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Chef John's Harissa Sauce

Chef John's Harissa Sauce is a fiery, roasted pepper condiment with a bright citrus lift and fragrant toasted spices. Sweet bell peppers balance the heat of Fresno and habanero chiles, while garlic, cumin, coriander, caraway, and a hint of mint round it out. Spoon it over grilled meats, fold into grains, or use as a punchy spread for sandwiches and mezze platters.

  • Prep20 mins
  • Cook15 mins
  • Serves6
  • DifficultyMedium
Chef John's Harissa Sauce
  1. 1

    Preheat the oven's broiler and position the oven rack about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Arrange the red bell peppers cut-sides down on the prepared baking sheet. Broil until the pepper skins are blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes. Transfer the blackened peppers to a bowl and seal tightly with plastic wrap. Let them steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Peel off and discard the skins.

  2. 2

    Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add the Fresno and habanero chiles and cook uncovered over medium heat until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes; drain and let cool. Wearing gloves, remove the seeds and membranes from the chiles; set aside.

  3. 3

    Toast the coriander and caraway seeds in a skillet over medium heat, shaking the pan, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Crush the toasted seeds with a mortar and pestle; add the cumin, mint, and salt, and grind until finely ground. Move the spices to a blender and add the roasted bell peppers, chiles, garlic, lemon juice, and vegetable oil; puree until smooth. Slowly drizzle in the extra-virgin olive oil at the end, blending only for a few seconds.

About This Recipe

Chef John's Harissa Sauce is a Moroccan side dish recipe made with 12 ingredients. It takes about 35 mins, serves 6, and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Caraway Seed, Chili Pepper, Coriander Seed, and Dried Mint. Each serving provides about 157.74 kcal.

Recipe Questions

What is Chef John's Harissa Sauce?
It is a Moroccan sauce recipe made with 12 ingredients, usually served for side dish.
What is Chef John's Harissa Sauce made of?
The main ingredients are Caraway Seed, Chili Pepper, Coriander Seed, Dried Mint, Extra-Virgin Olive Oil. The full list of 12 is above.
How long does it take to make Chef John's Harissa Sauce?
About 35 mins in total: 20 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 157.74 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Chef John's Harissa Sauce easy to make?
This recipe is rated medium, with 12 ingredients and 3 steps.

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