This is a lovely Roasted Red Pepper Harissa Style Pesto that is packed with flavor. This pesto is a wonderful appetizer that is perfect for any party or potluck.
Harissa is a Northwest African chile pepper paste that generally consists of roasted red peppers, chili peppers, tomato, garlic, coriander seeds, cumin seeds etc. I thought it would be fun to try it in a pesto form and I am really happy I did! I like to serve it with pita chips but it is also great with some crusty bread, veggie sticks or on crostini.
This pesto is fantastic with a chilled Cava or Prosecco.
Recipe: Approx. 2 Cups
- 1 Red Bell Pepper – roasted
- 1 Dried Ancho Chilies
- 3 Drie Arbol Chilies – optional (adds heat)
- ½ teaspoon coriander seeds
- ½ teaspoon cumin seeds
- 3/4 Cup Raw Almonds or Walnuts
- 1 Clove Garlic
- 1 Cup Manchego Cheese – finely shredded
- 1 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 Tablespoons Fresh Squeezed Lemon Juice
- 1 Tablespoon Tomato Paste – optional
- 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
Instructions:
Bell Pepper
Roast the peppers on top the stovetop burner over medium-high heat.
A gas stove works the best but it will work fine on an electric stove.
Char the peppers on all sides turning with a pair of tongs.
When good and charred, steam them for 10 minutes in a covered dish or a paper bag rolled shut to hold in the steam.
Take a paper towel and rub off the char.
It’s ok to leave a little of the char.
Slice in half and remove the seeds and stems.
Dice them and set aside.
Dried Chilies
In a medium-sized pan, add the dried chilies covered with water and bring to a boil.
Boil until the chilies are soft. (About 5 minutes)
Drain, cool and remove the stems and seeds.
Pesto
Add the coriander seeds, cumin seeds and almonds to a food processor and turn on until it resembles a fine crumb.
Add the softened chilies and puree.
Add in everything else and puree. Set aside.
Health Benefits:
Red Bell Peppers are matured green bell peppers and have more nutrition as they mature. They are super high in vitamin A which helps to support healthy eyesight, especially night vision and are extremely high in vitamin C, so much so they have twice as much as an orange which makes it really good for the skin. Red peppers are one of the highest veggies in lycopene and have been successfully tested in the prevention of many cancers. They have a good source of the antioxidant mineral manganese and B-complex and vitamin E. They help reduce ‘bad’ cholesterol, helps controls diabetes and helps reduce pain. They are also a good source of fiber, folate, vitamin K, molybdenum and manganese.
Jalapenos are a rich source of vitamin C, 1 pepper provides 18 % of the daily value for men and 23 % for women. They also have a good amount of vitamin A, which helps skin and eye health. Jalapenos contain phenols, flavonoids and capsaicinoids that help the body fight free radicals, inflammation and promote weight loss. The bioflavonoids are powerful antioxidants and help strengthen blood vessels. They also fight nasal congestion by stimulating secretions that help clear mucus from the nose. They contain more vitamin B6 aiding the immune system, E that protect the cells and K, which increases bone mass, than any other pepper.
