Elevate any meal (and its cultural credentials) with this creamy, spicy and bold Harissa Aioli.
To be honest, I consider myself pretty cultured. I am educated, I have been lucky enough to travel, I love history and art, but most importantly I love trying new food from any and every culture. There was one time, I ate fried crickets at The Explorers Club! Now if that is not being brave with cuisine (if you would even call bugs that) I don’t know what is.
You’re like: “What does this have to do with the delicious harissa aioli I set out to make?” Well, I only had the pleasure of trying harissa a few years ago. Shocking, and I don’t know how! I may have been misled to believe it was insanely spicy. Spicy is something I just took a liking to in more recent years. But it’s not! I mean, it is spicy, but not hot. Harissa is not like ghost pepper, you won’t cry and choke if you try it. Also, when you turn it into an aioli, to make harissa aioli, it takes some of the spice away and it’s just flat-out tasty!
Above all, you will fall in love with this harissa aioli recipe because it is so versatile. It sort of reminds me of this Perfect Chipotle Sauce or Creamy Chimichurri in the sense that it has a kick and you didn’t know how much you needed it in your life. Aside from the harissa paste, you most likely have everything you need to make this aioli just waiting for you at home. Basically, you just mix everything together and in no time you have a new, exotic sauce to level up your next meal.
Is Harissa Aioli Healthy?
This vegetarian-friendly and peppery harissa aioli is rich in antioxidants, is good for your immune system and can improve cardiovascular health, due to the spices and peppers in the harissa. While the mayonnaise is not considered healthy, in the traditional sense, you will likely serve the aioli as a condiment, so the portion size is small. However, if you want to make your harissa aioli a bit healthier, as well as vegan and Whole30 approved, you can opt for a plant-based mayo instead.
What is Harissa?
For those of you who are new to cooking with or eating harissa or just love learning, especially about food, here is a little background on the flavorful paste. Harissa comes from the Maghreb, a region in Northern Africa, and specifically originated in Tunisia. It is a red chili paste with olive oil and spices such as garlic and cumin. The flavor of harissa is different from anything I have ever tasted, but some compare it to sriracha. However, sriracha does not have the depth of flavor that harissa does due to the lack of additional spices. Also, sriracha has vinegar and sugar, but harissa does not.
INGREDIENTS
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
INSTRUCTIONS
Combine
Mix mayonnaise, harissa, lemon juice, and garlic.
Season
Add salt and pepper, then blend well.
Serve
Let flavors meld, then enjoy with your dishes.
FAQs & Tips
You can store your harissa aioli in the refrigerator, in an airtight container or jar for up to 10 days.
Most grocery stores should have harissa in the ethnic cooking section of the store. However, you may not find varying degrees of spiciness or a large selection of brands.
If you are new to harissa, I recommend starting with half a tablespoon in this recipe. You can always add more. Additionally, you can look for a mild harissa in the store. Worst case scenario, add more of all the other ingredients and be thrilled that you have a ton of harissa aioli for the week.
Serving Suggestions
While plenty of love goes into making our harissa aioli, it is still a condiment and can be served as one. I recommend cooking up some Homemade French Fries, Avocado Fries, or Sweet Potato Fries, and serving your harissa aioli as an elevated dipping sauce. Speaking of dipping, try this aioli with wings or tenders. Some of my favorites are classic Crispy Buttermilk Fried Chicken, these “naked” Air Fryer Chicken Tenders with No Breading, or tangy Salt and Vinegar Wings.
Indeed you will need something refreshing to wash this all down with. Keep it exotic with a fruity Hurricane or zesty Mojito.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic minced
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a mixing bowl, combine mayonnaise, harissa paste, lemon juice, and minced garlic. Stir until the ingredients are well blended.
- Season the mixture with salt and black pepper to taste, and whisk again to ensure all flavors are evenly distributed.
- Allow the aioli to sit for a few minutes for the flavors to meld together. Serve as a dip or spread for your favorite dishes.
Nutrition Info:
Recipes written and produced on Food Faith Fitness are for informational purposes only.
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