10 Unexpected Ways to Use Spicy Harissa
You don't need much harissa to make a major flavor impact. Featuring hot chile peppers, garlic, and spices, this spicy sauce is just pure concentrated flavor. We love harissa in all the familiar places, like North African stews, tagines, sauces, and marinades. But sometimes we like to let harissa step out. With these recipes, we find our favorite hot sauce in some unexpected but delicious places. Bottom line, it's true what Chef John says: "a small spoonful of harissa makes virtually any savory dish better." Give these recipes a try! And for best results, start with you own homemade harissa sauce.
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Harissa and Lemon-Pepper Wings
"Tangy and woody lemon-pepper mixed with the complex, smoky spice of harissa will give your usual wings some extra lift," says Buckwheat Queen. "You don't need a bunch of ingredients to make out-of-this-world wings. A few flavor packed ingredients will do!"
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Breakfast Scramble
You'll really wake up the taste buds in the morning with this harissa breakfast scramble. "Eggs are scrambled with kale, harissa, bell peppers, and bacon for a quick yet flavor-packed keto breakfast done in one pan," says Kim Nelson.
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Baked Celery Root Fries
The star of this oven-roasted celeriac sticks recipe is the spicy homemade harissa ketchup. "The light celery flavor goes well with a spicy homemade ketchup," says Buckwheat Queen. "I tried two different methods to achieve the crispiest fries, and this was the one that I preferred. A lovely accompaniment to your main dish or even alone, just for a snack."
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Harissa Egg Salad
Harissa puts a spicy twist on a classic egg salad, which also features avocado in a starring role. "Serve on toast or try in lettuce leaves for a refreshing touch," says Buckwheat Queen.
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Halloumi Three-Bean Salad with Pomegranate-Harissa Vinaigrette
There are so many wonderful tastes and textures in this spicy 3-bean salad, featuring pan-fried halloumi cheese, black beans, kidney beans, white beans, red onion, fresh coriander, and mint. The salad is tossed with a flavorful homemade dressing made with pomegranate vinegar, honey, harissa, and olive oil. "A unique salad your taste buds will love," says Buckwheat Queen.
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Za'atar Pickles
"These are half-sour pickles spiced with harissa and all the traditional components of Turkish za'atar," says veithk. "The toasted cardamom adds a citrusy finish to these very bold pickles. After 10 days, they will continue to improve with age."
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Harissa Deviled Eggs
Harissa paste and ground cumin add color and spice to the deviled egg filling, while Greek yogurt stands in for the typical mayo in this recipe. "Deviled eggs take on a decidedly spicy flavor with the addition of harissa paste," says thedailygourmet.
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Carrot Harissa Hummus
True, hummus may not be the most unexpected place to find harissa hanging out, where it can kick up a neutral-flavored blend of chickpeas, garlic, and tahini. Here, though, classic hummus ingredients combine with roasted carrots and sun-dried tomatoes for a unique take on the traditional. "Removing the skins from the chickpeas takes time but it is worth it, the hummus is much creamier even without adding lots of tahini," says nch.
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Harissa Fried Halloumi Panini
A small dollop of harissa is a great way to add big flavor to sandwiches. This halloumi panini is a classic example. "Upgrade your grilled cheese with Halloumi — then add the heat with North African harissa," says Betty Soup. "You could also grill these on an indoor grill pan over medium heat."
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Very Personal Bolognese Sauce
Worcestershire sauce and harissa give this meat sauce a unique spicy, tangy flavor. "This special Bolognese is wonderful to top any kind of pasta, not just the traditional spaghetti," says Asherat. "The mascarpone gives an incredibly creamy turn to the sauce."
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