Harissa
Notes: This homemade Moroccan hot sauce has more complexity than super-hot purchased versions. Our sauce is medium-hot; add more cayenne for extra heat. Make this sauce up to 5 days ahead; cover and chill. Dried ancho chilies are available in well-stocked supermarkets and in Hispanic grocery stores. (Sometimes mistakenly labeled pasillas, anchos are triangular; true pasillas are long and skinny.)
How to Make It
1
Snap off and discard stems of 2 ounces dried ancho or California chilies (see notes). Shake out and discard seeds. Rinse chilies and cut or break into about 1/2-inch pieces. Soak in 1 cup hot water until soft, about 20 minutes. Lift chilies out (reserving soaking water) and transfer to a blender or food processor. Add 1/3 cup of the reserved water, 3 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; whirl until smooth. If thicker than desired, blend in 2 to 3 more tablespoons reserved water.
Ingredients
2 ounces dried ancho or California chilies
3 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon paprika
11/2 teaspoons cayenne
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Directions
1
Snap off and discard stems of 2 ounces dried ancho or California chilies (see notes). Shake out and discard seeds. Rinse chilies and cut or break into about 1/2-inch pieces. Soak in 1 cup hot water until soft, about 20 minutes. Lift chilies out (reserving soaking water) and transfer to a blender or food processor. Add 1/3 cup of the reserved water, 3 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil, 1 tablespoon paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne, 1 teaspoon ground coriander, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; whirl until smooth. If thicker than desired, blend in 2 to 3 more tablespoons reserved water.
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