Lebanese Spicy Potatoes Batata Harra

Step 1

Cut the potatoes into small or medium potato cubes (depending on how crispy you like them).A good tip is to place your chopping board over a large bowl/pot filled with water. As you chop the potatoes, you can scrape them straight into the water so they don't oxidize and change color.

Step 2

Rinse them well to get rid of the excess starch. I like to add them to a large pot with plenty of water and swish them around then drain and repeat the process once more.Note* If you want super crispy potatoes and to get rid of as much starch as possible then you can soak the potatoes in hot water for 10-15 minutes.

Step 3

Dry them thoroughly, using a clean towel to get rid of any water. It's important to thoroughly dry them, otherwise, they won't crisp up in the oven.

Step 4

At this point, preheat the oven to 350ºF/175ºC. The air fryer method is mentioned below.

Step 5

Spread the potato in a single layer, with a little space between for air-flow, on a baking tray/s and drizzle with a little olive oil and add a sprinkle of salt, then toss lightly to thoroughly coat the spuds.Note* If you want to add smoked paprika to the recipe then sprinkle some over the potatoes at this point, before they're baked in the oven.

Step 6

Roast the potatoes in a pre-heated oven at 350ºF/175ºC for about 25 minutes (check on them after 20 minutes).To cook in the air fryer: spread the potato in a single layer, with space in between, and cook at 400ºF/200ºC for around 20 minutes, flipping over halfway.

Step 7

Meanwhile, in the last 10 minutes of the potato roasting time, finely slice the cilantro and chili (removing the stem and seeds) and crush/mince the garlic.

Step 8

In a skillet, lightly saute the garlic for a couple of minutes over medium heat with a little olive oil then add the chili and lemon juice and saute for a further minute before finally adding the cilantro and stirring it in well until just wilted. The entire thing takes just five minutes!At the last moment, sprinkle some salt over the sauteed mixture and mix in well, tasting and increasing if needed.

Step 9

Once the potato is ready, add it to the sauteed mixture and mix well then serve immediately.

Step 10

You can alternatively serve the batata harra as a fresh salad by preparing the coriander, chili, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, and salt and tossing the salad well. Then simply add the roasted potatoes to the salad bowl and toss to combine.