Moroccan Red Harissa Recipes

MOROCCAN HARISSA CHILI PASTE RECIPE WITH FRESH PEPPERS

Steps:

• Wash both kinds of peppers. Discard all the seeds and white membrane inside the sweet red pepper and most of the seeds in the hot chili.
• Coarsely chop the sweet red peppers. Use gloves while chopping the hot chili peppers.
• Place all ingredients, except the oil, in a deep heavy-bottomed pot and add about 1 cup of water. Cover and let simmer for 15- 20 minutes.
• Blend all ingredients to a paste and transfer to a saucepan or frying pan. Place over medium heat and add the oil.
• Keep stirring until all the water has evaporated and the sauce looks like a thick paste. Set aside to cool completely.
• Place the harissa sauce/paste in sterilized jars and keep in the fridge for up to a few weeks.
• You could also freeze all or some of the harissa. Pour it into a Ziploc and flatten it so portions can be broken off. Or use ice cube silicone trays; when frozen, transfer the cubes to a plastic bag.

MOROCCAN RED HARISSA RECIPE

Steps:

• On a hot cast iron plate roast the peppers on medium flame until charred on all sides. Transfer to a bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap until cool enough to handle. Once the peppers have cooled remove and discard the charred skins and core. You can keep the seeds and skins from the chile peppers if desired for extra heat.
• Transfer the cleaned peppers to the bowl of a food processor together with the olive oil, garlic, vinegar, smoked paprika, cumin and sea salt. Process until smooth. Transfer to a bowl and adjust seasonings with more sea salt and vinegar. Serve next to roasts, steaks, dipping sauce or marinade.

MOROCCAN RED HARISSA CHICKEN

Steps:

• Char the bell and chile peppers under a hot broiler until the skins are evenly blackened. Place in a bowl and cover to cool to handle. Wipe the charred skins away with paper towels and seed the peppers. Reserve for later use.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Sprinkle the chicken thighs with salt and pepper on both sides. Add the chicken to the hot oil and brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the chicken to a plate and reduce the heat a bit. Add the garlic, bay leaf, cinnamon, ginger, onions, paprika, cumin and some salt and pepper, and cook to soften a bit, stirring occasionally. Add a splash of vinegar.
• Place the peeled peppers in the bowl of a food processor with 1 cup of the stock, and process until pureed. Add the puree to the pan, thin with about 1/2 cup water and slide the chicken back into the pan. Reduce the heat to a simmer and finish cooking the chicken through. Turn off heat and cover until you serve.
• To serve, heat the remaining 1 1/2 cups stock (or 1 cup stock and 1/2 cup water) and the butter to a boil with the rice. Bring to a bubble, then reduce the heat to low and cover. Simmer the rice for about 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let stand 5 to 10 minutes, then fluff with fork.
• In shallow bowls, top the rice with the chicken in spicy sauce, garnish with scallions before serving.
• Get Rachael's shopping list for this episode's recipes here.

MOROCCAN HARISSA

Steps:

• Mince the chillies, roast capsicums, preserved lemon and garlic by hand or in a food processor.
• Mix with the coriander (cilantro), cumin and salt until well combined.
• Let the mixture stand for 1 hour, then transfer to a preserving jar and cover with oil. Store indefinitely in the refrigerator.