Red Pepper Harissa Sauce Recipes

EASY HARISSA RECIPE

Steps:

• Soak and prepare the dried chiles. Place the dried chiles in a heat-safe bowl and cover with hot water. Set aside for 30 minutes until the chiles are tender and re-hydrated. Drain the chiles and remove the stems and seeds.
• Combine chiles with the remaining ingredients. Transfer the chiles to the bowl of a large food processor fitted with a blade. Add the tomato paste, roasted red peppers, garlic, ground caraway seeds, coriander, cumin, smoked paprika, cayenne (if using), and a large pinch of kosher salt. Add fresh lemon juice.
• Make the harissa paste. Run the food processor, and while it's running, drizzle the extra virgin olive oil from the top opening. Stop the processor to scrape down the sides and run again until you reach the desired paste-like texture. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking (remember that harissa paste will deepen in flavor as it sits in the fridge over the next day or two).
• Store. Transfer the harissa paste to a clean mason jar. Cover with a very thin layer of extra virgin olive oil, then cover the jar with its lid tightly and refrigerate.

ROASTED RED PEPPER HARISSA

Steps:

• Cook garlic and oil in a small saucepan over medium until garlic is tender, 10-15 minutes. Let cool.
• Meanwhile, toast caraway seeds, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, and peppercorns in a dry small skillet, tossing often, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool; finely grind in spice mill.
• Blend spices, garlic and oil, roasted red peppers, chile, vinegar, and sugar in a blender until smooth; season with salt.
• Do Ahead
• Harissa can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

CHEF JOHN'S HARISSA SAUCE

Steps:

• Preheat oven's broiler and set the oven rack at about 6 inches from the heat source. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place red bell peppers with cut sides down onto the prepared baking sheet. Cook under the preheated broiler until the skin of the peppers has blackened and blistered, 5 to 8 minutes. Place the blackened peppers into a bowl and tightly seal with plastic wrap. Allow the peppers to steam as they cool, about 20 minutes. Remove and discard skins.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add Fresno and habanero chiles and cook uncovered over medium heat until vegetables start to soften, about 3 minutes; drain and set aside to cool. Remove seeds and membranes from chiles (wear gloves); set aside.
• Shake coriander and caraway seeds in a skillet over medium heat until you start to smell the spice, about 2 minutes. Use a mortar and pestle to crush toasted seeds; add cumin, mint, and salt, and crush until finely ground. Transfer spices to a blender and add roasted bell peppers, chiles, garlic, lemon juice, and vegetable oil; puree until smooth. Drizzle in extra-virgin olive oil at the end, blending for only a few seconds.

RED BELL PEPPER HARISSA

Steps:

• Char peppers over gas flame or in broiler until blackened on all sides. Wrap in paper bag and let stand 10 minutes. Peel, seed and chop peppers.
• Whisk tomato paste and vinegar to blend in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in oil, the salt. Mix in bell peppers and jalapeño. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cover; refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before serving.)