from Wild Flavors by Didi Emmons
Ingredients
- •2 red bell peppers, chopped into 1-inch pieces
- •1 green bell pepper, chopped into 1-inch pieces, or 1 small bunch arugula (added when pureeing)
- •6 plum or vine-ripened tomatoes, chopped into 1-inch pieces, or about 25 cherry tomatoes, halved
- •7 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- •1 handful dried red chiles, 1 large ancho chile, or 1–2 tablespoons chile flakes
- •1 small bunch cilantro leaves and stems, chopped (about 2 cups)
- •10 ml (2 teaspoons) ground cumin
- •5 ml (1 teaspoon) salt
- •Pinch ground cinnamon
- •15 ml (1 tablespoon) honey
- •79 ml (⅓ cup) red wine or cider vinegar
- •118 ml (½ cup) extra-virgin olive oil
- •Salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 135° C (275° F). Oil a large sheet pan.
Arrange the red and green bell peppers, tomatoes, and garlic on the oiled sheet pan in a single layer. Bake them for 1 hour to dry them out.
Heat a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chiles and cook until they are smoky and brittle, about 5 minutes. (Alternatively, you could put them in the oven with the peppers and tomatoes for the last 10 minutes of cooking time.)
Combine the roasted vegetables, chiles, cilantro, cumin, salt, cinnamon, and honey in a food processor or blender. Pulse until the ingredients are finely chopped.
With the machine running, slowly pour in the vinegar and then the oil, followed by a cup of water, and process until the mixture is fairly smooth. Season the harissa with salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Store in a container with a tight sealing lid. It will keep for up to one month.