North African Green Harissa

Name: Green Harissa
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 3 min
Total time: 5 min
Ingredients: 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves (packed); 1 cup fresh parsley leaves (packed); 2-3 green jalapeños (remove the seeds for a milder flavor); 3 cloves garlic; 1 teaspoon ground cumin; 1 teaspoon ground coriander; 1 medium lemon (juiced); 1/4 cup olive oil; Salt (to taste); 2-3 tablespoons water (optional, for thinner consistency)

ByRuth Grindeland Published:January 3, 2025September 25, 2025 Updated:September 25, 2025

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Green harissa sauce is a mildly spicy condiment from North Africa. Similar to chimichurri, green harissa is commonly used with grilled vegetables, couscous and roasted meats.

Green harissa in a bowl with a spoon in it.

Green harissa sauce is made with parsley, cilantro, jalapeño, lemon, ground cumin, and ground coriander, two essential North African spices. The word “harissa” means “to pound,” in Arabic. Meaning to pound the ingredients into a thick sauce or paste. This little detail explains why green and red harissa are both considered harissa, while being so different.

When I make green harissa at home, I take the seeds out of the jalapeño. This allows the jalapeño flavor shine without overpowering the fresh herbs. But if you like more spice, leave the seeds in.

Lemon balances all the flavors together. This recipe is similar to the sauce used in batata harra, a spicy Middle Eastern potato dish. It is just one of the many uses for harissa. If your looking for how to use harissa, I have a whole page filled with harissa recipes.

Homemade Green Harissa

Recipe At a Glance

EASE: Effortless!
CUISINE: North African | Mediterranean
COURSE: Condiment | Flavor
TIME: 5 Minutes

Green Harissa Questions

What is green harissa?

Green harissa is a vegan condiment which is used to add flavor. It is made with green chilies, cilantro, olive oil, garlic, and Middle Eastern spices. It has a fresh herb flavor and is milder than red harissa paste.

What is the difference between red and green harissa?

Red harissa is made with red chili peppers, and green harissa is made with jalapeños. The red chile peppers are spicier than the green jalapenos. I compare this to red vs. green Tabascao.

What can I use green harissa with?

Use green harissa like salsa, ketchup, or other condiments. I like add it to my Mediterranean wrap instead of hummus. Speaking of hummus, I like to mix a tablespoon into a cup of hummus to make a spicy harissa hummus.

I like it on top of roasted vegetables. (Try it on top of harissa carrots or mixed in with batata harrra. I have several other harissa recipes on my blog you can check out.

Ingredient Notes

Cilantro: Is the base of green harissa. When buying, look for the freshest bunch at the store.
Parsley: Adds a fresh flavor that balances out the cilantro and chiles. You also want to find the freshest bunch available.
Jalapenos: Bring spice; if you prefer a milder flavor, remove the veins and seeds. You can also substitute it with green chiles for a completely mild flavor.
Cumin and Coriander are common earthy Middle Eastern spices.
Lemon Juice adds a freshness that wakes the harissa. Only use fresh lemon juice. The bottled juice never tastes right.

See the recipe card for a complete list of ingredients and measurements.

More Recipes With Harissa

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A small black bowl filled with homemade Moroccan harissa paste.

A plate filled with harissa hummus surrounded with cucumbers, tomatoes and pita bread.

Harissa carrots on a plate garnished with almonds and parsley.

Roasted cauliflower with tahini sauce up close.

Frequently Asked Questions

Chimichurri is my top recommendation for a substitution. I have a post with the top five recommendations for a harissa alternative. While this is for red harissa, a few can also be substitutions for green harissa.

In an air-tight container in the fridge for up to one week.

I like to think of green harissa and zhug as cousins. They are related, but each have their own personality. Green harissa balances cilantro and parsley in equal portions. It is spiced with cumin and coriander. Zhug, on the other hand, is made with solely with cilantro and is spiced with toasted spices like cumin, coriander, cardamom, and caraway.

Another big difference is the spice. Green harissa uses fewer chilies, while zhug packs in double the peppers. One is mild, while the other is spicy!

Green harissa spooned on a cauliflower steak.

If you tried this green harissa recipe leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below

More Recipes With Harissa

My favorite recipe is roasted cauliflower with harissa tahini sauce. This recipe was inspired by True Foods and is loaded with flavor.
Harissa roasted carrots, an easy take on a simple roasted vegetable side dish but amped up in flavor!
Not ready to try, harissa? No worries, check out my top five harissa substitutes.