The Best Homemade Dry Harissa
Cooking from from scratch is always better! And, that’s precisely the case with making the best homemade dry harissa! One spice. Many uses!
Homemade Dry Harissa
Homemade Harissa Seasoning
Homemade harissa and Ally’s Kitchen go hand in hand. Because here in my kitchen, I want to take you around the world to taste new flavors without even having to go through TSA security! And, with this simple and easy recipe for harissa, I think you’ll be using it, like I do, on soooooooooo many things!
What is Harissa
So what is harissa? Let me introduce you to the chili sauce or ketchup of the Middle East. It originated in Tunisia. Traditionally created to season goat, lamb, or fish stew, harissa’s popularity grew rapidly. It soon spread to other countries like Libya, Algeria, Morocco, France and Germany.
Harissa Recipe
The main ingredients in a dry homemade harissa are usually piri piri, a type of chili pepper, serrano peppers or other hot chili peppers, plus spices and herbs, like garlic, coriander, red chili powder and caraway seeds. But depending on which household you live in or what region you’re from, it might include other things like cumin, , red peppers and lemon juice.
For a Round Up of my Harissa recipes, just click!
Recipes with Harissa
Harissa mixtures are as unique to households as DNA is to each living individual! There’s not just ‘one’ recipe! Variations galore exist, but they all contain the basic building blocks.
I have so many recipes using harissa. For me, it’s as easy as using one of your favorite spice mixtures, say Italian seasoning. Here are some great ideas for you and, hopefully, you’ll see that making this recipe is well worth the little bit of time you’ll be spending on it! Guess which of these recipes netted me a cool $25,000 prize money!
Harissa Eggplant & Roasted Peppers
Veal Harissa Meatballs and Mint Sauce
One Skillet Harissa Chicken & Vegetables
Homemade Harissa Powder
So, here’s my recipe for harissa from my cookbook. I’m sharing it with you because I want you to explore the flavors and enjoy the variety of things you can do with this spice mixture. Harissa Powder
Middle Eastern Harissa Recipe
Here in America, we love our ketchup, and I’m hoping you’ll put harissa on the table next to your salt and pepper, chili flakes, hot chili sauce or other condiment that makes most everything a little better!
How to Make Homemade Harissa
The pictures you see below are all from recipes I’ve created using harissa. I have sooooooooo many simple easy ideas for using this spice mixture. Click here!
Homemade Harissa
Ingredients
- 4 tsp. coriander seeds
- 5 tsp. cumin seeds
- 2 tsp. caraway seeds
- 4 tsp. hot smoked paprika
- 2 tsp. sea salt
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp. cayenne
Instructions
- Put the coriander, cumin and caraway seeds in a small cast iron skillet over medium heat. Let the seeds toast, mixing them gently so as not to burn. Cook for several minutes or until you get the distinct aroma of the spices.
- Put the toasted seeds in a small coffee grinder (dedicated to only grinding spices). Pulse into a fine dust mixture.
- In a small bowl, combine the paprika, salt, garlic powder and cayenne. Add the toasted seed mixture and blend. Store in an air tight glass container.
Notes
To keep your harissa super fresh, store in the freezer.
It should last a couple of months in your spice cabinet.
You can make a paste by adding just a little olive oil and blending well.
Hey Ally!.. Hope you’re well and enjoying Bobby Desi amd beautiful Rose you guys are really hot together I meant to ask you a question I saw you added 3 green spices to your Harrisa but I didn’t quite grasp the name!.. Can you kindly tell me what was those green dry spices in the bottles you added!.. Thanks a lot Ally and have a great day!. Luv Samia
Hi, sweet Samia! So great to see you! And, yes, we’re having so much fun! Lots of cooking and trying to pack in a month into a few days! Those three dried herbs were, basil, tarragon, and cilantro. I like to get the ‘freeze dried’ (and I store them in the freezer). Mine are from a company called ‘Lighthouse’ and I find them in the produce section w/chilled salad mixes, etc. Not sure where you might have at your grocer. I really like them for this recipe b/c they’re just a tad bit more fresh to me. And, I keep my harissa stored in the freezer, too, to ensure ultra freshness! xoxx ally
Hi Ally, can I use ground cumin and caraway instead of the seeds? Maybe I can still toast them?
