Is Harissa Mayo spicy?

If following the recipe as written, this harissa mayo is quite spicy. However, you can adjust the spicy ingredients to taste to make it milder if desired.

How long will harissa keep?

Once the harissa tube has been opened, seal the cap tightly and store in the fridge for up to 30 days. Note that depending on the brand or type (tube, canned, or jarred) of harissa you use, there may be a different time period specified on the package for how long it will keep.

What can harissa paste be used for?

Aside from this spicy harissa mayo, you can use harissa as a marinade, condiment, or sauce for meat and veggies. It’s great to add some spicy notes and smoky depth of flavor in meat marinades in chicken shish kebab rolls , spicy lamb and chicken kofta, and spicy meat stuffed pitas . If you’d like to make a fusion dish, try my smoky harissa mac and cheese !

Spicy Harissa Mayo

Full of addictive spicy, smoky and creamy notes with a hint of tang, this spicy harissa mayo is easy to make and so tasty with EVERYTHING!

Author: Lavina
Prep Time: 5
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 12 1x
Category: Sauces
Method: Blend
Cuisine: Middle-Eastern

Scale

Ingredients

1 Garlic clove – roughly chopped
4 – 10 Bird’s Eye Red Chilies (substitute with any other small hot red chilies), to taste – deseeded if less heat is desired, roughly chopped
½ cup Mayonnaise (full-fat works best)
1 TBLS Plain Greek Style Yogurt
2 TBLS Harissa Chili Paste (note 1)
½ TSP ground Cayenne (or chili powder), to taste
¼ TSP Sumac
¼ TSP Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
2 TSP freshly squeezed Lemon Juice, to taste
¼ TSP Kosher Salt, to taste

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Instructions

Prepare the fresh ingredients: Roughly chop the garlic and red chilies if your blender is not very powerful.
Blend: Combine the garlic, red chilies, mayonnaise, plain Greek style yogurt, harissa chili paste, ground cayenne, sumac, crushed red pepper flakes, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and kosher salt in a high-speed blender. Cover and blend until smooth. (You may need to uncover and push down the ingredients with a spoon 1-2 times in between if your blender is not very powerful.) Taste and adjust spices, salt, and stir in more lemon juice if needed.
Serve: Use immediately or transfer to a sealed airtight container and store in the fridge until ready to use. Enjoy with spicy meat stuffed pitas, kofta rice bowls, kebabs, shish rolls, salads, sandwiches, burgers, taco and use as a spread, dip, or dressing.
Storing: Store in a sealed airtight container/jar in the refrigerator and consume within 5-7 days.

Notes

Harissa Chili Paste: This is a spicy and smoky Tunisian chili pepper paste. It’s made with roasted red peppers, dried chilies, and other spices and herbs. It is available in squeezable tubes, cans, and small jars. I recommend DEA or Le Phare Cap Du Bon harissa as they are the most authentic. Their harissa is also spicier than most brands. Other brands may also add tomato powder or paste to the harissa and will be sweeter in flavor. Look for it in Middle Eastern/Mediterranean grocery stores, the Middle Eastern or international aisle of a well-stocked supermarket, or order it online.
Adjust spice level to taste. Feel free to add more or less of the fresh red chiles, ground cayenne, and crushed red pepper flakes depending on your heat level preference. You can use less harissa too if you wish. Note that harissa comes in varying heat levels depending on the brand. Use less if you’re sensitive to heat and if you know the particular brand of harissa you’re using is on the spicier side.

Le Phare Cap Du Bon Harissa

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Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 72
Sugar: 1.3g
Sodium: 91.8mg
Fat: 7g
Saturated Fat: 1.1g
Unsaturated Fat: 5.8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 2g
Fiber: 0.3g
Protein: 0.5g
Cholesterol: 4mg

The nutritional information provided is approximate and can vary based on several factors. It should only be used as a general guideline. For more information, please see our Disclosure.