30-Minute Harissa Pasta

Harissa pasta is the perfect weeknight meal. I love a dinner that comes together in under 30 minutes but doesn’t disappoint on flavor.

The best thing about this harissa pasta recipe is it’s the perfect balance of spice, creaminess, and fresh herbs. The harissa adds the heat which you can really customize depending how you like it. The burrata brings the creaminess, and the basil brings that fresh brightness to the dish.

Top it off with my favorite toasted pine nuts and enjoy this glossy, spicy, delicious meal that’s nearly impossible to stop eating!

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Ingredients & Substitutions for this Harissa Pasta

• Pasta. You can really use whatever pasta is your favorite! I got some fresh pasta from a local brand by me (which was amazing to use fresh pasta!) but use whatever pasta you have on hand! Any size or shape really works with this recipe!
• Olive Oil. I think olive oil is best for the flavors in the recipe, but if you’re in a pinch, avocado oil, refined coconut oil, or even butter would work too!
• Onion. I always go for a sweet onion. Cut it into slices and then cut the slices in half. Longer, large pieces are my favorite for this recipe because they reduce down and caramelize.
• Garlic. Always garlic.
• Cherry Tomatoes. I love the juicy burst of cherry tomatoes. They’re sweet and adorable. Plus, have fun playing around with different varieties of tomatoes!
• Harissa Paste. This is why you’re here, no? The spice! The heat! The deliciously smoky depth. Grab yourself some harissa paste and let’s get pasta-ing! Check out below to see how you can make it more or less spicy.
• Agave Nectar. I felt like among the heat and the creamy cheese of this dish we needed a touch of sweetness. I added just a tablespoon of agave nectar, you can always use honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar, or even white sugar!
• Salt. Bring the salt!
• Burrata Cheese. I feel like once you have burrata, it’s hard to go bak to other cheeses. It’s just so delightfully creamy and adds the perfect balance to the harissa spice.
• Pine Nuts. Because we need some toasty flavor and some nutty texture, pine nuts are just always a good idea. Can you sub in another toasty nut? Yes. But because you landed on this specific website, I must insist on pine nuts.
• Basil. Ahh fresh basil is just so delish. Not only will it add some freshness to this dish, it also adds a beautiful color to balance the red harissa.

Spice it ip (or not)!

Harissa can be really spicy! The heat also depends on the brand of harissa you use. Generally, this is a good rule of thumb and you can adjust this recipe depending how spicy you like it.

Super Mild. Use 1 teaspoon of harissa paste. It will add bit of heat but not too much.

Mild. Bump up the heat just a bit more but still keep it pretty mild. Use 1 tablespoon harissa paste.

Medium. Want a bit more spice but not too much? Use 2 tablespoons harissa paste.

Hot. Like it fiery? Use 3+ tablespoons harissa paste.

How to Make Harissa Pasta

1. Toast the pine nuts. Add the pine nuts to a pan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently for 5 minutes until the nuts are golden brown. Remove from the heat, transfer the pine nuts into a small bowl and set aside. 
2. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta according to package directions. 
3. Caramelize the onions. Add the olive oil and onion to a pan over medium-high heat and cook for 15 minutes, stirring consistently until the onions reduce and turn golden brown.
4. Start the harissa sauce. Add the garlic, cherry tomatoes, harissa, agave, and salt to the pan. Cook, stirring frequently, for another 5 minutes until the cherries begin to burst. Use the back of your spatula to squash some tomatoes down a bit.
5. Save the pasta water!! Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
6. Combine it all! Add the pasta to the pan and pour the pasta water into the pan as your stir and coat the pasta with the sauce. 
7. Add the cheese and basil. Remove the pan from heat and stir in half of the burrata along with most of the basil. 
8. Plate and enjoy! Divide the pasta into four dishes, top with remaining burrata, toasted pine nuts, and basil.

How to Store Leftovers

Fridge. Save leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for about one week. Transfer to a bowl and reheat in the microwave until it reaches the desired temperature.

Freeze. You can also freeze for two months! Place in an airtight container in the freezer. To reheat, place it in the fridge to defrost for a few hours and reheat in the microwave until it reaches desired temp.