The Perfect Lebanese Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra) Recipe

Batata harra electrifies taste buds with its fiery Mediterranean zest and vibrant flavor profile.

These incredible potatoes bring sizzling warmth to any dining experience with their bold seasoning.

Crispy exterior and soft inner texture create an irresistible contrast that reimagines ordinary side dishes into extraordinary culinary moments.

Rich spices dance across golden potato chunks, promising an intense gustatory adventure that tingles the senses.

Cultural traditions merge with bold ingredients, crafting a dish that speaks volumes about lebanese kitchen creativity.

Passionate home cooks adore this recipe for its straightforward preparation and stunning results.

Intense flavors and aromatic spices guarantee a memorable meal that will have everyone asking for seconds.

Lebanese Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra) Are Crispy, Zesty, and Addictive

• Spice Up Your Potato Game: Batata Harra brings an explosive flavor punch with its fiery red pepper and aromatic garlic, transforming ordinary potatoes into a mouthwatering Lebanese street food sensation.
• Quick and Easy Culinary Adventure: This recipe requires minimal prep time (just 10 minutes), simple ingredients, and straightforward cooking techniques, making it perfect for home cooks of all skill levels who want to explore vibrant Middle Eastern cuisine.
• Crispy Texture Meets Bold Flavors: Oven-roasted potatoes create an irresistible golden-brown crunch, while the sautéed garlic and cilantro add layers of zesty, herbaceous notes that dance on your taste buds with every bite.
• Versatile Party Pleaser: Serve as a stunning side dish, appetizer, or shared plate that instantly elevates any meal, bringing a touch of Lebanese culinary magic to your dining table with minimal effort and maximum flavor impact.

Ingredients for Classic Lebanese-Style Spicy Potatoes

Main Ingredients:

Potatoes: Gold potatoes with a creamy texture, perfect for crispy edges and soft centers, choose firm and fresh potatoes without sprouts or green spots.

Olive Oil: High-quality extra virgin olive oil for authentic Mediterranean flavor and crisp potato cooking, provides rich taste and helps in browning.

Aromatic Ingredients:

Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves for intense, pungent flavor that complements the spicy profile, select firm and plump cloves without green sprouts.

Cilantro: Fresh, bright green cilantro leaves adding vibrant color and herbaceous taste, choose crisp leaves with no wilting.

Crushed Red Pepper: Spicy pepper flakes providing heat and depth to the dish, adjust quantity based on personal spice tolerance.

Seasoning Ingredients:

Salt: Enhances overall flavor and helps in potato seasoning, use kosher or sea salt for better taste.

Lemon: Fresh lemon wedges for bright, tangy finish that cuts through the spiciness, choose juicy, firm lemons.

How to Make Crispy Batata Harra with Bold Flavor

Step 1: Prepare Oven And Baking Sheet

Warm oven to 450°F. Cover baking sheet with parchment paper.

Step 2: Roast Potato Cubes

• Potato cubes
• Olive oil
• Salt

Spread potato cubes in single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle salt. Roast for 30 minutes, turning potatoes midway until golden and crispy.

Step 3: Create Flavor Base

• Olive oil
• Garlic (minced)
• Crushed red pepper
• Cilantro (chopped)

Heat olive oil in small pan over medium heat. Sauté garlic, crushed red pepper, and half cilantro for 2 minutes until garlic turns golden and releases aromatic scent.

Step 4: Combine And Season Potatoes

Transfer roasted potatoes to serving dish. Mix with garlic mixture, remaining cilantro, and additional crushed red pepper.

Step 5: Serve And Garnish

Plate hot potatoes. Optional: Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top before serving.

Tips for Tossing Potatoes in Garlic and Herbs

• Achieve Crispy Perfection: Spread potato cubes in a single layer without overcrowding to ensure even roasting and maximum crispiness.
• Control Spice Level: Adjust the amount of crushed red pepper to match your personal heat tolerance, adding more or less as desired.
• Boost Flavor Intensity: Toast the red pepper flakes briefly in the oil before adding garlic to release deeper, more complex spicy notes.
• Maximize Herb Freshness: Reserve some fresh cilantro as a final garnish to add bright, vibrant flavor and color right before serving.
• Enhance Texture Balance: Pat potato cubes dry before roasting to remove excess moisture, guaranteeing a crunchier exterior and fluffy interior.

