harissa

noun

ha·​ris·​sa hə-ˈri-sə 

: a spicy North African paste made from dried chilies, salt, oil, and other seasonings

Roast chicken slathered in fiery Moroccan harissa is served with a bright orange dollop of carrot purée …

—Margot Dougherty

Examples of harissa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Spicy Eggplant Dip Silky, tender eggplant is cooked and blended with harissa for an easy, delicious dip. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 Sep. 2026

Bacari’s menu items include pistachio lamb kebab, falafel with coconut harissa and ricotta, and beet gnocchi, according to its website. — Paris Barraza, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2026

The tacos feature za’atar rubbed swordfish kissed by a wood-burning grill, dabbed with tangy pools of labne and a salsa arabe, similar to harissa. — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026

Our homemade harissa aioli brings the kick, the pickles and sumac onion cut the richness, and the roasted tomato and cabbage slaw keep everything bright. — Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French & North African Arabic; French harissa, borrowed from North African Arabic harīsa "dish of ground meat and bulgur or couscous, paste made from chili peppers and spices," derivative of Arabic harasa "crush, bruise, pound"

First Known Use

1970, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for harissa

• abscissa
• mantissa
• melissa
• disa
• issa
• nyssa