Harissa
A North African chilli paste of peppers, garlic, caraway, coriander and olive oil.
Also: harisa, Tunisian chilli paste, rose harissa
Harissa is a red paste from Tunisia, also loved in Algeria, Libya and Morocco. Dried red chillies are soaked and pounded with garlic, caraway, coriander seed, cumin, salt and olive oil, and sometimes roasted red pepper or tomato. Rose harissa adds dried petals. It is stirred into couscous, tagines, stews and eggs, spread on bread and served alongside grilled meat. Heat varies widely by brand and household, from gentle to fierce. Tunisian cooks sell it in tubes and tins, and the national dish tradition includes it in nearly every meal. In 2022 harissa was inscribed on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage.