Spicy Harissa Hummus

Spicy Harissa Hummus

Spicy Harissa Hummus with Olives and Homemade Pitas

I’ve been a fan of harissa ever since my honeymoon in France where we ate Moroccan olives flavored with the Tunisian chili paste. I love how it spices up a dish and gives it a nice, smoky flavor. Today I made a spicy harissa hummus drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with chili flakes. It was amazing!

Lately, I’ve been making more of an effort to incorporate beans into my diet and hummus is a great way to do this. It’s perfect for snacking and is a wonderful way to transform chickpeas into a delicious dip. You can serve it with celery, carrots, fresh pitas, pita chips, or any other tasty chip or vegetable. read more

Spicy Moroccan Olives

spicy Moroccan olives, Moroccan olives

When Corey and I were traveling in France, each day was a new adventure. The simple task of grocery shopping became an exciting expedition. What unknown treasures would we delight upon? What tasty morsels would we discover? One day we ventured into a Middle Eastern market and discovered barrels upon barrels of olives and at incredible prices. We were beyond thrilled and quickly purchased several varieties. My favorite by far were the Moroccan olives.

The spiciness of the Moroccan olives pairs well with refreshing white wines and mild cheeses. Tart lemons, spicy harissa, briny olives, and herb-infused tomato paste all contribute to making these Moroccan olives incredibly flavorful. Once the olives have been eaten, the leftover sauce tastes great on slices of baguette. Moroccan olives can be made ahead of time and in fact taste better with age. They’re great as an appetizer or as a snack. The vibrant red sauce, bright yellow lemon slices, and green olives make for a beautiful presentation. read more

Harissa Chili Paste

Harissa

I’d never heard of harissa until researching how to make Moroccan olives, but it’s what gives them their fiery smokiness. Harissa is Tunisian chili paste made from a blend of dried red peppers and spices. It can be used to increase the heat in virtually any recipe. For an easy appetizer, I especially enjoy serving harissa on slices of baguette. Depending on which peppers you select, harissa can be anywhere from blazingly hot to mild and smoky. This particular harissa recipe produces a mild, smoky blend. read more