Harissa powder is the ground spice blend of the spicy, earthy North African paste with a base of smoked chili peppers. It can be used as a dry rub on meats or as a spice in place of any other spice blend in your favorite recipes, such as tacos, tagines, braised meats, curries, or even tofu. Remove and discard stems and seeds from dried chiles.
There is no one way to make Harissa and you can control the heat by using different chilies and spices. I make mine with mild, smoky chilies, toasted spices, garlic, lemon, olive oil, roasted bell peppers and a few sun-dried tomatoes that will add sweetness.
What is harissa? Harissa is a spicy North African red pepper sauce or paste made of red bell peppers, red chili pepper, garlic, olive oil, and salt and usually has other spices like cumin, caraway, and coriander too. Harissa has many different uses. It’s great to add to couscous or stews or used as a condiment or marinade for meat.