Any Harissa Fans?

I was thinking of making up some more harissa. I don't like the commercial ones that use cayenne as much as a recipe I have that uses arbol, guajillo and ancho that you can blend to make something with just the right amount of heat. SWMBO has a much lower heat threshold than I do on things like this and I also prefer not to eat things that have too much heat for you to be able to appreciate the other components of dish. There is also a version that adds rose petals that adds a nice element.

It keeps pretty well in the fridge after mixing, but I have never tried freezing any. Has anyone had any experience with that?

I love harissa. Never tried freezing it, though. I would expect it to work, except that it might be a bit watery right after thawing out. But stirring it should restore the consistency. And, based on my experience with freezing raw chiles, I'd use it right away once defrosted.

-Paul W.

Hmm - might be a candidate for the ice tray method - freeze small lots up in ie trays and once frozen, wrap each one in plastic wrap to prevent too fast desiccation and put them in a sealed bag in the freezer, thawing only what you will use immediately.

[Jenise]

I have liked harissa, but I don't think any two I've ever had (and I've only had a few) tasted alike so I don't have a real sense of what harissa is supposed to taste like. It seems to have as many faces as Mexican salsa. In fact, if you go in with those three chiles, Bill, your end result might be mistaken for same.

By coincidence, my grocery store today had tubes of organic harissa on their clearance end cap for only 49 cents. I also bought a couple of tubes of sundried tomatoes. Can't beat the price.

By coincidence, my grocery store today had tubes of organic harissa on their clearance end cap for only 49 cents. I also bought a couple of tubes of sundried tomatoes. Can't beat the price.

Food in Tubes! I now have a vision of you somewhere between astronauts eating space food and a painter mixing dribs and drabs on a palette.

Do you happen to wear hats and do you prefer a visor or a beret? ::space smile:: ::artist smile::

Don't think I'd want to eat directly from that tube of anchovy paste in my fridge.

Rarely wear a hat. If I'm gardening I'm wearing a sombrero, though. I'm prone to motion sickness, but I'm a painter. So perhaps a beret.

If I'm gardening I'm wearing a sombrero, though. I'm prone to motion sickness...

So, it doesn't have the little balls dangling from strings that wave around when you shake your head?

If I'm gardening I'm wearing a sombrero, though. I'm prone to motion sickness...

So, it doesn't have the little balls dangling from strings that wave around when you shake your head?

No, but I did consider moving to Australia once upon a time. Figure that out.

I've been meaning to try a Vietnamese nón lá ("leaf hat"). They're pretty cheap at the local Asian market. I figure those farmers know how to block the sun.