Harissa is a North African chili paste that's sweet, spicy, and aromatic.Made with fresh and dried peppers and spices, my recipe is easy and delicious.Jeanine Donofrio Phoebe MoorePublished Aug 25, 2026 Jump to recipe Move over, ketchup and hot sauce—this homemade harissa recipe is one of my favorite condiments to keep on hand.

Made with a blend of roasted red peppers, dried chiles, warming spices, garlic, and lemon, my version of this North African chili paste is sweet, smoky, and bright, with a subtle kick of heat.I love stirring it into shakshuka for spice, slathering it in falafel wraps, and dolloping it on roasted veggies to punch up the flavors.I started making homemade harissa years ago, back before it was widely available in grocery stores in my area.These days, it’s much easier to find, but I still like to make this harissa recipe from scratch when I can.

It has a richer depth of flavor and is easy to customize depending on how mild or spicy you’d like it to be.I hope you love it as much as I do!What is harissa?Harissa is a North African chili paste or sauce.Originally from Tunisia, it consists of fresh and/or dried red peppers; earthy spices like cumin, coriander, and caraway; oil, garlic, and lemon.

Exact recipes vary, but harissa generally has a thick, paste-like texture and sweet, tangy, smoky flavor that can range from mild to spicy depending on the peppers used to make it.Harissa Recipe IngredientsHere’s what you’ll need to make this

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