A homemade harissa spice mix recipe that deserves a spot in your pantry. With a multitude of uses, this complex spice blend just needs one taste to become a crowd favorite.

A white plate with a heaping spoon of brown ground spices, likely a harissa seasoning blend, is placed on a textured black plate. A striped cloth is partially visible at the bottom left corner.

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The one thing you need to know about me and my recipes is I love big bold flavors. If you decide you love this harissa powder then be sure to check out my Cajun spice blend, it has a cult following.

📖Why My Recipe Works

You don't need whole dried chilis to make homemade harissa spice. My version combines ingredients you already have in your spice cabinet for a flavor that is a 10/10.

Frankly, if you have dried chiles on hand you can just make harissa paste in minutes!

Two plates each containing different spices. Top plate: cumin seeds, coriander seeds, caraway seeds, salt. Bottom plate: smoked paprika, sweet paprika, red pepper flakes, garlic powder—all essential for creating flavorful harissa seasoning.

🧾Ingredient Notes

Chile Pepper Flakes- Any type of crushed red pepper works. Try Aleppo pepper for a fiery kick.
Paprika- I use plain paprika but you can use chili powder if you reduce the smoked paprika, cumin, and garlic powder a tad.
Smoked Paprika- This ingredient is a must, it adds a lovely level of smokiness.
Kosher Salt- Salt is optional.

💭 Can I use dried hot chili peppers in this blend?

Yes, you can use whole dried peppers in this spice recipe.

Grind up 1.5 ounces of dried chiles de arbol (15 to 20) and 1 ounce of dried guajillo chiles (2 to 3) in place of the paprika and the crushed red pepper flakes.

⏲️How to Make Homemade Harissa Seasoning

The whole spices should be toasted before grinding them up. Use a dry pan over a medium-low heat. Gently shake the pan to keep the spices moving. This prevents them from burning. They will begin to smell fragrant.

A stainless steel frying pan with cumin and coriander seeds is next to a plate with small piles of various ground spices, including harissa seasoning.

Then it is time to grind them up. My preference is to use a spice grinder for this.

A top-down view of a metal container filled with brown sugar on a light beige surface, beside a white cloth with gray stripes and a hint of harissa seasoning.

🥗What to Use Harissa Powder

You can use your homemade spice as a dry rub for BBQ chicken or smoked baby back ribs. Sprinkle on veggies before roasting or over fries.

Try it on duck fat popcorn for a heck of a kick. Add harissa to your favorite chili, mix it into burgers, and sprinkle it on fries, or even on poached eggs for breakfast.

Swap out the seasoning in my Cajun butter sauce to make a harissa butter. Or make a North African version of my spiced chicken wings.

And of course, you can use harissa powder to make harissa paste!

Harissa Paste Substitute

You can turn this harissa spice mix into harissa paste by adding olive oil and acid. And voila!

For this full recipe (which makes about ⅓ cup of harissa powder) add ¼ cup olive oil and 3 tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar. My preference is a mix of lemon juice and red wine vinegar, but you can use all one if needed. Mix until a paste forms.

Did you enjoy making this recipe? Show it some love with ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a comment! Hungry for more FLAVORFUL recipes?

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Common Recipe Questions

How do I make Harissa Powder spicier?

Want more kick? Add cayenne pepper or Kashmiri pepper in ¼ teaspoon increments to your desired level of kick.

How do I make Harissa Powder less spicy?

Did the seasoning end up with a little too much kick? No worries! Add 1 teaspoon of paprika at a time until you get to your ideal level of heat.

If you want to add sweetness try adding tomato powder.

Herman says

November 18, 2025 at 2:29 pm

So much easier than making paste. I just mixed with olive oil.