Food glossary
What is Harissa?
Harissa — This fiery North African pepper paste is orange-red in colour and usually served with couscous. It’s a mix of dried red chillies, garlic, caraway seeds, ground cumin and coriander, tomato purée, salt and olive oil. It can be used as a condiment or as an ingredient in cooking. Serve it as a dip to accompany cooked meats, stir it into olives, seafood stews or soups, swirl a generous spoonful…
This fiery North African pepper paste is orange-red in colour and usually served with couscous. It’s a mix of dried red chillies, garlic, caraway seeds, ground cumin and coriander, tomato purée, salt and olive oil. It can be used as a condiment or as an ingredient in cooking.
Serve it as a dip to accompany cooked meats, stir it into olives, seafood stews or soups, swirl a generous spoonful through yoghurt or crème fraîche to make a spicy marinade or serve it with salad or vegetable dishes.
You can buy it ready-made in jars, tubes or tins but if you have a blender you can quickly make your own. It will keep in the fridge for a couple of months if you cover the surface with a layer of oil. The flavour gets better with time.