harissa

[ huh-ri-suh, hah-ree-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

Forget making dough and just grab pita bread to make these small, messy, handheld pizzas with a mix of spinach, olives, harissa, pine nuts and feta.

From Washington Post

The meat, carved into two chunks, rests on a whip of turnips and alongside carrot coins ignited with harissa.

From Washington Post

Kari suggests harissa, chile crisp, relish, gochujang, sriracha and mustard.

From Washington Post

The chicken legs were red and wild from a soak in harissa and lemon juice, and the nearby steamed carrots benefited from a sprinkle of farm-fresh spring garlic.

From Washington Post

This assortment from the New York-based company features their signature fiery harissa, zingy preserved lemon paste, warming Baharat and bright sumac berries.

From Time

Best eaten with strong, spicy harissa as a condiment, to counter the fattiness of the meat.

From The Daily Beast