Chef John’s Harissa Sauce

Description

Harissa is probably my all-time favorite hot sauce, and one I’m sure you’ve seen me use in a bunch of recipes here. A small spoonful of this makes virtually any savory dish better.

Ingredients

  • 2 red bell peppers, halved and seeded
  • 6 Fresno chile peppers
  • 1 habanero pepper
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • ¼ teaspoon caraway seeds, or more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon coriander seeds, or more to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
  • ½ teaspoon dried mint
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
  • 4 garlic cloves, peeled
  • 1 lemon, juiced
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Instructions

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. about 20 minutes. Remove and discard skins.
  4. 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
  5. about 3 minutes; drain and set aside to cool. Remove seeds and membranes from chiles (wear gloves); set aside.
  6. Shake coriander and caraway seeds in a skillet over medium heat until you start to smell the spice
  7. about 2 minutes. Use a mortar and pestle to crush toasted seeds; add cumin
  8. mint
  9. and salt
  10. and crush until finely ground. Transfer spices to a blender and add roasted bell peppers
  11. chiles
  12. garlic
  13. lemon juice
  14. and vegetable oil; puree until smooth. Drizzle in extra-virgin olive oil at the end
  15. blending for only a few seconds.

Prep Time: 20 mins

Cook Time: 15 mins

Total Time: 45 mins

Servings: 6

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