harissa
noun
ha·ris·sa hə-ˈri-sə 
: a spicy North African paste made from dried chilies, salt, oil, and other seasonings
Roast chicken slathered in fiery Moroccan harissa is served with a bright orange dollop of carrot purée …
Margot Dougherty
Margot Dougherty
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The heat of her homemade harissa and the cooling touch of her garlicy cream sauce are welcome additions. Staff Writer, AJC.com, 24 Feb. 2018 Merguez is a spicy Moroccan lamb sausage with harissa hot sauce, cooked with onions, red and green peppers, garlic and lemon. Linda Bladholm, miamiherald, 18 Jan. 2018 The veal is layered on a dish like carpaccio is, and is topped with the tuna aioli, olive oil, lemon juice, chili, and a bit of harissa. Julia Sayers, AL.com, 7 Feb. 2018
Staff Writer, AJC.com, 24 Feb. 2018 Merguez is a spicy Moroccan lamb sausage with harissa hot sauce, cooked with onions, red and green peppers, garlic and lemon. Linda Bladholm, miamiherald, 18 Jan. 2018 The veal is layered on a dish like carpaccio is, and is topped with the tuna aioli, olive oil, lemon juice, chili, and a bit of harissa. Julia Sayers, AL.com, 7 Feb. 2018 Word History
Etymology
borrowed from French & North African Arabic; French harissa, borrowed from North African Arabic harīsa "dish of ground meat and bulgur or couscous, paste made from chili peppers and spices," derivative of Arabic harasa "crush, bruise, pound"
First Known Use
1970, in the meaning defined above