It’s easy enough to go in your regular rotation, but unique and special enough to impress guests with. The next time you’re looking for a culinary journey, take your taste buds to the lands of North Africa… Lately, we have really been getting into the harissa craze. We just can’t get enough of that bold, unique flavor. First we made our own Harissa Paste. Then we baked up an amazing one pot Harissa Chicken dinner. Having recently gotten a new cazuela, I wanted something special to cook in it. That’s when I started dreaming about harissa shrimp…
What is Harissa
Harissa is a chili pepper paste from North Africa, which can range from quite mild to super spicy. Whatever the spice level, Harissa has a complex flavor, combining the flavor of peppers with smoky, sweet, and tangy. Recently it has started gaining popularity in the west, so much so that jarred harissa is readily available in many supermarkets. It can be used in a variety of ways. We love it as a marinade, as well as an add in for sauces, like in this recipe.
Ingredients
Shrimp – We like jumbo shrimp for this recipe.Harissa paste – You can use store bought. Just make sure to get a good brand, and choose a spice level appropriate to your palate. Or you can make my Homemade Harissa, which only takes about 10 minutes, and is made from ingredients you can find in the ethnic section of most supermarkets.Cherry tomatoes and tomato pasteHoneyOnionsGarlicParsley
How to Make Harissa Shrimp
Start by cooking the cherry tomatoes and onions in olive oil. Sauté for about 10 minutes, till they start to soften up. Add the garlic and cook for 2-3 minutes, till it gets a little fragrant. Add in harissa paste, tomato paste and honey. Mix well. Simmer until the sauce thickens up and the oil begins to separate, at least 15 minutes. Stir in the shrimp and parsley. Cook for a few minutes, until the shrimp are just cooked through. Taste and adjust for salt.
How to Serve Harissa Shrimp
We love it with some nice bread, like our No Knead Bread. It’s also great over white rice, or Moroccan couscous. We can see it going well tossed in pasta, or over a pile of grits. Hmm, harissa shrimp and grits. That sounds like a potential upcoming post…
Leftovers and Storage
You can refrigerate leftover harissa shrimp in an airtight container for 2-3 days. When reheating, you may wish to add in a little extra water. This can also be frozen in an airtight container. Use within two months for best quality. Put this super flavorful harissa shrimp skillet on your menu for the upcoming week. It’s so easy, yet the flavors are out of this world delicious. It has definitely become one of our favorite harissa recipes. There are so many varied foods to try in the world. Bringing those dishes to your kitchen is what GypsyPlate is all about. Join us on this culinary journey by subscribing to our newsletter. We’re always cooking up interesting new recipes for you. Until next time…
Harissa Shrimp, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!
Try these other great shrimp recipes!Shrimp Creole with SausageIndian Shrimp Korma Blackened Shrimp and GritsShrimp fra DiavoloTacos GobernadorSpanish Garlic ShrimpHunan Shrimp It’s easy enough to go in your weeknight dinner rotation, but unique and special enough to impress guests with.