Lina~
Yes, you could use the ground instead of the seeds, but you won’t get the deeper flavors for your harissa by doing this. Fresh seeds that are toasted provide an intensity to the overall mixture that can’t be adequately substituted with already ground spices. However, you’re still going to get something pretty delicious! Hope that helps! xo ally
I need a reputable place to order spices from, what’s your favorite place to order spices?
Hi, Jeanette! Here are some options. No particular order. Hope this helps!
Spicewalla: https://www.spicewallabrand.com/
Fresh Market: https://shop.thefreshmarket.com/search?search_term=spices&search_is_autocomplete=false
Thrive Market: https://thrivemarket.com/c/herbs-spices
Sugar Roti: https://tinyurl.com/SurgarRoti
Rumi: https://www.rumispice.com/
Green Sahara: https://greensaharabrands.com/
WalMart: Actually you can find some nice spices here.
Costco: Large sizes but some nice spices available
Shalom Ally! Which spice recipe was it you made in the wooden bowl for salad dressing; at Bobby’s. Didn’t catch the entire live post. Thank you, Ms. LEE
Hi, my friend! So glad you’re here. Here’re two of the salads I made while at Bobby/Dessi’s in the wooden salad bowl. All are stupendous and delicious! So glad you’re here. Don’t be a stranger!! xox ally
https://allyskitchen.com/simple-garlic-lemon-mustard-vinaigrette/ (You can substitute this vinaigrette of this recipe and use in the next salad recipe)
https://allyskitchen.com/cucumber-celery-olive-odyssey-salad/ (This recipe calls for the dry harissa and that recipe is next.)
https://allyskitchen.com/harissa-recipe/
The salad you made looks delicious. I’m going to make it. Hope you prepare something again!
Hi, luv! You bet we’ll do more together! Thank you so much, and this dry homemade harissa is easy and so versatile. Here are many more of my recipes using harissa. I mean you’re gonna make it, let’s use it in new dishes! xoxx ally https://allyskitchen.com/amazingly-easy-harissa-dishes/
Ally, watched you make this with Bobby in Florida yesterday and I think we needed smellvision. I am going to make this, can’t wait. Thanks.
Julianne! Thank you for stopping by! This is an amazing spice mixture and actually so so easy! Enjoy and please let me know how you like! xoxx ally
Thank you for the recipe. I’m excited to try it.
Lynne! I’m so glad you’re gonna do it. You’ll realize how easy it is, and it makes a lot. I mean spice mixtures can get pricey!! xoxx ally
Can you crush the toasted seeds with a mortar and pestle if you don’t have a coffee grinder?
Yes, you’ll get them ground some. I bought a cheap coffee grinder at WalMart (about 10 bucks) and I use it only for grinding seeds for spice mixtures. Just a thought, Peggy! xo ~ally
What is that dish in the picture for the harissa recipe. Looks like chickpeas, celery, okra, olives, maybe bacon, ummm…… not sure what else. Though I know some harissa has been sprinkled on it. I’d love to see that recipe too!
Hi, Michelle! So glad you like the dish w/harissa…I use this spice on soooooooooo many things, and here are two recipes very similar to what you’re seeing in the photos (and, btw, there’s no okra in there…what you probably are seeing are small mini cucumber rounds). Here’s the recipe you’re seeing: https://allyskitchen.com/cucumber-celery-olive-odyssey-salad/ And, here are a couple of more recipes that are very similar. Hope you’ll try…I must say they’re all awesome!! xoxo ~ally
Swap out the Jamaica seasoning in this one to harissa: https://allyskitchen.com/spicy-garbanzo-beans-cucumbers-red-onions-grapes-2/ Same thing with this recipe: https://allyskitchen.com/zaatar-garbanzo-beans-heirloom-tomatoes/
Love harissa and everything about this post! Thanks Ally!
Mary! Thank you thank you! As much as you love lamb, I know you’re using harissa in some of your amazing recipes! xo ~ally
I need to make this soon
Sure hope you will, Theresa! It’s probably my fave spice mixture that’s a go to!!