Ever wondered what India and Tunisia have in common? Well, not much, to be honest. But what ties us together is our love for food. Spicy food in particular. As reported on numerous occasions, India and Tunisia both feature in the top 10 list of ’countries who love spicy food’.
And while we have dozens of spicy chutneys, masalas and condiments, we will forever be indebted to Tunisia for introducing us to the humble harissa. Think of it like India’s adopted child – she didn’t birth it but loves it with all her heart, sometimes even more than her own J
Before delving into India’s love story with harissa, let’s go back to the start. What does harissa mean? Where did it all begin? And now that it’s here, how do we use it?
Ok, so the history of harissa, like everything else from hundreds of years ago, is muddled and largely speculated. But an argument that has been put to rest, is its country of origin. Tunisia claimed ownership and no one else disputed – case closed. And while the harissa is also known as “Tunisia’s national condiment’, it’s very popular in lots of other North African regions too, including Morocco, Libya and Algeria, among others.
Harissa literally translates to ‘to crush or to pound’, which refers to the merchants at spice souks pounding away spices every morning and prepping fresh harissa. One can only imagine the incredible fragrances at those souks! Imagine being a fly on the wall at those spice markets. Oh wait, if we are allowing our imaginations to run free, wouldn’t you rather be a customer, buying freshly pounded red, saucy, spicy gold?! Ah well.
Ok, back to harissa. What is it? To put it simply, it’s a spicy, red chili paste or sauce. But to describe harissa as simple, is rather unfair. It’s complex, layered, spicy, delicious, robust and so versatile. It can be used as a dry rub, a marinade, base for a curry, smothered over meats, sea food and veg or simply, alongside bread. The recipe changes from region to region and is available in both forms, dry spice rubs and wet sauce or paste. We make ours using dried hot chilies, garlic, herbs and spices and we’re confident that this humble spice blend can transform your kitchen game forever, just like it did ours.
You can use our harissa spice blend in a variety of ways, but check out our series on ‘Level up your Spyce’ to learn how to transform this dry spice blend into a paste, sauce and dip for maximum choice. And while you’re here, check out our ‘Recipes’ where you’ll find dozens of amazing recipes using our harissa spice blend.
Personally, we love the ‘<insert recipe> that’s best enjoyed with rice or <insert recipe> that’s a perfect mid-week, quick recipe that’s made in minutes. Or if you’re looking for that perfect weekend indulgence, check out our version of the <insert recipe>. We can’t get enough!
And before you leave, don’t forget to check out our other blends from the Middle East and North Africa region. And if you’re a spice enthusiast like us, here are some of our other spicy blends. And click here for our full collection.
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