How to Keep Batata Harra Fresh and Reheat with Crunch

• Refrigerate: Transfer cooled potatoes to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheat in Oven: Spread potatoes on a baking sheet, sprinkle with a little olive oil, and warm at 375°F for 10-12 minutes until crispy and heated through.
• Microwave Option: Place potatoes on a microwave-safe plate, cover loosely, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.

Pairing Ideas for This Middle Eastern Potato Dish

• Pair with Zesty Lebanese White Wine: A crisp, acidic Lebanese white wine like Château Musar White perfectly complements the spicy, garlicky potatoes and cuts through their richness.
• Match with Cool Yogurt Dip: Prepare a simple cucumber-mint yogurt sauce to balance the heat and provide a creamy, refreshing counterpoint to the spicy potatoes.
• Serve Alongside Fresh Tabbouleh Salad: The bright, herbaceous tabbouleh with its lemony parsley and mint will enhance the bold flavors of the Batata Harra and provide a light, fresh texture contrast.
• Recommended Protein Pairing: Grilled chicken or lamb kebabs work wonderfully with these spicy potatoes, creating a complete Middle Eastern-style meal with complementary flavors and textures.

Variations That Bring the Heat or Cool It Down

• Herbal Fusion: Swap cilantro with fresh parsley and add rosemary for an aromatic Mediterranean herb blend that elevates the potato's flavor profile.
• Cheesy Kick: Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese over the roasted potatoes right before serving, adding a tangy and creamy dimension to the spicy Lebanese classic.
• Smoky Mediterranean: Replace crushed red pepper with smoked paprika and add a touch of cumin for a deep, rich flavor that transports your taste buds to the Middle Eastern coastline.
• Garlic Lover's Dream: Double the garlic quantity and roast whole garlic cloves alongside the potatoes, creating a more intense and robust garlic experience that complements the spicy notes.

Lebanese Spicy Potatoes (Batata Harra) Recipe

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4.9 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Batata harra brings spicy Lebanese potato magic straight from Beirut’s streets to your kitchen. Crispy potato cubes dance with red pepper, garlic, and cilantro, delivering a zesty Mediterranean experience you’ll want to savor again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 8 medium gold potatoes (peeled and cubed)
• 1 cup chopped cilantro
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)

Spices and Seasonings:

• 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
• ½ teaspoon salt

Cooking Liquids:

• 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
• Lemon wedges for serving

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Instructions

1. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper and heat the oven to a high temperature of 450°F, creating an ideal environment for crispy potato roasting.
2. Distribute potato cubes evenly across the baking sheet, ensuring each piece has space to crisp. Coat lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt for enhanced flavor and browning.
3. Roast the potatoes for approximately 30 minutes, carefully rotating them midway to guarantee uniform golden crispiness and even cooking throughout.
4. While potatoes are roasting, craft a vibrant aromatic mixture by gently sautéing minced garlic, crushed red pepper, and a portion of fresh cilantro in olive oil until the garlic develops a golden, fragrant quality.
5. Transfer the perfectly roasted potatoes to a serving dish, then generously coat them with the warm, spicy garlic herb mixture, incorporating the remaining cilantro and additional crushed red pepper.
6. Present the Batata Harra immediately while hot, optionally enhancing the dish with a bright, zesty squeeze of fresh lemon juice to elevate the complex flavor profile.

Notes

• Fiery Lebanese street food favorite that transforms simple potatoes into a mouthwatering spicy sensation.
• Crispy roasted potato cubes get tossed in a zesty garlic and cilantro blend that’ll make your taste buds dance.
• Perfect as a bold side dish or appetizer that brings authentic Middle Eastern flavor straight to your dinner table.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Lebanese

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 200
• Sugar: 1 g
• Sodium: 125 mg
• Fat: 7 g
• Saturated Fat: 1 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 34 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 0 mg