• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Paint The Kitchen Red
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
menu icon
go to homepage
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • HOME
  • RECIPES AND GUIDES
  • ABOUT
×
Home » Air Fryer

Batata Harra – Lebanese Spicy Potatoes

Published: Jun 2, 2023 | Updated: Aug 2, 2023 | Author: Paint the Kitchen Red

JUMP TO RECIPE
Potatoes with cilantro and text "batata harra absolute best lebanese potatoes.
Potatoes coated with cilantro sauce and collage of cooking stages with text
Black bowl with golden roasted potatoes coated with cilantro sauce

Batata harra is a classic Lebanese side dish that combines crispy potatoes with a blend of spices, garlic, red chilies, and cilantro for a delicious and satisfying appetizer or side dish. This Lebanese spicy potatoes recipe is sure to become a family favorite that you’ll make again and again!

Batata harra - Black bowl with golden roasted potatoes coated with cilantro sauce

Serve batatas harras (spicy potatoes) with chicken shawarma or peri peri chicken.

This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read the disclosure.

Table of Contents


  1. INTRODUCTION
  2. TIPS
  3. FAQS
  4. INGREDIENTS
  5. AIR FRYER STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS
  6. STOVETOP/OVEN DIRECTIONS
  7. RECIPE CARD – PRINTABLE
  8. RELATED RECIPES AND GUIDES

What is Batata Harra?

Batata Harra is a Lebanese spicy dish that’s popular in the Middle East and also found in Middle Eastern restaurants around the world. It’s made with roast potatoes tossed in a spicy garlic and cilantro sauce.

Batata harra in Arabic is translated as “spicy potatoes”. It’s typically served as a mezze or appetizer, and it’s a popular street food in Lebanon and other Middle Eastern countries.

Traditionally, you deep fry the potatoes until they’re crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. You then toss the potatoes in a spicy sauce made with garlic, fresh cilantro, and chili powder.

I prefer to make this spicy potato dish in the air fryer or in the oven, rather than frying them.

This batata harra recipe is very similar to my air fryer potatoes recipe, but with a tangy, delicious cilantro sauce.

These Middle Eastern spicy potatoes are a delicious accompaniment to any dish. Serve them with other Lebanese recipes such as green beans, shawarma, and falafel as part of a mezze platter.

Tips for Making Spicy Lebanese Potatoes


How to Prevent Sticking

Spray vegetable oil in the air fryer basket or baking sheet. This prevents the potatoes from sticking.

For the air fryer basket, you can either spray the oil on or apply it using a paper towel. Don’t use a nonstick oil spray in a can. Instead, use a spritzer that you can fill with vegetable oil.

It is also important to make sure that the potatoes are dried really well before applying the spices and oil.

You can take the added precaution of lining the basket with parchment paper rounds or aluminum foil. Poke a few holes in them to allow air to circulate.

Using your hands to apply the oil to the potatoes is the best way to get maximum coverage. Just be sure to wash your hands really well afterward!


Type of Potatoes

I prefer to use Yukon gold potatoes or baby potatoes for this recipe. Red potatoes would work well too. I find russet potatoes to be a bit too starchy.


Size of Potatoes

The potatoes should be cut into about the same size to ensure even cooking. If they’re different sizes, some of the pieces can get undercooked or overcooked. I cut the potatoes into 1-inch cubes.

You can use larger potatoes and cut them into cubes or you can use baby potatoes and cut them in half. If you want to leave the mini potatoes whole, you will probably need to increase the air frying time by a few minutes.


Spices

When roasting the potatoes, I usually use the same spices as my air fryer roasted potatoes recipe. Add ¼ teaspoon or more of cayenne pepper to the spice mix to make these Middle Eastern potatoes spicier.

If you like spicy food, you can also add crushed red pepper flakes (red chili flakes), harissa, or chopped chili peppers to the cilantro sauce.

Add a pinch of ground cumin or coriander to the potato spices if you like the taste of cumin and/or coriander. I like to keep things simple for this recipe, so I don’t include them.

For a deep garlic flavor, use more garlic cloves.

Some recipes for batata harra have tomato. If you like the flavor of tomatoes, add 1 tablespoon of tomato paste to the cilantro sauce and let it cook for about a minute.


