Dish · moroccan
Harissa
Harissa is a paste of dried chiles, garlic, and toasted cumin and coriander, ground smooth with olive oil into a hot, deeply spiced condiment.
Where it comes from
The paste comes from Tunisia's dry climate, where sun drying chiles was a practical way to preserve the harvest, and it's now used across North Africa as a base flavor rather than just a garnish.
What cooks argue about
The main fork is toasting the whole spices before grinding versus adding them pre-ground, since toasting deepens flavor but can tip bitter if the seeds go even slightly too dark.
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