Harissa

(Not to be confused with harisa – the sugar-syrup-soaked semolina cake popular all over the Middle East!) We use this spicy North African chilli paste as an alternative to shatta if we don’t have a batch ready-made. Rose harissa (we like the one produced by Belazu) is what we tend to use: the addition of the rose petals softens and sweetens the kick from the chilli.