/11
Recipes
Feta-Stuffed Kibbeh with Harissa
From the Recipe Creator:
There are countless versions of this delicious dish throughout the Middle East. This is our adaptation. You can substitute ground beef for the lamb. —Chris Bugher, Fairview, North Carolina
Nutrition Facts:
3 kibbeh: 324 calories, 17g fat (7g saturated fat), 60mg cholesterol, 474mg sodium, 21g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 4g fiber), 20g protein.
10/11
Recipes
Moroccan Cauliflower and Almond Soup
From the Recipe Creator:
This soup tastes rich and decadent but is really very healthy! Bonus—it is vegan and also makes your house smell amazing! —Barbara Marynowski, Hutto, Texas
Nutrition Facts:
1-1/4 cups: 116 calories, 8g fat (1g saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 835mg sodium, 9g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 3g fiber), 4g protein.
11/11
Recipes
Red-Eye Barbecue Sauce
From the Recipe Creator:
I made this recipe for an assignment in culinary school—my first time making barbecue sauce. I have to say, it was the best barbecue sauce I had in a long time! The hint of coffee livens up the sweet barbecue sauce perfectly. —Evan Haut, Canton, Ohio
Nutrition Facts:
2 tablespoons: 60 calories, 2g fat (1g saturated fat), 4mg cholesterol, 281mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 0 fiber), 0 protein.