November 21, 2021 by Boutheina Nwaji
Updated November 21, 2021
Harissa sauce and powder

Tunisia is the biggest exporter of harissa. In 2006, the Tunisian production of harissa reached 22000 tons, incorporating nearly 44000 tons of peppers. Tunisian harissa is always prepared by chilies grown around Nabeul and Gabes, which are certainly mild, scoring 4000-5000 on the Scoville scale. So harissa is a popular Tunisian tradition that has an important role in our economy and worldwide trade. This sizzling product can be found in different forms; there is harissa powder and sauce.
What is harissa?
It is a North African paste made from dried chilies, salt, and seasonings. The main components of which are roasted red peppers, Baklouti peppers, herbs such as garlic, caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, and olive oil.
Harissa is a Tunisian cuisine's crucial feature. You would find this sizzling sauce in every Tunisian house. One may wonder “How can I make Harissa?”. Tunisia is famous for producing it and you might come across various methods.The methods of making it differ from one region to another, but maintain the key ingredients such as red chilies, garlic, and cumin.
The benefits of Harissa:
Every fridge inTunisia should contain a jar of Harissa. It is an unnegotiable habit. Harissa contains diverse vitamins and minerals such as copper and Iron. It is full of vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin K. Also, it contains a wonderful component called Capsaicin, the compound in chilies the pillars of the spice. Spicy food can increase your feelings of satiety; it makes you feel full and comfortable.
Also, capsaicin is an antioxidant that is able to boost your metabolism, develop heart health, and decrease cancer-causing inflammation.
Thanks to this hot sauce, one can fight high blood pressure since harissa is lower in sodium than other hot seasonings. Recent surveys show that consuming hot sauces plays a big role in lowering blood pressure. Furthermore, it helps to lose weight. For women who suffer from being overweight, they have to include hot sauces in their diets.
How to make Harissa hot Sauce:
Ingredients:
*red peppers
* chili peppers
*garlic
*olive oil
Method :
*step1:
Start by laying the red peppers, chilies, and garlic across a light tray. Put a bit of oil over the peppers. Then roast them in the oven for 20 minutes or less. Optionally, you can cook them for a few minutes to burn the skins and add an extra smoky taste.
*step2:
Mash the spices into powder, you can achieve this utilizing a small coffee or spice grinder.
*step3:
Once the vegetables are roasted, remove the onion and garlic. Then, remove some of the Chili seeds and stems. Then, put the roasted elements in a food processor and process them until they become a paste. Later, put a bit of olive oil into the skillet and stir a little bit. Later, add the Chili mixture, the basic spices, and salt.
Meanwhile, disinfect the container, where you plan to store the Harissa hot sauce. Store your delicious sauce in the fridge. It lasts for one month.
Keep your sauce in a cool, dry place.Enjoy the extraordinary spice!
The method of making Harissa powder:
*ingredients:
_Ten dried chili Peppers
_Two tablespoons of cumin seeds
_Two tablespoons of coriander seeds
_Two tablespoons of caraway seeds
-Half of one tablespoon of garlic powder.
Follow my tips below:
Select chilies as fits your taste.
Ideally, choose Baklouti peppers popular in North Africa and exactly in Tunisia.
*step1:
Peel off stems, not all of them, from dried chilies. Then, cut peppers into two pieces.
*step2:
Place the slices of chilies in a cookstove. For spices, place cumin corns, coriander, carraway in a skillet. Roast them until fragrant and be careful not to burn the seeds. After four minutes, remove the seeds and wait for them to cool.
*step3:
Take the ground peppers, roasted seeds and mix until all spices are integrated and become powder.
How can we use Harissa???
Sauce or powder harissa can be consumed in many recipes. In Tunisia, thanks to Harissa, you can make several delicious plates such as; couscous, spaghetti, Masfouf, Sandwich….etc.
It goes well with meat, fish, and roasted chicken. It can be added to salad dressings. Actually, it can be used in various ways. It will add taste to any dish you choose.
One may wonder where we can find Harissa?
It can be found in many stores or markets globally, mainly in Middle Eastern cuisine and cooking supplies centers and shops.
It is also possible to find it online. You can find it on Ebastores' online platform. Just place your order and you will be satisfied.