topic Re: HARISSA - ? in Recipes

HARISSA - ?

eddyandme — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 15:44:17 GMT

Got a new cookbook yesterday 'cause I want to eat better and figured I'd follow the Mediterranean diet (or at least make one recipe a week!).

The recipes look good - something I would like. But, one recipe calls for Harissa paste. Checked this out on amazon and it seems like it would be very spicy. Since I share my 'people' food with my furbaby, not sure if something that spicey would be good for him. Any suggestions for a substitute spice?

Also, many recipes call for chickpea flour. Would it change the recipe too much if I just use all-purpose: I already have bread flour, cake flour - just don't need a pantry full of flours (which seem to never get used up before expiring).

TIA

Re: HARISSA - ?

Imaoldhippie — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 16:21:46 GMT

@eddyandme .............I just googled Harissa paste and google says it is very spicy. Also, the info said you can substitute other milder pastes. Just a suggestion but its possible you could leave it out altogether?

Re: HARISSA - ?

deepwaterdotter — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:00:36 GMT

I found this recipe for homemade harissa in one of my America's Test Kitchen cookbooks. It looks to be on the relatively milder side:

6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

2 tbsp minced garlic

3 tbsp paprika

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tsp ground cumin

3/4 tsp caraway seeds

1/2 tsp salt

Stir everything together in bowl and microwave for a minute, stirring after 30 seconds.

Re: HARISSA - ?

kze — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 18:37:12 GMT

@eddyandme wrote:
Got a new cookbook yesterday 'cause I want to eat better and figured I'd follow the Mediterranean diet (or at least make one recipe a week!).

The recipes look good - something I would like. But, one recipe calls for Harissa paste. Checked this out on amazon and it seems like it would be very spicy. Since I share my 'people' food with my furbaby, not sure if something that spicey would be good for him. Any suggestions for a substitute spice?

Also, many recipes call for chickpea flour. Would it change the recipe too much if I just use all-purpose: I already have bread flour, cake flour - just don't need a pantry full of flours (which seem to never get used up before expiring).

TIA

@eddyandme

I'm sure you know this but just in case, garlic and onion are poisonous to dogs and cats.

Re: HARISSA - ?

eddyandme — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:25:09 GMT

@kze wrote:
@eddyandme wrote:
Got a new cookbook yesterday 'cause I want to eat better and figured I'd follow the Mediterranean diet (or at least make one recipe a week!).

The recipes look good - something I would like. But, one recipe calls for Harissa paste. Checked this out on amazon and it seems like it would be very spicy. Since I share my 'people' food with my furbaby, not sure if something that spicey would be good for him. Any suggestions for a substitute spice?

Also, many recipes call for chickpea flour. Would it change the recipe too much if I just use all-purpose: I already have bread flour, cake flour - just don't need a pantry full of flours (which seem to never get used up before expiring).

TIA
@eddyandme

I'm sure you know this but just in case, garlic and onion are poisonous to dogs and cats.

Thanx. I always omit them, that's why I need a substitute seasoning.

Re: HARISSA - ?

eddyandme — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:26:28 GMT

@deepwaterdotter wrote:
I found this recipe for homemade harissa in one of my America's Test Kitchen cookbooks. It looks to be on the relatively milder side:

6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp minced garlic
3 tbsp paprika
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground cumin
3/4 tsp caraway seeds
1/2 tsp salt

Stir everything together in bowl and microwave for a minute, stirring after 30 seconds.

Thanx @deepwaterdotter

Re: HARISSA - ?

eddyandme — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 19:29:15 GMT

@Imaoldhippie wrote:
@eddyandme .............I just googled Harissa paste and google says it is very spicy. Also, the info said you can substitute other milder pastes. Just a suggestion but its possible you could leave it out altogether?

Yes, @Imaoldhippie , I saw one that's supposedly on the milderside - no chili peppers - but don't want it to be too blah. Thanx.

Re: HARISSA - ?

PINKdogWOOD — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:47:15 GMT

@eddyandme Instead of the paste, you could buy Harissa in ground spice form so you can better control it.

Or if you do like some spice, try sriracha. This also is a spicy number but again you can control how much you like.