5 Best Harissa Paste and Powder Substitutes
Do you need a substitute for Harissa paste? I have the five best substitutes for harissa paste and powder to save your recipe (or wallet). The best news? Most of these you probably already have!
Harissa is a centuries-old Tunisian spice blend made into a paste. It has become popular in Mediterranean and Western fusion recipes. For many home cooks, harissa powder is an expensive one-off ingredient or a flavor they do not prefer. I have the five best harissa paste and powder alternatives to save your dish!
What is Harissa?
Harissa is a spicy red paste made from roasted baklouti peppers, spices, tomatoes, or roasted red peppers. Because of the unique combination of ingredients, harissa has a layered flavor. It goes from sweet and earthy to spicy. The texture is similar to Ketchup. Harrisa paste is also as popular as ketchup in Tunisia!
Harissa powder is the dehydrated version of the paste. You can find it in the spice section of most large grocery stores. To make a homemade paste, whisk the powder, tomato paste, olive oil, and a light squeeze of lemon.
The word harissa is derived from harasa, which means to “pound or crush”. That directly refers to how harissa is made by crushing all the ingredients together. (Source)
What Is Rose Harissa?
Rose harissa is harissa paste mixed with rose water. The result is a light floral flavor on the finish. Rose water is a popular ingredient in Middle Eastern and Persian cooking. I love rose water in Lebanese baklava and rose water lemonade.
Master chef Yotam Ottolenghi has a recipe for making rose harissa, which I want to try!
What Does Harissa Taste Like?
Because harissa is a spice blend, it has a unique complexity. It has an earthy, spicy flavor with a sweet touch from the tomatoes. Cumin and coriander give it an earthy flavor, roasted peppers give it a tangy taste, and tomato or red peppers give it a sweet flavor.
5 Best Harissa Paste and Powder Substitutes
Now, on to the question that brought you here: What is the best harissa paste substitute? I have narrowed the list to two pastes and three powders. You can also make all the powders into a paste with a small amount of olive oil and tomato paste.
1. Sriracha
Best all-around harissa paste substitute
Sriracha is an uber-popular hot sauce from Thailand made from chile peppers, vinegar, garlic, sugar, and salt. It is bright red and a paste, like traditional harissa. It is also mild in heat and slightly tangy from the vinegar. Sriracha is easily found in most grocery stores. All of these factors combined make Srirachaund a substitute for Harissa.
2. Cayenne Pepper
Best all-around harissa powder substitute
Cayenne pepper is made by grinding up dried red chili peppers. I love that it is often found in most spice racks, making it an effortless substitute! I recommend using it in recipes you typically season with dried spices, such as scrambled eggs, roasted veggies, or soups.
3. Sambal Oelek
Great Paste Alternative in Soups and Stews
Sambal oelek is an Indonesian spicy chili paste made by blending red chili peppers, salt, and vinegar. While a spicy paste, sambal oelek is more coarse than smooth. I like that it is easy to find in the Asian aisle at most large grocery stores.
4. Chipotle Peppers in Adobo Sauce
Great Paste Alternative for Adding Smoky Spicy Flavors
Chipotle peppers are smoked jalapeño. But when you buy chipotle peppers canned in peppers with adobo sauce, you get an excellent harissa paste substitute. The adobo sauce has a tomato-like traditional harissa flavor, but it also has a tanginess from the vinegar and garlic. You can find them in small cans near the canned green chiles in the Hispanic aisle. The peppers are intact, so blend them into a sauce before substituting!
5. Red Pepper Flakes
Great Powder Alternative for Adding Midly Spicy Flavor
Red pepper flakes are dried and crushed red chili peppers. They are a popular pizza and pasta seasoning. They can be spicy, but they also have a slightly sweet flavor. I recommend using red pepper flakes as a substitute for harissa powder in recipes you want to add a kick to, such as tomato sauce or roasted cauliflower.
Harissa Substitutes At a Glance
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 determine which substitute is best for your recipe.
| Harissa Substitute | Flavor Description | Best Harissia Substitute For |
|---|---|---|
| Sriracha | Spicy, tangy, slightly sweet | Best all-around Harissa paste substitute. |
| Cayenne Pepper | Sweet, tangy, slightly spicy | Best all-around Harissa powder substitute. |
| Sambal Oelek | Spicy, slightly sour, slightly sweet | Adding to soups and stews (paste). |
| Best all-around Harissa Powder Substitute | Smoky, sweet, slightly spicy | Adding a mildly spicy flavor (powder). |
| Red Pepper Flakes | Mild spicy with a slightly sweet flavor | Adding a mildly spicy flavor (powder). |
Did you find this substitution guide helpful?
Please leave a message below letting others know you liked it!
Thank you for your reply, I am looking forward to trying it out.
Much appreciated!
Your very welcome! I hope it turns out great!
Hi Ruth,
I made the sriracha paste as an alternative for harissa paste because I couldn’t get any locally. I want to use this as a marinade or directly adding to a Moroccan lamb recipe.
My question is: how much of the paste do I use for either marinating or adding to a recipe.
Thank you
Hi Susie, that is a good question and I am sorry I did not have that information in the blog post. You can use the substitute at a 1:1 ratio. I will update the post so the information is there going forward.