Tunisian Spicy Harissa Paste Recipe (the New UNESCO Heritage)

Let's try this Harissa, a Tunisian spicy chili paste that presents a sweet, sour, spicy taste accompanied by a sharp and smoky scent.

Tunisian harissa chili paste (new unesco world heritage list)
Tunisian harissa (youtube/Dimitra's Dishes)

On 1 December 2022, UNESCO officially included Harissa on the list of UNESCO world heritage sites after a meeting was held in Rabat, Morocco, from 28 November - 03 December 2022.

Harissa is a popular spicy paste from Tunisia which is usually made from dried chilies with the addition of other spices.  This paste presents a sweet, sour, spicy taste accompanied by a sharp and smoky scent. Because of its popularity, Harissa can even be found in various supermarkets in the country.

You don't have to go all the way to Tunisia to try or buy Harissa, you can also make it at home.  Come on, see the full recipe below.
Also Read: Moroccan Harcha Bread Recipe, Good Snacks for Watching the FIFA World Cup!

Ingredients

You need the following ingredients to make homemade Tunisian harissa.
  • 10 pieces of dry chili de Arbol or New Mexico
  • 2 dried guajillo chilies
  • 1 tbsp cumin seeds
  • 1 tsp coriander seeds
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp roasted paprika powder
  • 1 tsp salt or to taste
  • 150 ml of olive oil
Also Read: Sour and Spicy Shrimp Mango Salad Recipe

How to cook:

Step 1: Hydrate the dried chilies
Place the chilies de Arbol and guajillo in a bowl, and pour hot water into them so that they cover the entire surface of the chilies.  Cover the container and let stand for about 15-20 minutes until the chilies are slightly chewy.

Apart from soaking them in hot water, you can also hydrate chilies by cooking them in boiling water for a few minutes.  If the chilies are already hydrated, remove the stalks that are still attached along with the seeds.

Step 2: Toast the cumin and coriander seeds
Heat a pan over low heat, roast the two spices until fragrant then remove.  Use a pestle to grind the coriander seeds and toasted cumin seeds.

Step 3: Blend all the ingredients to form a paste
Add the chilies, chopped garlic, vinegar, tomato paste, paprika powder, lemon salt, cumin powder, and roasted coriander along with the olive oil then grind to form a paste, making sure there is still a bit of the chili texture.

After that, put the pasta in a small jar, and drizzle a little olive oil on top.  Store in the refrigerator for a maximum of 1 month or use directly.

Tunisian harissa chili paste (new unesco world heritage list)
Tunisian harissa (youtube/Laura in the Kitchen)

You can use this harissa chili with a variety of typical Tunisian preparations or other dishes.  This harissa can be used as a topical sauce, dipping sauce, or put in the soup.  Hope you enjoy it!

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