What's A Good Harissa Substitute? (2024)

FAQs

What's A Good Harissa Substitute? ›

Tabasco, sriracha, sambal oleck, chilli bean paste or korean Gochujang will all prove the kick needed.

Can you substitute paprika for harissa? Yes! Paprika mixed with water and a bit of chili powder is an excellent harissa paste alternative. Consider adding some cumin, ground coriander, and a dash of lime juice to replicate the earthy, zingy flavor.

They're similar in that they're both made with spicy peppers and garlic. But they're different in that sriracha also includes sugar and vinegar, whereas harissa includes olive oil and spices. In a pinch, sriracha can be substituted for harissa, but just know that the flavor profile will be different.

Dried chiles are the base of traditional harissa. If you use spicy chiles, your harissa will be spicy. I use mild chiles like California chiles or New Mexico chiles to make a more mild harissa paste. I also like to include sweet bell peppers and roasted red onion to round out the flavor of this harissa sauce.

Originally from Tunisia, harissa is a chile sauce or paste typically made of dry red chiles, garlic, citrus, extra virgin olive oil and a few warm spices including cumin, coriander and caraway seeds.

What Does Harissa Taste Like? If you've never tried this fiery sauce before, it has a very peppery, smoky flavor and can range in levels of heat, depending on which peppers and chiles make up the sauce. It also has a strong garlicky flavor that's brightened up with a kick of citrus.

Harissa is a Moroccan red pepper and chili paste that is a good alternative for a plain chili paste. Often spicier than other cooking chili pastes, you won't need much of this to add brightness, sweetness, and a whole lot of heat to your cooking.

This blend, although spicy, is also sweet, smokey, and very versatile. You may use it as a simple rub for meat, in a kicky tomato sauce, or as a subtle accent in a salad dressing.

Now, back to Harissa, it is essentially a red chili paste most prominent in Tunisian and Moroccan cuisines. It is the Sriracha, Tandoori Masala and Garam Masala of spices all meshed into one happy family. My version is almost fruity in its flavor notes and generously uses all the greens of cilantro and mint.

Both condiments share common elements, such as chili peppers and garlic. Harissa provides a unique depth of flavor with its blend of spices, making it suitable for adding complexity to dishes. While the specific taste differs from chili garlic sauce, the heat and garlic components make harissa a versatile alternative.

Is harissa similar to chili? ›

What is harissa? This hot, aromatic paste made from chilli and assorted spices and herbs is spicy and fragrant. It's widely used in North African and Middle Eastern cuisines as a condiment, or mixed with water or tomato juice to flavour stews, soups or couscous.

On its own, a Louisiana-style hot sauce like Frank's Red Hot, is too vinegary to be a great substitute for sriracha. However, mixing Frank's with ketchup gets it pretty close. Ketchup adds the sweetness and viscosity (thickness) that Frank's lacks. And, it balances out the intense heat.

You can think of this smooth paste as a sweeter version of Harissa paste. So, use Gochujang in recipes that you want to be spicy, yet sweet. I personally use this Harissa substitute when making dipping sauce or marinade.

Where to Find Harissa. Harissa is most commonly found ready-made in jars, tubes and cans. A spice powder version is also available. Your best bet for finding harissa is Middle Eastern markets, specialty stores and in the ethnic section of most grocery stores.

Harissa (Arabic: هريسة harīsa, from Maghrebi Arabic) is a hot chili pepper paste, native to the Maghreb. The main ingredients are roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers (بقلوطي), spices and herbs such as garlic paste, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin and olive oil to carry the oil-soluble flavors.