Harissa is sold pre-made in tubes or cans at your local North African market. Unfortunately, not everyone is so lucky to have a North African market in their vicinity. No worries, you can also find it at import or specialty food stores like some locations of Whole Foods or Cost Plus, and it is also available over the internet. Conveniently, you can click here to buy all kinds of harissa and harissa products through our store, Shop the Good Life.

Adding harissa is a delightful spin on a traditional cranberry sauce base. If you have a lot of leftover cranberry sauce (preferably the kind with whole cranberry chunks) from Thanksgiving, this is an easy way to perk it up so you aren’t bored after your 6th round of turkey. Simply add a teaspoon of harissa paste per half cup of cranberry sauce you have left over, and stir. More or less can be added depending on taste.

Ingredients

• 1 cup (200 g) sugar
• 1 cup (255 mL) water
• 4 cups (1 12-oz package) fresh or frozen cranberries
• 2 teaspoons of harissa paste (more or less, depending on how spicy you like it)
• Optional: zest of orange peel, handful of golden raisins, teaspoon of cinnamon

Directions

1. In a saucepan stir together the water, sugar and harissa. Turn heat to medium high and bring to a boil.
2. Add cranberries, return to a boil.
3. Reduce heat, simmer for 10 minutes or until cranberries burst.
4. Remove from heat and cool. Cranberry sauce will thicken as it cools and can be stored in the refrigerator.

This should make about 2.5 cups.

Other uses for harissa: Makes an excellent condiment for roasted meats such as turkey, lamb, or pork. Try spreading it onto a bagel with cream cheese, or instead of mustard on a sandwich. Blend into mashed potatoes or spaghetti sauce for a subtle spice. Fold into dips to spice up your crudite. Harissa is versatile and has many more uses, I hope you will try it!

You can also try Harissa Cranberry Chutney at your local Le Pain Quotidien, it is served as a condiment to their curry chicken sandwich. They have many locations around Los Angeles.

LA: 8607 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, www.lepainquotidien.com