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    Home » Recipes » Sauces & Condiments

    Vegan Harissa Paste

    Published: Oct 21, 2021 · Modified: May 7, 2025 by Romy · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Spicy and tangy homemade harissa paste - created to a vegan recipe using birds-eye chillies, roasted red peppers and smoky flavours. 

    This recipe is:

    • 100% vegan & plant-based
    • gluten-free
    • easy to make
    • spicy
    • full of flavour
    • fresh
    homemade harissa paste in a bowl surrounded by beetroot falafel
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    • 📖 Recipe Card

    If you're into a bit of spice, then harissa paste is surely the way to go for you! This homemade harissa paste recipe is super easy to follow and surely packs a punch! Made with a base of chillies and roasted red peppers, it holds a lot of tangy and smoky flavours and it's a delicious addition to hummus, falafels or fantastic as an ingredient for cooking and roasting. This tasty and spicy harissa paste recipe is inspired by traditional harissa recipes, but I like to point out that this is not an authentic recipe itself - it uses a different type of chili compared to traditional harissa recipes. I have found that this recipe results in a delicious paste and also that dried birds-eye chillies were the ones easiest accessible in UK supermarkets (I got mine from Tesco!).

    This paste is delicious alongside falafels, as part of a wrap, marinade, stirred into hummus or also as part of an ingredient used in a recipe (especially with spicy roasted veg!) and I hope you enjoy it just as much!

    Ingredients

    • dried birds-eye chillies:  these are not the type of chillies used in traditional, authentic harissa, however, I've found that dried bird-eye chillies are more accessible in UK supermarkets and therefore tried out this recipe with this chilli type and it turned out delicious (hence why you're reading this now! :))
    • large red bell peppers: if you like your harissa with a sweet aroma, you can use sweet red peppers
    • garlic cloves: feel free to adjust the amount of garlic to your personal preference
    • toasted caraway seeds
    • tomato paste
    • ground coriander
    • ground cumin
    • smoked paprika powder
    • sea salt
    • fresh lemon juice

    Equipment

    • food processor or blender
    • oven & lined baking tray
    falafel dipped into the paste
    close up of the harissa paste in a bowl

    How to make Harissa Paste

    Grilling the peppers

    To create this delicious homemade harissa paste, let's start by roasting the red peppers! If you have a gas oven, you can easily grill them over an open flame (whilst being careful of course!). You want to get the skin of the peppers burnt and blackened, so it easily peels off and gives your harissa a wonderful smoky flavour. Alternatively, you can grill your peppers under the grill of your oven (or broiler if you're in the US!). Simply heat to about 220C, place your peppers underneath on an oven-proof dish or tray and turn every couple of minutes until your peppers are all around roasted. 

    I've even roasted my pepper in my Ninja Grill before (on the grill setting) and this worked a treat and was super quick also! 

    Ingredient prep

    Whilst your peppers are grilling, briefly toast your caraway seeds in a small, dry pan - this should only take two or three minutes over low/medium heat. Also, place your dried chillies in a small bowl and cover them with boiling water. Set aside to soak for at least 10 minutes.

    Blending your harissa paste

    Remove the skins from your grilled, blackened peppers - make sure to remove the seeds also - and place them into a food processor alongside the drained, softened chillies, toasted caraway seeds, tomato paste, fresh coriander and seasonings: ground coriander, cumin, smoked paprika powder, salt and lemon juice. 

    Serving harissa paste

    Harissa paste is great to drizzle and dip - especially if you like a bit of spice! You can serve it alongside falafels & co, simply divine! In addition, harissa is great in a variety of recipes, as part of a marinade and for roasting.

    beetroot falafel dipped into harissa paste
    a bowl filled to the brim with harissa paste

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    Did you make this recipe? If so, will you do me a huge favor and leave a review and rating & let me know how you liked this recipe? THANK YOU! ❤️

    📖 Recipe Card

    A small bowl filled with homemade harissa paste.

    Harissa Paste Recipe

    Romy
    Spicy and tangy homemade harissa paste - created to a vegan recipe using birds-eye chillies, roasted red peppers and smoky flavours.
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine British, Middle Eastern
    Servings 1 cup

    Equipment

    • 1 oven dish or tray
    • 1 blender

    Ingredients
      

    • 3-5 dried birds-eye chillies
    • 2 large red bell peppers
    • 5 large garlic cloves
    • 1 teaspoon toasted caraway seeds
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • ½ teaspoon ground coriander
    • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
    • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika powder
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

    Instructions
     

    • To create the harissa paste, place your red peppers under the grill of your oven and grill until the skin begins to blacken. Remove the peppers from the oven and set them aside to cool down for 10 minutes, then remove the skin and seeds. 
    • In the meantime, place the dried chilies into boiling water to soften for 10 minutes. Toast your caraway seeds in a small pan on the stove for 2-3 minutes whilst stirring. 
    • Transfer the peppers, chilies, garlic, caraway seeds, tomato paste, ground coriander, cumin and smoked paprika powder, salt and lemon juice to a small food processor and blend for 1-2 minutes until the ingredients are broken down into a smooth sauce. 
    • Serve alongside falafels or as part of a recipe.
    Keyword harissa, harissa paste, homemade harissa paste

     © 2025 Romy London / Romina Callwitz | All images, videos, wordings and content are copyright protected and belong to Romina Callwitz. Please do not use any of my content without prior permission. If you wish to re-publish any (part of my) content, please get in touch via email. Thanks for your support!

    *Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links and sponsored links that earn me a small commission, at no additional cost to you. You can find more information in my Privacy Policy.

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