Batata Harra, or Lebanese Spicy Potatoes, is a must-try dish. It features golden potatoes tossed in a fragrant blend of spices, garlic, herbs, and a kick of heat that elevates it from a simple side dish to a true star of the table. a When it comes to comfort food, potatoes are a staple worldwide, they’re always obssessed over in any shape, way or form. From mashed potatoes to French fries, the humble potato has won the hearts of foodies everywhere. But if you’re looking to add a spicy, zesty twist to your rotations, look no further than Batata Harra.
You can serve batata harra with plenty of other dishes and have it be part of a mezze. Serve it with Baba Ghanoush, Yemeni Foul, and Falafel for a perfect breakfast. If you love dishes with flavorful potatoes, try my Middle Eastern Garlic Lemon Chicken.
What is Batata Harra?
The name batata harra translates directly to “spicy potatoes” in Arabic. This dish comes from Lebanon but is beloved across the Middle East. It combines crispy, golden potatoes with garlic, shatta (the Arab chili paste or sambal) , and fresh cilantro or parsley, making it a perfect blend of textures and flavors. While it’s often enjoyed as a side dish, it’s so tasty that it can easily stand on its own as a light vegetarian main dish or part of a mezze spread. And the best part? It’s surprisingly simple to make at home.
Ingredients of Lebanese Spicy Potatoes aka Batata Harra:
- Baby Potatoes: Best potatoes to use are baby potatoes, but you can use any you have available.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil enhances the flavors of the garlic, and crisps up the potatoes.
- Garlic Cloves: Garlic cloves and potatoes are the base of the dish. It adds the perfect and aromatic flavor in batata harra. It is ESSENTIAL. Please do not substitute it with anything else.
- Salt: Salt helps to bring out the natural flavors of potatoes. It is an essential seasoning that balances the flavors in the dish.
- 7 Spice: Itt is a traditional Middle Eastern spice blend that gives great overall seasoning to the dish. These bring warmth in the traditional dishes and enhance overall taste. You can substitute it for black pepper, coriander, all spice, pinch of cardamom, cloves, cinnamon and cumin. Just buy the store-bought stuff- it’s great and convenient.
- Ground Cumin: Cumin adds earthy and nutty flavor to the potatoes. Add more if you like the flavor to be more pronounced.
- Aleppo Pepper: Aleppo pepper is milder than other types. It has the fruity undertone that enhances the flavors of Middle Eastern dishes. You can use cayenne for more spicy flavor.
- Shatta: Arab chili paste that gives Batata Harra signature heat. It balances all the flavors and taste of potatoes. It’s vinegar-y, spicy, and a little salty.
Instructions to Make Batata Harra
Batata Harra is a dish that brings together simple ingredients to create something truly special. Its warmth, spice, and brightness make it comforting yet invigorating—perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special gathering with friends and family, or even as a snack. Once you try this Lebanese staple, you’ll likely find yourself craving it all the time. Bring the tastes of Lebnan and the Levant to your kitchen and get to making this Lebanese spicy potatoes dish. This is how you need to make it:
Boil the Potatoes
- The first step is to boil the potatoes. Chop them up into small cubes or quarters (if you’re using baby potatoes)
- Take a large pot and fill it with water. Let it boil on high heat. Meantime you need to wash and quarter-cut the baby potatoes.
- Add the cut potatoes and cook until fully tender. You can check by using a fork and break the potato. It will take around 10 to 12 minutes for potatoes to be fully tender.
- Drain the water and set potatoes aside.
- Transfer the potatoes to an air fryer or to a baking sheet and air fry or bake until crispy.
Sauté the Garlic
- To a pan, add the olive oil on medium high heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté. Ensure that the garlic changes its color to golden and becomes fragrant. It will take around 2-3 minutes.
Season the Potatoes
- Add your crispy potatoes to the sautéed garlic. Toss in the seven spices along with shatta, Aleppo pepper, cumin and salt. Ensure to give all the ingredients a good mix.
