Need a harissa paste substitute? Look no further; I have compiled a listen of the ten best harissa substitutes and alternatives you probably already have in your spice rack. All substitutes include directions on how to make it into a paste.
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What is Harissa?
Harissa is a spicy chili paste that has recently become popular in the West. Originating from Tunisia and popular throughout North Africa, harissa is made from a blend of spices, including roasted baklouti peppers, garlic, olive oil, salt, cumin, coriander, and caraway. Hariss has a complex flavor, and the heat level can vary depending on the baklouti peppers vs. another ingredient ratio. Because the peppers are roasted, harissa has a subtle smoky flavor.
Harissa paste is a popular seasoning used for almost everything in Tunisia, from meats to vegetables and grains. It has also become popular as a spread for sandwiches and wraps. Harissa is traditionally a paste. However, you can now find harissa powder as a spice blend in most grocery stores.
What Is Rose Harissa?
Rose harissa is harissa paste with rose petals or rose water blended in. While rose as an ingredient might sound strange, it is popular in the Middle East and Lebanese cooking in particular. If you have had traditional Lebanese baklava, chances are good it was sweetened with rose water.
What Does Harissa Taste Like?
The flavor of harissa is a unique blend of spicy, earthy, and slightly smokey flavors. While harissa is known for being spicy, the flavor profile is very complex, made up of roasted baklouti peppers, garlic, olive oil, salt, cumin, coriander seeds, and caraway.
10 Best Harissa Paste Substitutes
Now on to the big question, what is the best substitute for harissa paste? In many cases, that depends on what spices you have in your cabinet and the depth of flavor profile you want to achieve. Keep reading to find the best substitute for you.
1. Sriracha
Sriracha is a hot sauce that originated in Thailand and has become popular worldwide. It is a bright red sauce made from chili peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. Sriracha has a medium heat level and is less spicy than other hot sauces like Tabasco, Tapatio, or Frank's Red Hot.
Sriracha has become increasingly popular in the United States, and it is now a common ingredient in many American dishes, such as burgers, pizza, and even potato chips. My husband puts sriracha on almost everything in my house, including the table!
Sriracha is an excellent substitute because its consistency is already thick. To use as a paste, it might be too much. See the chart below on how to create a sriracha paste.
How to make siracha into a substitute paste:
Ingredients - ½ cup sriracha, 3 cloves garlic (minced), 2 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon honey, and ¼ cup olive oil
Instructions - Place all the ingredients In a blender and blend until smooth.
2. Sambal Oelek
Sambal oelek is a spicy chili paste that blends red chili peppers, salt, and vinegar. The peppers in sambal oelek are typically ground into a coarse paste, giving it a chunky texture. Sambal oelek is a popular paste from Indonesia and a staple in Thai food.
Sambal oelek has a bright red color and a high level of heat. It is popular in soups, stews, stir-fries, or noodle dishes to give the dishes an extra kick. Sambal oelek is a popular sauce in the US and is in stock at most grocery stores in the Asian aisle.
How to make sambal oelek into a substitute paste:
Ingredients - ½ cup sambal oelek, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tablespoon grated ginger, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon soy sauce.
Instructions - Place all the ingredients In a blender and blend until smooth.
In a blender and blend until smooth.
3. Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper is made from dried and ground red chili peppers and is often used to heat dishes. It has a hot and intense flavor and works well in spicy dishes like chili or curry. It can be used as a substitute for harissa in dishes that require a hot and spicy kick, such as scrambled eggs or roasted vegetables. If you want to lighten the heat, I recommend blending paprika and cayenne pepper.
How to make cayenne pepper into a substitute paste:
Ingredients - 1 tablespoon of cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon of tomato paste, ¼ teaspoon of ground coriander, ¼ teaspoon of ground caraway seeds, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and 1 clove of garlic, minced.
Instructions - In a small bowl, mix together the cayenne pepper, tomato paste, ground coriander, and ground caraway seeds until well combined. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the spice mixture to the pan and sauté for another minute or until the spices are toasted and fragrant.
4. Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeño peppers often sold in adobo sauce made from tomato, vinegar, garlic, and spices. The peppers have a smoky and slightly sweet flavor; You might be familiar with the flavor due to the popularity of Chipotle Grill. They work well as a substitute for harissa in dishes that require a smoky and spicy flavor. Chipotle peppers in adobe sauce are sold in small cans, usually near the canned green chiles in the Hispanic aisle.
How to make chipotle peppers in adobo sauce into a substitute paste: Ingredients - 1 can of chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (cans are sold in a 7-ounce can), ¼ cup olive oil, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 teaspoon cumin, 1 teaspoon coriander, and 1 teaspoon oregano
Instructions - Place all the ingredients In a blender and blend until smooth.
Check Out My Other Best Substitutes Lists
- 10 Best Sun-Dried Tomato Substitutes
- 10 Best Curry Powder Substitutes
- 10 Sun Dried Tomato Substitutes
- 10 Best Tamari Substitutes
- 6 best Sherry Vinegar Substitutes
- 5 Best Crimini Mushroom Substitutes
5. Red Pepper Flakes
Red pepper flakes are made from crushed and dried red chili peppers and are popular for pizza and pasta seasoning. The chili flakes have a hot and slightly fruity flavor and work well as a substitute for harissa in dishes requiring mild to medium heat levels, such as marinara sauce or roasted cauliflower.
How to make red pepper flakes a substitute paste:
Ingredients - ¼ cup red pepper flakes, ¼ cup olive oil, 2 cloves garlic (minced), and 1 teaspoon salt.
Instructions - In a saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for 1-2 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool. Blend the mixture in a food processor until a smooth paste is formed.
