harissa

[hah-ree-suh, huh-ri-suh]

noun

1. a pungent paste or sauce made with chiles, garlic, cumin, caraway, coriander, paprika, and olive oil, used as a condiment and flavoring in North African and Middle Eastern cooking.

harissa

/ həˈrɪsə /

noun

1. (in Tunisian cookery) a hot paste or sauce made from chilli peppers, tomatoes, spices, and olive oil, often served with couscous

Word History and Origins

Origin of harissa¹

First recorded in 1905–10; from Arabic harīsa, originally a dish of bulgur and meat pounded together into a porridge, from harasa “to pound, crush, break”

Word History and Origins

Origin of harissa¹

C20: from Arabic

Example Sentences

Mediterranean chain Cava aims to keep growing by serving harissa honey chicken and pita chips while more burger-centric rivals have struggled.

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Let’s say you find chicken thighs, carrots, half a box of penne, an almost-empty jar of harissa, some butter and heavy cream.

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Danny's Jimmy Nardellos and harissa relish with labneh and mint sounded amazing, and I got a kick out of the notion of going from a Chateaubriand to bologna and canned corned beef.

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I am not a spicy person in any capacity, but I love harissa because it offers a bit more of a nuanced heat with some deep flavor.

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Earthy pistachios add a delightful crunch, while the smoky heat of harissa complements the halibut’s subtle sweetness.

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