15 Spicy & Hot Plant-Based Recipes Using Harissa!

Harissa is a hot chili pepper paste from North Africa. It’s made of a blend of peppers, spices, and oil. There are so many ways to use it in your cooking — in sauces, soups, scrambles, and more! It adds a little kick and gives your dish a little of that something special! If you like spice you will love these Harissa recipes! There are so many to choose from and if you’re sensitive to spice, you can control how much harissa you add. Get ready for some hot dishes. These harissa recipes are fire!

We also highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App  — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help you get healthy! 

1. Carrot Harissa Soup

Source: Carrot Harissa Soup

Cheers to longer days, springtime rain, and big bowls of spicy Carrot Harissa Soup by Claire Ragozzino!

2. Harissa Roasted Potato, Okra, and Broccoli

Source: Harissa Roasted Potato, Okra, and Broccoli

Cooking okra right can be tricky, but this simple, tender, and flavorful medley of harissa-infused roasted vegetables will make you a fan. Broccoli, potatoes, and okra are roasted in a piquant sauce of harissa, garlic, olive oil, and ground black pepper. Sun-dried tomatoes are tossed in at the very end for added savory flavors and because the combination of okra and tomatoes cannot be beaten. You have to try this Harissa Roasted Potato, Okra, and Broccoli by Elsa Brobbey!

3. Harissa Tofu Scramble

Source: Harissa Tofu Scramble

Of all the different ways to make your morning tofu scramble, this savory scramble, spiced with harissa, is a must-try. Harissa is a Tunisian spice that’s somewhat of a catch-all for all kinds of dishes. It adds umami and spicy tastes to this scramble, in addition to tomato, red pepper, and cumin. Serve this Harissa Tofu Scramble by Maya Sozer as a regular tofu scramble, or roll it up in a tortilla for the best breakfast burrito you’ll ever have.

4. Hemp and Harissa Hummus

Source: Hemp and Harissa Hummus

Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili pepper paste the main ingredients of which are roasted red peppers, serrano peppers, and other hot chili peppers and spices and herbs. It compliments the nutty and tangy taste of the hummus quite well while adding some serious spice to a traditional dish. You have to try this Hemp and Harissa Hummus by Robin Runner!

5. Moroccan Roasted Carrots With Harissa

Source: Moroccan Roasted Carrots With Harissa

These Moroccan Roasted Carrots With Harissa by Robin Runner are sweet with just a little bit of smoky spiciness. They’re the perfect side to any number of veggies and grains!

6. 15-Minute Harissa Eggplant Kebabs With Cucumber Mint Relish

Source: 15-Minute Harissa Eggplant Kebabs With Cucumber Mint Relish

These spicy, sweet, and satisfyingly sticky 15-Minute Harissa Eggplant Kebabs With Cucumber Mint Relish by 15 Minute Vegan: Fast, Modern Vegan Cooking are perfect for grilling! The harissa adds the perfect amount of heat that is quickly cooled down by the refreshing cucumber mint relish. Serve these kebabs in soft flatbreads with the tangy relish, jewel-like pomegranate seeds, and a generous drizzle of tahini.

7. Beet Chickpea Burgers With Harissa Spread

Source: Beet Chickpea Burgers With Harissa Spread

It’s amazing how some grains, beans, and vegetables can turn into a burger that is so satisfying! I mean, just look at the bright fuchsia hue of these Beet Chickpea Burgers With Harissa Spread by Denisse Salinas– is any other burger prettier to look at? The combination of quinoa and red rice in the patties is great for the texture. These burgers are perfect for parties or dinners for plant-based skeptics!

8. Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins With Harissa Butter

Source: Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins With Harissa Butter

A flavorful and hearty take on the cheesy cornbread, these Jalapeño Cornbread Muffins With Harissa Butter by Elsa Brobbey are tender and savory. The batter is infused with a wealth of hot spices, sun-dried tomatoes, and nutritional yeast for a cheesy flavor. The harissa butter only serves to elevate the spices, making these muffins perfect for those who like things spicy.