6. Gochujang
Gochujang is a Korean chili paste made from chili powder, glutinous rice, fermented soybeans, and salt. It has a thick and sticky texture, and it's often used as a marinade or dipping sauce for meat, fish, and vegetables. Gochujang can usually be found at most grocery stores and comes in red, similar to a plastic red ketchup bottle. I can find gochujang in the Asian section of my local Kroger.
It is important to note that gochujang does have a subtle tart flavor. This can change the flavor of your overall dish. Use this substitute only if you are familiar with its flavor profile.
How to make gochujang into a substitute paste:
Ingredients - ½ cup gochujang, 2 tablespoon honey, 2 tablespoon sesame oil, 1 tablespoon rice vinegar, 2 cloves garlic (minced), and 1 tablespoon grated ginger
Instructions - Place all the ingredients In a blender and blend until smooth.
7. Chili Oil
Chili oil is made from chili peppers and oil, and it's often used as a seasoning for noodles, dumplings, and stir-fry. It has a hot and fragrant flavor and works well as a substitute for harissa in dishes that require a rich and flavorful taste, such as fried rice or roasted mushrooms.
How to make chili oil into a substitute paste:
Ingredients - 1 cup dried chili peppers, 1 cup vegetable oil, 2 cloves garlic (minced), 1 tablespoon grated ginger, and 1 teaspoon salt or kosher salt.
Instructions - In a saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the chili peppers, garlic, ginger, and salt. Cook for 5-10 minutes or until the peppers are fragrant and slightly browned. Remove from heat and let cool. Blend the mixture in a food processor until smooth.
8. Homemade Chili Paste
Sometimes, making a blend at home is the best solution. In this instance, you probably already have the ingredients in your pantry. Mix caraway seeds, chili powder, garlic, salt, and olive oil to create your version of harissa paste.
Ingredients - 1 tablespoon cumin seeds, 1 tablespoon coriander seeds, 1 tablespoon caraway seeds, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and ¼ cup olive oil.
Instructions: In a dry skillet, toast the cumin, coriander, and caraway seeds over medium heat until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Be sure to stir the seeds constantly to prevent burning. Transfer the toasted seeds to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle them into a fine powder. Combine the ground spices with paprika and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Add the tomato paste, minced garlic, lemon juice, and olive oil to the spice mixture and stir until well combined.
9. Aleppo Pepper
Aleppo pepper is made from dried and crushed Aleppo chili peppers. The flavor is mild but has a lot of flavor complexity. This pepper is also easily found at most grocery stores.
Ingredients - 2 tablespoons Aleppo pepper, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 1 tablespoon ground cumin, 1 tablespoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 3 garlic cloves, minced, and ¼ cup olive oil.
Instructions - In a small bowl, mix together the Aleppo pepper, tomato paste, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, and ground cinnamon until well combined. Heat the olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Add the minced garlic to the pan and sauté for about 30 seconds or until fragrant. Add the spice mixture to the pan and sauté for another minute or until the spices are toasted and fragrant. Transfer the spice mixture to a food processor or blender.
10. Chili Powder
Traditional chili powder is a spice blend you probably already have in your pantry. This blend contains ground chili peppers, cumin, and other spices. It has a mild heat level and can add a smoky flavor to your dishes.
Ingredients - ¼ cup chili powder, 2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 clove garlic, minced, ½ teaspoon ground cumin, and ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions - In a small bowl, whisk together the chili powder, tomato paste, olive oil, and lemon juice until smooth. Add the minced garlic, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and salt to the bowl and whisk until well combined.
Reference Table
There is a lot of information above. To help you out, I have made a quick reference chart with the overall flavor. Use this to quickly determine which flavor profile is best for your recipe.
| Harissa Substitute | Flavor Profile |
|---|---|
| Sriracha | Spicy, tangy, slightly sweet |
| Sambal Oelek | Spicy, slightly sour, slightly sweet |
| Cayenne Pepper | Sweet, tangy, slightly spicy |
| Chipotle Peppers in Adobe Sauce | Smoky, sweet, slightly spicy |
| Red Pepper Flakes | Hot with a slightly fruity flavor |
| Gochujang | Spicy, savory, slightly sweet |
| Chili Oil | Spicy, tangy, slightly sweet |
| Homemade Chili Paste | Varies on the spices used |
| Aleppo Pepper | Mild pepper flavor, slightly spicy |
| Chili Powder | Spicy, savory, tangy |
Ten Popular Tunisan Dishes that include Harissa Paste
Finally, I wanted to give you ten popular Tunisian dishes that use harissa. If you want new flavors, consider trying one of these dishes!
| Dish Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Assida | A traditional Tunisian porridge made with semolina or couscous is typically served with a dollop of harissa. |
| Chakchouka | A hearty stew made with eggs, tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers, flavored with harissa and other spices. |
| Fricassé | A popular street food sandwich made with a fried bread roll filled with boiled eggs, tuna, harissa, olives, and other ingredients. |
| Lablabi | A chickpea soup is typically served for breakfast or lunch, with a drizzle of olive oil, harissa, and a side of bread. |
| Mechouia | A salad made with roasted peppers, tomatoes, onions, and garlic, dressed with olive oil, lemon juice, and a generous amount of harissa. |
| Ojja | A spicy tomato and egg stew can be served with sausage, seafood, or other ingredients, often seasoned with harissa. |
| Osban | A spicy lamb or beef sausage flavored with harissa and other spices is often served as part of a mezze platter. |
| Shakshuka | A dish of poached eggs in a flavorful tomato sauce often spiced with harissa and other seasonings. |
| Tagine | A slow-cooked stew that can be made with various meats, vegetables, and spices, often including harissa. |
| Zgougou | A traditional Tunisian dessert made with sweetened almond milk garnished with harissa and other toppings like pine nuts or sesame seeds. |
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