Harissa

Name: Harissa
Ingredients: 5 medium dried chile peppers, stems removed*; 1/4 cup red wine vinegar; 3 tablespoons lemon juice; 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest; 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 1 teaspoon coriander seeds; 1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds; 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice; 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste; 1/3 cup tomato paste

13 ingredients

3 steps

Ingredients

5 medium dried chile peppers, stems removed*
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/3 cup tomato paste

Directions

1

Soak chile peppers in vinegar for 30 - 45 minutes (until soft). Add chiles, vinegar, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic and olive into a food processor and process until smooth.
2

In a small frying pan, lightly toast coriander and fennel seeds (no need to add oil). Grind up spices with a mortar and pestle or spice grinder. Add ground coriander and fennel seeds to the food processor with pepper, allspice, nutmeg, salt and tomato paste. Process until smooth (drizzle in extra olive oil if the mixture seems too thick). Season to taste with additional kosher salt.
3

* I used a mixture of 1 ancho chile, 1 mulato chile and 3 guajillo chiles, and my Harissa turned out complex and flavorful (not spicy)! Feel free to experiment with different types of dried chile peppers. Dried chipotle peppers will give your Harissa a smokier flavor. Chile de arbol will bump up the heat factor.