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 January 3, 2025January 4, 2025 January 4, 2025

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Green harissa sauce is a mildly spicy condiment from North Africa. Similar to salsa or chimichurri, green harissa is great with roasted vegetables, sandwiches, and marinating.

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 must-have Middle Eastern spices. The word “harissa” in Arabic means “to pound,” which refers to pounding the ingredients into a thick sauce or paste. This little detail explains why red and green harissa are so different. It’s like comparing traditional salsa to fruit salsa—both can be used similarly but have different flavors.

When I make green harissa, I always take the seeds out of the jalapeño. This lets the jalapeño flavor shine without overpowering the fresh herbs. But if you like more spice, leave the seeds in. Lemon is a must in Middle Eastern cooking, and here, it balances all the flavors together. This recipe is similar to the sauce used in batata harra, a delicious spicy Middle Eastern potato. In fact, you could roast new potatoes and toss them in green harissa for a similar recipe.

Much like chimichurri or salsa, green harissa works with just about everything. I love adding it to roasted cauliflower or carrots—ok, let’s be real, it’s amazing on almost any roasted vegetable! I’ve also stirred it into orzo, similar to how I make Mediterranean sun-dried tomato pesto orzo. My husband likes eggs, fish, and chicken.

Green Harissa

Recipe At a Glance

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

Your Green Harissa Questions Answered

What is green harissa?

Green harissa is a sauce that is used as a condiment 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. I like to compare red and green harissa to red and green Tabasco. The red version is spicier, while the green version is milder.

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. There are other ingredient differences, but this is the biggest distinction.

What can I use green harissa with?

Use green harissa like salsa, ketchup, or other condiments to add flavor. I like adding 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 as a dip with roasted cauliflower and tahini.) or mixed in with Arabic rice.

Last but not least, try mixing it with cream cheese to make a party dip or gilled cream cheese pinwheels!

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.

Perfect Pairings

Mediterranean Wrap Sandwich – Use as a condiment in place of hummus
Oven Roasted Harissa Carrots – Swap red harissa for green
Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Sauce – Swap red harissa for green
Spicy Arab Potatoes – Toss in the potatoes after they cook for extra spice!

Green harissa spooned on a cauliflower steak.

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.

If you tried this green harissa recipe or any other recipe on my blog 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 are an easy take on a simple roasted vegetable side dish but amped up in flavor!
Are you not ready to try, harissa? No worries, check out my top five harissa substitutes.