harissa

American  

[hah-ree-suh, huh-ri-suh] / hɑˈri sə, həˈrɪ sə /

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.

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harissa British  

/ həˈrɪsə /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of harissa

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”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

harissa

Whole Foods began selling Hot Girl Pickles in September 2025; they come in garlic cumin and honey harissa flavors.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026

Chickpeas tossed with olive oil, harissa, garlic powder, chili powder, oregano, and an almost unreasonable amount of lemon zest.

From Salon ● Jan. 13, 2026

For some, that means fewer carne asada burritos and harissa bowls.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

It adds some heat from harissa and chili to a pasta with eggplant and parsley, finished with walnuts.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 22, 2024

For mild palates, or if the harissa you purchase is especially spicy, use the lesser amount; for bolder heat, use the larger quantity, and offer more at the table, too.

From Washington Times ● Sep. 6, 2023