AI-generated image
Batata harra
Batata harra: Lebanese spicy potatoes with garlic, chilli and coriander
Batata harra, meaning hot potatoes, is a staple of the hot mezze in Beirut restaurants and at home: crisp cubes of potato tossed while still sizzling in garlic, chilli and a heap of fresh coriander, then squeezed with lemon. Expect it next to falafel and hummus at a Sunday spread or as a side for grilled vegetables on a summer evening. This home version roasts the potatoes instead of deep-frying them, which gives the same golden crunch with much less oil. People often add the garlic and coriander too early, so the garlic burns and turns bitter; they go in only for the last minute in the pan. Chef's tip: parboil the cubes and shake them in the colander until their edges look fluffy, because those rough edges are what turn crisp in the oven.
- Total time
- 45 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 425°F (400°F fan). Put 2 lb potatoes in a pan of cold water with a little salt, bring to the boil over a high heat and simmer for 4 minutes, until the edges just start to soften.
8 minStep 2: Drain well, then shake the colander hard so the edges rough up. Leave to steam dry for 2 minutes.
2 minStep 3: Toss the potatoes on a large baking tray with 2 ½ tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp salt, spreading them out in one layer with space between them. The most common mistake is crowding the tray: crowded potatoes steam instead of browning.
Step 4: Roast for 25–30 minutes, turning once halfway, until deep golden and crisp on several sides and they rattle when you shake the tray.
28 minStep 5: Just before they are ready, warm the rest of 1 ½ tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-low heat. Add 5 garlic cloves, 1 fresh red chilli, 1 tsp Aleppo pepper or chilli flakes and 1 tsp ground coriander and stir for about 1 minute, until the garlic smells sweet and turns pale gold, not brown.
1 minStep 6: Tip the hot potatoes into the pan, add 1 oz fresh coriander and toss for 30 seconds until coated and the coriander just wilts. Squeeze over 2 tbsp lemon juice, toss again and serve at once.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 270 kcal
- Protein
- 4 g
- Carbs
- 36 g
- Fat
- 13 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does batata harra take?
- About 45 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 35 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
- Is it very spicy?
- It has some heat. Use less chilli for a milder version, or more if you like it hot.
- What can I use instead of potatoes?
- Sweet potato, same weight (sweeter, cooks a little faster).
- What can I use instead of garlic cloves?
- ½ tsp garlic paste or ⅛ tsp garlic powder per clove.
Reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to cook it.
Rate this recipe
Sign in to rate and review this recipe.
You might also like
Coastal Mombasa mix
A Mombasa street-food bowl: chickpeas and potato simmered in coconut milk with raw mango and chilli, ladled into small bowls and topped with crisp lentil fritters, crunchy chevdo and red, green and tamarind chutneys. Make the fritters and chevdo ahead and assemble at the table. It's sweet, sour, hot and crunchy all at once.
Okonomiyaki
Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, 'grilled as you like it') is the pride of Osaka, where it's cooked on hot iron griddles in lively restaurants. Finely shredded cabbage is folded into a light batter with egg and spring onion, then fried into a thick, soft pancake with a crisp outside. It's painted with a fruity brown sauce and zigzagged with mayonnaise. Bonito flakes are usual on top; this vegetarian version uses seaweed flakes and pickled ginger instead. Chef's tip: don't press the pancake down with your spatula while it cooks. Osaka cooks leave it alone so the cabbage steams inside and stays light and fluffy; pressing squeezes out the air.
Masala khakhra
Khakhra are thin chapaties roasted slowly on a griddle until they turn crisp, like a cracker. This masala version adds gram flour, fresh fenugreek, turmeric and chilli to the wheat dough. They are a light Gujarati breakfast or tea-time snack, and lovely with pickle, chutney or a smear of butter. You can also make them in a roti maker.




