harissa

noun

ha·​ris·​sa hə-ˈri-sə How to pronounce harissa (audio)
: 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Dollop in another spoonful of harissa. Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026 The Store offers flavors such as buffalo, garlic parmesan, barbecue, sweet chili, Torrington Hot, mango habanero, Jamaican jerk, spicy harissa, lemon pepper, Marsala, spicy Mediterranean, Tunisian buffalo and garlic hot. Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 2026 Flaky phyllo dough is filled with zesty harissa sauce and halloumi cheese and sprinkled with breadcrumbs and paprika for a savory bite-sized snack. Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026 Trader Joe’s harissa paste, which is sourced from a Tunisian supplier, is smooth and spreadable, with a slightly smoky, spicy flavor. Heather Riske, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for harissa

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of harissa was in 1970

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Harissa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/harissa. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!