This spicy, smoky, and creamy Harissa Aioli adds bold flavor to everything from sandwiches to roasted vegetables to wraps. And, you can make it in minutes.
If there is one lesson I could pass on to you from my 10+ years as a personal chef, it’s that sauces, dips, spreads, and dressings are the keys to taking a meal from good to “OMG what is in that?!”.
Aiolis are one of my go-to condiments that make all the difference. I make them from scratch, like in this Truffle Aioli recipe, but I also love a shortcut aioli like this Horseradish Aioli that starts with a base of store-bought mayonnaise.
But even though it’s easy, this recipe has bold flavor. Unlike a lot of simplistic harissa aioli recipes out there, mine adds more spices and aromatics to give you a richer, deeper taste.
Jump to:
Why Make This Recipe
- So easy: Just stir everything together—no cooking required.
- DIY spice level: Use more or less harissa paste to suit your spice tolerance.
- So versatile: Perfect as a sandwich spread, dip for fries, or sauce for seafood, grilled meats, or roasted veggies.
- Bold flavor: Spices and lemon juice complement the smoky harissa heat beautifully.
🥗 Ingredients
- Mayonnaise: I prefer Hellman’s or Duke’s, but use your favorite brand. Full-fat preferred. Since this is the main ingredient in the recipe, you want to make sure you have a creamy and smooth aioli.
- Harissa Paste: This can vary quite a bit in spice level and flavor depending on the brand. Start with a small amount if you’re unfamiliar with it, and add more to taste.
- Lemon: The combination of both lemon juice and zest adds to this recipe, so I definitely recommend starting with an actual lemon rather than bottled lemon juice. Use lime juice and zest as an alternative.
- Spices: I’m using paprika, onion powder, and cumin in this recipe. If you don’t have a garlic clove, you could add in some garlic powder as well. And try using smoked paprika instead of regular paprika to double-down on the smoky flavor in the harissa.
🥣 Step-by-Step Instructions
Zest half a lemon and juice it.
Add 1 cup mayonnaise to a medium bowl. Using a microplane grater, grate one garlic clove into the bowl. Stir in 1 ½ tablespoons harissa paste, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, ½ teaspoon lemon zest, ½ teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, and ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper.
Stir until well-combined. Add additional lemon juice and/or harissa to taste.
Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with a swirl of harissa. Let chill for 30 minutes before serving, for best flavor.
Storage Tips
Store this spicy aioli in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
🧐 Recipe FAQs for Harissa Aioli
Harissa is a North African chili paste typically made from dried red chili peppers, garlic, olive oil, and spices like cumin, coriander seeds, and caraway seed. It adds smokiness and spice to a dish.
Yes! Just substitute vegan mayo for the regular mayonnaise.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
If you’re not sure how spicy your harissa paste is, start with less and add more to taste. And keep in mind that the flavors will continue to meld after all the ingredients are stirred together. You want a delicious kick that won’t set your mouth on fire.
This recipe is great for make-ahead, since the dip will taste even better after it has sat in the refrigerator for a few hours.
Looking for serving ideas? Use this harissa mayo to top burgers, or spread it on a wrap or a sandwich. I love it as a dip for these Turkey Zucchini Meatballs or these Sautéed Crab Cakes. You can also spread it on fish fillets before baking, and it will keep the fish moist and flavorful. And of course, this harissa dip is perfect for French fries, roasted potatoes, chicken fingers, or sweet potato fries.
Other Aioli Recipes
Once you’ve tried one, you’ll want to try other flavor versions. There’s no better way to add something special to a favorite meal. Start with these:
If you try this easy Harissa Aioli recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to me.
And please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter. I’d love to inspire you with more delicious, healthy, and seasonal recipes!
📖 Recipe
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Spicy Harissa Aioli with Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1 garlic clove
- 1 ½ tablespoons harissa paste
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Add mayonnaise to a medium bowl.
- Using a microplane grater, grate one garlic clove into the bowl.
- Stir in harissa paste, lemon juice, lemon zest, paprika, onion powder, cumin, kosher salt, and pepper.
- Add additional lemon juice and/or harissa to taste.
- Transfer to a serving bowl, and garnish with a swirl of harissa.
- Let chill for 30 minutes before serving, for best flavor.
Notes
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this harissa mayo recipe, tag me @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because I’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
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