Harissa Paste

This homemade harissa paste is an easy recipe that uses red pimentos to give a local twist to a delicious Northern African condiment. Harissa can be used to season your favorite meats when grilling or baking.

“Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste, native to the Maghreb. The main ingredients are roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers, spices and herbs such as garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin and olive oil to carry the oil-soluble flavors.” – Wikipedia

Harissa Paste

Ingredients

• 20 red pimentos (stems removed)
• 1 hot red pepper (scotch bonnet or scorpion)
• 12 cloves garlic (minced)
• 3 purple onions (finely chopped)
• 1 tbsp geera/cumin
• 1 tbsp coriander seeds
• 2 tbsp paprika
• 250 ml tomato paste
• 1/2 tsp lime juice
• 1 cup water
• 2 tbsp oil
• salt (to taste)

Method

1. Toast geera and coriander seeds in a pan until they start to pop and get fragrant.
2. Add toasted spices to a mortar and pestle then grind into a powder.
3. Add oil to a saucepan then add onions. Sauté for 90 seconds or until onions are translucent.
4. Add garlic, pimentos and hot pepper then sauté for 2-3 minutes.
5. Add toasted spices then sauté for approximately 1 minute.
6. Add paprika, tomato paste and water.
7. Season with salt to taste then cover and simmer on low heat for 25 minutes or until pimentos are softened.
8. Use a blender to blend ingredients into a smooth paste.
9. Add lime juice then combine well.
10. Taste for salt and adjust as needed.