Harissa Pasta is a North African-inspired pasta with a kick of harissa, which is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends when you want to whip up something quick, flavorful, and comforting. And, your whole family is going to love it.
Jump to:
A great thing about this easy dish is that you can add a protein to it, such as these Grilled Chicken Tenders or Pan Fried Tilapia for a simple yet filling meal that your family will rave about.
What goes in Harissa pasta
- Oil - I like to use olive oil for the best flavor in this dish.
- Vegetables - You will need a small yellow or white onion and some fresh garlic cloves for this recipe. You will also need a few Roma tomatoes to add some tomato flavor to this dish.
- Seasonings - From your spice cabinet, be sure to grab the ground cumin, ground ginger, black pepper, coriander, and salt to jazz up this dish.
- Tomato Paste - To give the sauce a little tang, you will want to add some tomato paste. You can find this in a small tin at your local grocery store.
- Harissa Paste - This is the star ingredient that makes this dish so special! It can be found in most international or specialty food stores, or you can make your own like I do.
- Pasta - I like to use dry spaghetti noodles for this dish, but you can use any type of pasta you prefer.
Harissa Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 4 roma tomatoes grated about 1 cup
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 Tablespoons Harissa paste
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Salt or to taste
- ¼ cup coriander chopped and more for garnish
- ½ pound pasta cooked according to package directions
Instructions
- Cook pasta al dente according to package directions, drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat oil then saute onion and garlic for 3 minutes or until tender.
- Add tomato, harissa, and all the spices, taste to adjust seasoning.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add pasta and toss to coat.
- Continue cooking for another couple of minutes.
- Serve garnished with more coriander.
Notes
If you do not like coriander you can use parsley or leave it out.
Use any pasta you like.
Nutrition
Sign up and learn more about Mediterranean flavors
How to make Harissa pasta
Step 1: In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. And then saute the onion and garlic for 3 minutes or until tender.
Step 2: Add the tomatoes, harissa paste, tomato paste, and seasonings.
Step 3: Bring the sauce to a boil and simmer for 3 minutes.
Step 4: Add the cooked and drained pasta and toss it in the sauce.
FAQs
Harissa is a spicy and flavorful chili paste that originates from North African cuisine. It's made using a blend of roasted red peppers, chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and warm spices such as cumin and coriander.
Harissa has a smoky, spicy, and peppery flavor. The warm spices combine with the rich tomatoes for a tangy sauce that has a slight kick of spice.
How to Store and Reheat
Storage - Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheat - You can reheat the harissa pasta in a skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until heated through. Alternatively, you can microwave it for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. If the pasta seems dry after reheating, add a splash of water or broth to help loosen it up.
Serving suggestions
This spicy pasta can be served alongside your favorite proteins, such as this Slow Cooker Bone-In Chicken Thighs, a simple bread side dish such as this Air Fryer Garlic Bread, and a simple salad like this Beet and Carrot Salad.
You'll also like
Are you looking for ways to add some extra flavor to your weekly meal rotation? Add Chicken Shawarma, Middle Eastern Chicken and Rice, or these Ground Beef Gyros to change things up.
For pasta monsters like us, check out these flavorful pasta dishes.
Would you like to save this post?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Leave a Reply