Green Harissa is a North African condiment made with green chilies, spices and fresh herbs. It’s bright, herby and spicy, perfect for drizzling over veggies, soups, grilled meats or grain bowls to add punchy flavor. Vegan, GF.
Great recipe! It's definitely a favorite in our regular rotation.
If you need a little pep in your life, make this Green Harissa recipe. It’s such a flavor bomb and really elevates whatever it is served with. Spoon it over Chicken Tagine, swirl it into soups, stews, or beans, or drizzle it over eggs or avocado toast. It really enlivens somber dishes, adding a kick of flavor to lentils, meats, and vegetable dishes.
Green harissa is a variation of the traditional red harissa, made using green chili peppers and fresh herbs, such as cilantro and parsley. It offers a brighter, more herbaceous flavor compared to its red counterpart. Green harissa retains the spicy and aromatic qualities but is generally milder and adds a vibrant green color to dishes. It’s perfect for drizzling over grain bowls, roasted vegetables, or as a marinade for meats and tofu.
Why you’ll love this Green Harissa recipe!
Easy and flavorful. This recipe has 7 ingredients and takes just 10 minutes to make. It’s herby and garlicky, with a lovely warm heat. Not overly spicy.
It’s versatile and diet-friendly. This version of Green Harissa Sauce can be made with yogurt, silken tofu, or sour cream. Lots of options here, friends! Vegan-adaptable, gluten-free, paleo.
So many ways to serve it! It’s delicious over grain bowls, rice dishes, roasted veggies, or spooned into tacos, wraps, or drizzled over chicken, fish, or seared tofu.
What is Harissa?
Harissa is a spicy and aromatic North African condiment made with chili peppers, used to add depth and flavor to various dishes. The base of harissa typically includes roasted red peppers, chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and a blend of warming spices such as cumin, coriander, and caraway seeds. This green version features green chilis and fresh herbs.
Origin of Harissa
Harissa originates from Tunisia but is widely used across North Africa, particularly in countries like Algeria and Morocco. Each region has its own variations, often adapting the recipe to include local ingredients and personal preferences.
Green Harissa Recipe Ingredients
- Fresh herbs: Use Italian parsley or cilantro, or a mix of both!
- Garlic cloves: Add a touch of pungent flavor.
- Jalapeño: Adds heat! Remove the seeds to make it less spicy.
- Spices: Smoked paprika and coriander (or cumin) impart warm, smoky, earthy depth.
- Salt: Enhances the overall flavor.
- Yogurt: Use plain yogurt or substitute sour cream. To make this vegan, use silken tofu.
How to Make Green Harissa
1. Pulse herbs, garlic, jalapeño, and spices. Place all of the ingredients except the yogurt into the bowl of a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.
2. Add yogurt. Add the yogurt and pulse until combined, but not too smooth.
3. Taste and adjust. Taste the sauce and adjust for salt and heat.
Chef’s Tips
- If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender. The yogurt will get a little runny, resulting in a thinner sauce. It will firm up some after it’s been stored in the fridge.
- To make it dairy-free, use silken tofu instead of the yogurt, and blend everything in a blender with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon or lime, or a splash of apple cider vinegar. You will likely need more salt, so adjust to taste.
- For a less spicy sauce, remove the seeds from the jalapeños. If you’re especially heat-averse, sub a green bell pepper (roast it for a smoky flavor!).
- Leave some texture. Avoid pulsing the sauce until silky smooth. You want a little bit of texture from the herbs, garlic, and jalapeño.
Serving Suggestions
This sauce will be a game-changer in your kitchen! You can use it with just about anything.
- Bowls: Drizzle it over Buddha bowls, grain bowls, rice dishes, couscous, or quinoa. Spoon it over our Tandoori Glory Bowl or Tunisian Chicken with Couscous!
- Veggies: Spoon it over roasted veggies, grilled vegetables, or these Moroccan Grilled Veggie Skewers.
- Tacos, wraps, and sandwiches: Use as a sauce in tacos and wraps or as a sandwich spread. Use in our Middle Eastern Salad Tacos, Scrambled Eggs Tacos, Halloumi Wrap, Eggplant Wrap, Lentil Wrap, or our Chickpea Salad Sandwich.
- Burgers: Use as a sauce in your favorite burger! Try it on our Veggie Burger, Grilled Lamb Burger, or Burger Bowl.
- North African Meals: Serve with our Chicken Tagine, Moroccan Chicken, Za'atar Roasted Eggplant , Grilled Tofu, or Eggplant Chickpea Tagine
Storage
Store Green Harissa in an airtight container, like a mason jar, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
More Favorite Green Sauce Recipes
After you try this Green Harissa recipe, let us know how it turns out in the comments below. Your review will help other readers, too! Sign up here to join our community and receive our latest recipes and weekly newsletter! xoxo Sylvia
Green Harissa Recipe
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 1 ½ cups 1x
- Category: Sauce / Condiment
- Method: blended
- Cuisine: North African
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Green Harissa is a North African condiment made with green chilies, spices and fresh herbs. It’s bright, herby and spicy, perfect for drizzling over veggies, soups, grilled meats or grain bowls to add punchy flavor. Vegan, GF.
Ingredients
- 1 cup (packed) Italian parsley or cilantro ( a combination is nice)
- 1–2 garlic cloves
- 1/2 to 1 whole jalapeño, sliced
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, more to taste
- 1 teaspoon coriander (or cumin)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, more to taste
- 1 cup plain yogurt (or silken tofu, or sour cream- see notes )
Instructions
- Pulse in food processor. Place all ingredients except yogurt in a food processor. Pulse repeatedly until finely chopped. Add yogurt, pulse again until combined, but not too smooth. Taste, adjust salt and heat.
- Or use a blender. You can also blend all ingredients in a blender but note that yogurt will get a little runny. It will firm up some in the fridge. It still tastes good, but with a thinner consistency.
Notes
You can swap out sour cream or silken tofu for the yogurt.
If making with silken tofu– blend it in a blender and add 2 tablespoons olive oil, increase the salt to taste, and add a squeeze of lemon or lime or a splash of apple cider vinegar.
Leftovers will keep up to 5 days in the fridge.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 tablespoons
- Calories: 26
- Sugar: 1.9 g
- Sodium: 164.2 mg
- Fat: 1.1 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 2.8 g
- Fiber: 0.6 g
- Protein: 1.4 g
- Cholesterol: 4 mg
I love your recipes! But this recipe is a harissa sauce and there is no harissa in the ingredient list. Looking forward to making the updated version. Thanks!
Hi Joanne, Just to clarify—harissa is a chili paste that you make by blending peppers with spices and such. 🙂
Great recipe!It’s definitely a favorite in our regular rotation.
thanks Tom!
Just finished making and consuming this fantastic combination. Be sure to make the Green Harissa, as it will definitely turn up the flavor magic. Made the Vegetarian version, looking forward to making again! (and again…).
Great recipe! We keep it vegetarian. It’s definitely a favorite in our regular rotation.
This sauce was fantastic on our bowl!! The kids said it made the bowl the best they have ever had:) A keeper!!
Just finished making and consuming this fantastic combination. Be sure to make the Green Harissa, as it will definitely turn up the flavor magic. Made the Vegetarian version, looking forward to making again! (and again…)
Yay!!! I love it too!
Try this over roasted cauliflower for the win!!!