9. Fennel and Harissa Stuffed Buckwheat Panzerotti

Source: Fennel and Harissa Stuffed Buckwheat Panzerotti

Panzerotti is an Italian savory pocket of dough similar to a calzone. This vegan version is made with buckwheat and can easily be made completely gluten-free with gluten-free flour. The stuffing is made with fennel, dried tomatoes, olives, and harissa to spice things up a bit. You have to try this Fennel and Harissa Stuffed Buckwheat Panzerotti by Simona Malerba!

10. Jollof Rice: West African Rice With Harissa and Baharat

Source: Jollof Rice: West African Rice With Harissa and Baharat

Jollof rice is a beloved West African dish; delightful and delicious and a favorite at gatherings and celebrations! This particular recipe has roasted bell peppers, which add a succulent depth and sweetness to the base sauce. It also has harissa, a spicy chili paste, and Bharat, a Middle Eastern spice blend, both of which add warmth, zing, and that touch of smokiness. Serve this Jollof Rice: West African Rice With Harissa and Baharat by Elsa Brobbey with a side of sweet plantains or your favorite veggies.

11. Moroccan Eggplant Mini Galettes With Chickpeas and Harissa

Source: Moroccan Eggplant Mini Galettes With Chickpeas and Harissa

Galettes are rustic pies with anything you want in the middle! These Moroccan Eggplant Mini Galettes With Chickpeas and Harissa by Rebecca Fallihee are packed full of aromatic spices, flavor, and texture. If you’re not such a spice fan, ditch the jalapeño altogether, cut back on the black pepper, and if you’re purchasing harissa instead of making this recipe, taste it before adding the entire amount! You don’t want to miss these warm, flavorful little bites.

12. Harissa Roasted Roots With Crispy Chickpeas

Source: Harissa Roasted Roots With Crispy Chickpeas

Add a little color to your place with these Harissa Roasted Roots With Crispy Chickpeas by Jodi Kay. Carrots and beets are coated in a savory, spicy harissa-based sauce, then roasted with chickpeas until crispy and paired with fluffy grains. Some dressed greens, and perhaps a little hummus or vegan yogurt would take this meal to the next level.

13. Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs

Source: Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs

This recipe for Harissa Lentil Quinoa Meatballs by Maya Sozer is a keeper! Hearty, spicy, smoky veggie meatballs with a ton of high-quality plant protein. Each bite of these has a rich variety of flavors, from spicy harissa to nutty tahini. Use these to make a hearty sub, top a bowl of spaghetti, or add some depth to a salad.

14. Harissa Grilled Eggplant

Source: Harissa Grilled Eggplant

The harissa when mixed with a touch of sweetener, garlic, and smoky cumin, makes a delicious marinade. After grilling, the sugars caramelize and each flavor is intensified. These grilled eggplants are great to serve over rice, quinoa, or any other whole grain with some harissa sauce on the side. You have to try Pavani Nandula‘s Harissa Grilled Eggplant!

15. Harissa

Source: Harissa

Harissa is a Tunisian spice sauce that is almost a catch-all for a lot of their dishes. As with all catch-all spices, there are variations to the basic theme, some like it very spicy so they add more cayenne pepper, others mint, and yet others both cilantro and mint. Try out this Harissa by Rinku Bhattacharya!

Learn How to Cook Plant-Based Meals at Home!

Reducing your meat intake and eating more plant-based foods is known to help with chronic inflammation, heart health, mental well-being, fitness goals, nutritional needs, allergies, gut health, and more! Dairy consumption also has been linked to many health problems, including acne, hormonal imbalance, cancer, and prostate cancer, and has many side effects.

For those of you interested in eating more plant-based, we highly recommend downloading the Food Monster App — with over 15,000 delicious recipes it is the largest plant-based recipe resource to help reduce your environmental footprint, save animals and get healthy! And, while you are at it, we encourage you to also learn about the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

Here are some great resources to get you started:

• Weekly Vegan Meal Plans
• Plant-Based Health Resources
• Plant-Based Food & Recipes
• Plant-Based Nutrition Resources
• The Ultimate Guide to Plant-Based Nutrition
• Budget-Friendly Plant-Based Recipes
• High Protein Plant-Based Recipes
• Plant-Based Meal Prep

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