What To Consider Before Cooking With A New Harissa Paste

Harissa is a spicy tomato paste that offers sweetness to recipes. Made from chile peppers, garlic, olive oil, and various spices, the ingredient brings a smoky, peppery element to soups and main dishes. The roasted red peppers used to make the spread provide an earthy sweetness that is balanced by a tempered kick of chile heat. However, not all harissa is made similarly. That's why it's best to sample the harissa you are working with before using it in your culinary projects.

Some recipes are spiced with paprika, caraway, cumin, mint, coriander, while others include rose petals in the line up of ingredients. The taste of harissa can be very spicy or lean into a more tangy profile due to the inclusion of ingredients like preserved lemon. Some may be heavy on the garlic. Besides, it isn't only the flavor of harissa that can vary. The texture of harissa can also range, from chunkier recipes that resemble salsa to smoother spreads that can easily be spooned onto toasted pieces of buttered bread.

Whether you are looking to add harissa to soup for a quick jolt of spice or use harissa to make an easy baked chicken to serve at your next dinner party, tasting the harissa in your kitchen before including it into your recipes can help ensure your meal lands closer to the intended point of impact. You can make your own harissa so you know exactly what you're working with, or consider using harissa powder or seasoning to adjust for the intensity of flavors. 

Once you have identified the tasting profile of the harissa paste in your hands, you can modify the amount you use to make recipes or compensate with other ingredients to result in the taste you have in mind. Tangier harissa paste can be complemented by an extra pinch of smoked paprika or ancho chile powder. Hotter varieties may need a squeeze of lemon to balance out the baked harissa zucchini with whipped feta and couscous you plan to serve for dinner. Get tasting, make adjustments, and enjoy your meal.