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    Home » Condiments » Harissa Powder (Spice Blend)

    Feb 10, 2023

    Harissa Powder (Spice Blend)

    Published on Feb 10, 2023. Updated on Feb 10, 2023. By Tayo. This post may contain affiliate links. See Disclosure. Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe
    Harissa Powder-pinterest

    Harissa powder is a delicious African spice blend often found in Middle Eastern and African cuisine. If you love the spicy kick of harissa paste but cannot find it at your local grocery store, then this harissa powder recipe is for you!

    harissa powder north African spice


    What is Harissa?

    Harissa is a common condiment in many Middle Eastern and North African cuisines. Made with a variety of spices, including dried chile peppers, coriander seeds, and caraway seeds, this powder can be used in a variety of dishes to add a rich, flavorful depth of taste.

    This harissa spice mix can easily be doubled or tripled to make as much as you like. In addition, it will last for several months stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place.

    Jump to:
    • What is Harissa?
    • ❤️ Why you'll love it
    • 🥘 Equipment Used
    • 🧾 Ingredients Used
    • 🔪 How To Make This Recipe
    • 🥫 Storage
    • 💭 Tips and Variations
    • 🔪 Convert harissa powder to paste form
    • 🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?
    • 👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions
    • 📚 Related Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe

    ❤️ Why you'll love it

    This recipe is easy to follow and makes a great pantry staple. It is also very versatile! You can use it as a rub for meats, a seasoning for vegetables, or even as a condiment for sprinkling on sandwiches or wraps.

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    To learn more about spices used in African cooking, this article will explain the different traditional spices used in different regions of Africa.

    🥘 Equipment Used

    The following are affiliate links. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    For this recipe, you'll need a spice grinder, coffee grinder, personal blender, or small mortar and pestle.

    🧾 Ingredients Used

    dried chiles, smoked paprika, spices

    Here are the ingredients used for traditional harissa powder.

    • Peppers. I use two different dried chile peppers for this recipe - guajillo chiles and arbol chiles. These are the main ingredients that give this spice blend its smoky flavor.
    • Spices. Smoked paprika, coriander seeds, caraway seeds, cumin seeds, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, and salt. The rich flavors of these spices give harissa powder its unique taste and aroma.

    🔪 How To Make This Recipe

    1. Remove the stems from your dried hot chili peppers.
    2. Add them to a cast iron pan and lightly toast for 3-5 minutes on low heat.
    3. Set them aside.
    4. Toast the seeds over low heat in the same cast iron pan.
    5. Place the seeds and chile peppers in a spice grinder and grind them up.
    6. Mix with all the other ingredients.
    7. Store in an airtight container.

    This recipe makes about 10 tablespoons of harissa powder, and a serving size is one tablespoon.

    how to make harissa powder

    🥫 Storage

    Homemade harissa powder is best kept in a cool dark place like a kitchen cabinet or pantry in a mason jar with a secure lid. On average, dried herbs can last up to three years, but ground spices may only last one to two.

    💭 Tips and Variations

    • If you want a more mild powder, remove the seeds from the chilies before grinding them up.
    • You can add more chili peppers or red pepper flakes if you want a spicier powder.
    • For a more authentic harissa powder, use a combination of different chili peppers. For example, African Baklouti peppers work well with this recipe.
    • If you do not have smoked paprika, you can substitute it with regular paprika.
    • You can also substitute chili powder for the ground chilies in this recipe.
    harissa powder in a small bowl

    🔪 Convert harissa powder to paste form

    If you want to turn your homemade harissa spice blend from powder form to a hot chile paste, it's easy to do. All you need to do is mix your harissa spice mix in a food processor with some extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, and apple cider vinegar.

    Just combine all of the ingredients adding in a bit at a time, and blend until you have a smooth, thick paste. If you want a thinner harissa paste, add some water, about a tablespoon at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. And that's it! This will quickly become your favorite condiment.

    This delicious African paste can be used in all your favorite recipes. Store any leftover paste in a jar or container with a tight-fitting lid and refrigerate for up to 2 weeks.

    🍽️ What can I eat this recipe with?

    You can use this harissa seasoning as a dry rub for many different meat and fish dishes. For example, try adding the spice rub to these recipes:

    Pan-fried cod fish

    Ninja foodie chicken wings

    Air fryer chicken breast

    👩‍🍳 Frequently asked questions

    What can I use instead of harissa powder?

    If you need a harissa powder substitute, try chili paste, berbere spice, or tabil (Tunisian spice paste). The red chile seasoning from North Africa is pretty hot. If you find that it is too spicy for you, you can always just use hot sauce for a bit less spiciness.

    How spicy is harissa?

    Tunisian harissa is frequently produced with mild chilis from the Nabeul and Gabès region, with a Scoville score of 4,000–5,000.

    📚 Related Recipes

    Enjoy these other delicious spices and condiments!

    Peri Peri Seasoning

    African Pepper Sauce

    Niter Kibbeh (Ethiopian Spiced Butter)

    Keto Mayonnaise

    Pork Chop Seasoning

    The Best Chicken Seasoning

    harissa powder with spoon scooping out spice

    📖 Recipe

    harissa powder in a small bowl

    Harissa Powder (Spice Blend)

    Harissa powder is a delicious African spice blend often found in Middle Eastern and African cuisine. If you love the spicy kick of harissa paste but cannot find it at your local grocery store, then this harissa powder recipe is for you!
    5 from 2 votes
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    Course: Condiments & Spices
    Cuisine: African
    Prep Time: 0 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 10
    Calories: 27kcal
    Author: Tayo Oredola

    Equipment

    • Spice grinder
    • Personal blender
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 5 guadillo dried chiles
    • 10 arbol dried chiles
    • 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
    • 1 tablespoon coriander seeds
    • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds
    • 1 tablespoon cumin seeds
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional

    Instructions

    • Remove the stems from your dried hot chili peppers.
    • Add them to a cast iron pan and lightly toast for 3-5 minutes on low heat.
    • Set them aside.
    • Toast the seeds over low heat in the same cast iron pan.
    • Place the seeds and chile peppers in a spice grinder or blender and grind them up.
    • Mix with all the other ingredients.
    • Store in an airtight container.

    Notes

    This recipe makes 10 tablespoons. Each serving is 1 tablespoon and contains 4 net carbs.
    • If you want a more mild powder, remove the seeds from the chilies before grinding them up.
    • You can add more chili peppers or red pepper flakes if you want a spicier powder.
    • For a more authentic harissa powder, use a combination of different chili peppers. For example, African Baklouti peppers work well with this recipe.
    • If you do not have smoked paprika, you can substitute it with regular paprika.
    • You can also substitute chili powder for the ground chilies in this recipe

    Nutrition

    Calories: 27kcal | Carbohydrates: 5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.03g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 45mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 0.1g | Vitamin A: 355IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
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