Say goodbye to dull salads! Give your greens a kick with this irresistible harissa dressing! It boasts the perfect blend of spicy, sweet, and flavorful goodness that will elevate any salad to a whole new level. And guess what? It's ready in under 10 minutes flat! Get ready to meet your new favorite salad dressing!
Haven't heard of harissa paste? It's a fiery North African sauce that's not just a condiment – it's a flavor powerhouse! Roasted red peppers, tangy preserved lemon, garlic, tomato paste, and a medley of spices all mingle together in a tantalizing blend.
Now, imagine that bold flavor packed into a sweet, slightly spicy harissa vinaigrette. Honey adds a velvety sweetness that perfectly balances the zesty kick of harissa, smoked paprika, and red wine vinegar.
This dressing is the best of both worlds, bold yet balanced, vibrant yet versatile. It's the secret weapon that turns any mundane salad into a culinary masterpiece. I swear by it; there's always a jar of this dressing in my fridge, ready to drizzle over crisp spring greens for a quick veggie side salad!
Make it vegan by replacing the honey with maple syrup. It also makes a great marinade for grilled chicken!
See my guide on making great homemade vinaigrettes here.
Try it alongside this harissa roasted chicken or as a side to a delicious and comforting bowl of prawn and chorizo pasta.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients
- Harissa
- Honey
- Olive Oil
- Red Wine Vinegar
Find the complete ingredient list below.
Instructions
- Start by grabbing a large mixing bowl. Into this bowl, add the garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, harissa, salt, black pepper, and paprika.
- With a whisk or fork, vigorously mix all the ingredients together. Make sure to blend them thoroughly until you achieve a uniform mixture. You want the ingredients to combine well and create a smooth, emulsified dressing.
- Once everything is well mixed and you have a cohesive dressing, you have two options: You can immediately pour this dressing over your salad of choice and toss it well to coat all the ingredients.
- Alternatively, if you want to save the dressing for later use, transfer it into a clean jar or container with a tight-fitting lid.
- If you're storing the dressing, seal the jar tightly and place it in the refrigerator. When you're ready to use it again, give the jar a good shake to re-emulsify the dressing before pouring it over your salad. This ensures that all the flavors are evenly distributed.
Substitutions
- Freshly squeezed lemon juice is a great alternative to red wine vinegar if you want something less acidic.
- Since honey is not technically vegan, you can swap it out for maple syrup for a fully vegan option.
- I don't find this dressing to be that spicy, but if you don't like spice, start by using half of the harissa sauce and add more to your liking.
- For a creamy harissa dressing, simply add 2 tablespoon of Greek yogurt to the dressing and whisk well.
Equipment
A whisk and a well-sealing mason jar are all you need to make a good vinaigrette.
Storage
Store in a well-sealed mason jar for up to 2 weeks in the fridge. Let it come to room temperature and shake vigorously before serving.
Top Tip
Grate your garlic with a box grater or microplane to release more of its fragrant oils and make a creamier dressing.
FAQs
Harissa is a chili pepper paste that has a spicy, slightly smoky, and lemony flavor. It is typically mixed with tomato paste and spices as well.
When eaten straight, harissa can be very spicy. However, it is usually cooked in with a dish or mixed into a sauce which tames down the spice. Most store-bought varieties aren't too spicy to begin with.
Any chili paste such as chipotle paste or chili garlic sambal will work as an alternative, though you will miss some of harissa's subtle lemon flavors. Sometimes I will mix tomato paste with some red pepper flakes, cumin, and lemon juice for a quick faux harissa.
Similar Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Harissa Dressing
Nutrition
Ingredients
- 2 cloves garlic (grated)
- ¼ cup red wine vinegar
- ¼ cup honey
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp harissa (or more depending on spice level)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
Instructions
- Take a big bowl and put in the garlic, red wine vinegar, honey, olive oil, harissa, salt, black pepper, and paprika. Mix them together really well using a whisk until everything is blended nicely.
- Use the mixture immediately on a salad or store it in a jar for later. Just give it a good shake before using it again.
Notes
Did you make harissa dressing? Rate the recipe above!
Follow Redwood Kitchen on social media!
If you like this recipe be sure to comment or subscribe below.
Food Safety
- Cook meat to a minimum temperature of 165 °F (74 °C)
- Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
- Wash hands after touching raw meat
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Leave a Reply