A recipe calls for harissa, but I don't want it because it's spicy. What can I use as a substitute?

Question

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harissa

I don't like spicy food.

Answer 1

You could go for less-spicy like curry or radish, but if you don't even like less spicy - a tiny bit of chopped cabbage or spaghetti sauce might synthesize the texture you need.

Answer 2

Mash cooked canned carrots, salt and smoked paprika. Maybe a few drops of lemon and a dash of cumin.

My kids eat this with crusty bread, but the color and taste works well as a substitute for harissa

Answer 3

Just omit it!  Or add crushed red pepper flakes to taste.

Answer 4

go for a really un-spicy form of small pepper or capsicum from an ethnic market. You will miss out on the flavor a good harissa will give to the recipe, but the closest would be a really tasty pepper (not a bell). You can make your own harissa using these peppers and the other spices etc in harissa (tells you what else on the Wiki site) like cumin etc. It just wont be as hot.