- Mix until potatoes have a nice coating of spices. Let the potatoes and spices cook at medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. It will help all the flavors to meld together. Taste the spice level and balance it if you need it according to your taste.
Serve:
Batata harra needs a good squeeze of lemon juice before serving, along with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley. It balances all the flavors and adds brightness.
Pro Tips
- Be sure to pat dry the potatoes after boiling or air dry them for a few minutes. It will ensure the perfect crisp even after cooking with garlic and spices.
- You can adjust the level of heat in Batata harra by using less or more pepper and Shatta.
- Be careful while garlic sauté step as it can burn quickly. Make sure it is in golden color, not brown. It will taste bitter if it turns brown.
- If you’re using russet potatoes or golden potatoes, it’s best to peel them. I find that baby potatoes are fine to keep the skins on.
Storage Tips
Realistically, you can prepare it ahead of time and freeze it. If you freeze it, you need to let it thaw. Then pop it into the air-fryer or oven and air fry or bake until crispy.
Some More Delicious Recipes You Might Wanna Try:
Sfeeha, Middle Eastern Meat Pies
Shishtawook- Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs
If you’ve tried this recipe, don’t forget to rate it and leave a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience. You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Tiktok and YouTube.
Batata Harra (Lebanese Spicy Potatoes)
Ingredients
- 1 lb baby potatoes washed and quartered
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp salt
- ¾ tsp 7 spices
- ½ tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp Aleppo pepper or to taste
- 1 ½ tbsp shatta Middle Eastern Chili Paste
- lemon wedges for serving
- ¼ cup cilantro or parsley finely chopped
Instructions
- First, boil the potatoes. Peel and chop them up into small cubes or quarters (if you’re using baby potatoes)
- Take a large pot and fill it with water. Let it boil on high heat.
- Add the cut potatoes and cook until fully tender. You can check by using a fork and break the potato. This will take around 10 to 12 minutes.
- Drain the water and set potatoes aside.
- Transfer the potatoes to an air fryer or to a baking sheet and air fry or bake until crispy. If you’re using the oven, bake them at 450F for 10 minutes. If you’re using the air fryer, air fry at 400 for 5-8 minutes.
- Meanwhile, to a pan, add the olive oil on medium high heat.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté. Ensure that the garlic changes its color to golden and becomes fragrant. It will take around 2-3 minutes.
- Add your crispy potatoes to the sautéed garlic.
- Toss in the seven spices along with shatta, Aleppo pepper, cumin and salt. Ensure to give all the ingredients a good mix.
- Mix until potatoes have a nice coating of spices. Let the potatoes and spices cook at medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes. It will help all the flavors to meld together. Taste the spice level and balance it if you need it according to your taste.
Serve:
- Batata harra needs a good squeeze of lemon juice before serving, along with freshly chopped cilantro or parsley. It balances all the flavors and adds brightness.
Notes
- Be sure to pat dry the potatoes after boiling or air dry them for a few minutes. It will ensure the perfect crisp even after cooking with garlic and spices.
- You can adjust the level of heat in Batata harra by using less or more pepper and Shatta.
- Be careful while garlic sauté step as it can burn quickly. Make sure it is in golden color, not brown. It will taste bitter if it turns brown.
- If you’re using russet potatoes or golden potatoes, it’s best to peel them. I find that baby potatoes are fine to keep the skins on.
- Bake or air fry the potatoes after boiling them to ensure they’re crispy. If you prefer, you can drain them, and add them to the garlic along with more oil to crisp up instead.
2 Responses
The best batata harra recipe hands-down! I adjust the shatta added to taste, as my kids don’t like them too spicy. Love that its easy, and a great side to any meal.
Made these for a get together and everyone loved them! The garlic oil in the end makes the potatoes so flavorful- its the perfect side dish for chicken thighs!