What is Harissa and here's all you need to know about this spicy condiment | The Times of India (2024)

Eating bland food is no less than a punishment, spices simply add soul to the food we eat. Interestingly, every part of the world has a unique palate for spices and condiments. With the influx of culinary culture across the world, a few spices and condiments have turned out to be a fad among spice lovers. One such condiment is Harissa, most people think that it is just another spicy condiment, but there’s a lot more to this spicy delight. Read on to know more about it!

Harissa is a spicy condiment, which hails from Tunisia in North Africa. This condiment is a traditional chilli paste made with roasted red peppers, dried chili peppers, and a blend of garlic, cumin, lemon, salt, and olive oil. There are several variants of this condiment and each one has a distinctive use in North African cuisine.

Of late, the North African condiment has paved its way to the Mediterranean, Oriental and Asian Cuisines. The journey of this hot spicy condiment has been a result of the increasing love for fusion recipes and the culinary influx of cultures.

Everything that we eat has a significant impact on our digestive system, but did you know eating spices can improve your metabolism. Harissa made with spicy peppers and adding this to your meals can improve your digestion and can make you feel satiated and at the same time can make you happy.

According to studies, harissa is loaded with several health benefits and this is due to the presence of antioxidants. Harissa is made with chilli compounds, which has an antioxidant capsaicin. This compound makes the chillies spicy and are great for health. Harissa is low in sodium as compared to other hot sauces, which is great for people with high blood pressure.

This amazing spicy condiment has been a popular dip served with fries, munchies, burger and what not! However, you can use this spicy condiment for cooking some amazing delicacies. Harissa is mostly found in the form of a ready-to-eat condiment and also in the powdered form. If you want to amp up your meal experience and add on to the health quotient, you can use this condiment for marinating the meats and other veggies. Apart from that you can also replace this spicy condiment with your regular red chilli powder.

- A perfect marinate for your chicken or meat delicacies.

- A dash of harissa to your salad dressing can change the whole experience and make your salad even more delicious and healthy.

- Great for a preparing a steak sauce, a mere addition of this spice can make your steak and pasta sauces more delightful

- Powdered harissa can be a nice substitute to your regular chili powder.

-You can make your own spice mix by using powdered harissa and pairing it with dried and crushed herbs like oregano, rosemary or sage.