Flip happy Harissa

THROUGHOUT MUCH OF NORTHERN AFRICA, harissa is a table sauce applied liberally to everything from flatbread to scrambled eggs. In its use of chile flakes, this harissa recipe, inspired by Fliphappy Crêpes, compares favorably to a wide range of hot sauces, including the chile oils of China and Korea.

MAKES ABOUT ½ CUP

3 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
½ teaspoon smoked paprika
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon granulated sugar
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
½ cup olive oil

1. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil in a small saucepan over high heat. Add the red pepper flakes and turn off the heat. Let the pepper flakes soak for 30 minutes, then drain them, discarding the liquid.
2. Place the soaked pepper flakes, garlic, paprika, wine vinegar, salt, sugar, and black pepper in a blender and puree. With the motor running, add the olive oil in a steady stream. This fireball of a sauce can be refrigerated, covered, for up to 1 week.