FAQS


Are these potatoes spicy?

I add a combination of cayenne and paprika to this potatoes harra recipe, which makes it less spicy. If you like spicy foods, omit the paprika and add more cayenne pepper. Omit the cayenne and add more paprika to make it milder.

How is batata harra usually served?

Batata harra is typically served as a hot appetizer or side dish. You can pair it with another traditional Lebanese recipe such as hummus, baba ganoush, or tabbouleh.

Can this recipe be doubled?

You can double the recipe in the oven but if you’re using an air fryer you might need to make a second batch, in order not to crowd the basket.

Can this recipe be made ahead?

If you’re planning on making the batatas harras ahead of time, cook them slightly less. You can roast the potatoes and make the sauce ahead of time and keep them separate. Reheat the potatoes (for a few minutes at 350 degrees F) to crisp them up, add the sauce to the potatoes and toss to coat.

Is batata harra vegan?

Yes, this spicy Lebanese potato recipe is vegan since it doesn’t contain any animal products. It’s also gluten-free since it doesn’t contain wheat.

Batata Harra – Ingredients

Batata Harra Ingredients - potatoes, olive oil, salt, black pepper, cayenne onion powder, garlic powder, cilantro, lemon juice, paprika
  • Potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder
  • Fresh coriander (cilantro)
  • Lemon juice or lime juice
  • Paprika

More details in the recipe card at the bottom of this post

How to Make Batata Harra in your Air Fryer (Step-by-Step Instructions)

  • Apply spices and air fryer potatoes
  • Make the cilantro sauce and mix it with potatoes

Apply Spices and Make Roasted Potatoes

Collage with cooking stages of potatoes - bowl of potatoes, with spices, in air fryer, roasted
  1. Add potatoes to a mixing bowl.
  2. Mix salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix well with potatoes.
  3. Add the potatoes to the air fryer basket and air fry. Shake basket halfway through cooking process.
  4. Potatoes are done when a toothpick can easily be inserted. Transfer to a serving dish.

Make Cilantro Sauce and Mix with Potatoes

Collage of potatoes cooking stages - olive oil spiced, cilantro, potatoes topped with cilantro, potatoes stirred
  1. While the potatoes are cooking make the cilantro garlic sauce. In a small saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Turn down heat and add cayenne pepper and stir briefly.
  2. Stir in cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice or lime juice.
  3. Remove from heat and add garlic sauce to the reserved hot potatoes.
  4. Stir all ingredients together to make a delicious potato side dish.

How to Make Lebanese Batata Harra in Oven


Cook Potatoes in the Oven

  1. Season the potatoes with spices and olive oil.
  2. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat the aluminum foil with oil
  3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  4. Spread potatoes on the sheet pan in a single layer.
  5. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are crispy, golden brown in color, and cooked through.
  6. Transfer to a serving bowl.

Make Sauce on the Stovetop

  1. In a small saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Add cayenne pepper and stir briefly.
  2. Turn down the heat and stir in fresh cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice.
  3. Add the garlic sauce to the potatoes.
  4. Toss the potatoes.
  5. Add a squeeze of lemon over the finished dish.

See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.

✅ MY FAVORITE AIR FRYER ACCESSORIES

Evo oil sprayer for air fryer

EVO oil sprayer is great for spraying oil on food. This is the best I’ve tried.

Red digital thermometer Thermopop

An instant-read thermometer is invaluable when air frying meats or frozen foods.

White parchment sheets for air fryer

Perforated parchment sheets come in handy when making messy foods.

Black bowl with golden roasted potatoes coated with cilantro sauce

Lebanese Spicy Potatoes – Batata Harra

Batata harra is a popular Middle Eastern dish made with crispy, spicy potatoes, flavored with garlic, chili, and cilantro. This Lebanese dish is perfect as a vegetarian appetizer, a side dish, or as part of a mezze platter. This recipe can be made in the oven or the air fryer.
5 from 3 votes
PRINT RATE
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 18 minutes minutes
Total Time: 28 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 110
Author: Paint the Kitchen Red
Prevent Screen from Going Dark

Equipment

  • Air Fryer
  • Medium Bowl
  • Oil Sprayer
  • Silicone mitts
  • Saucepan

Ingredients
  

Potatoes

  • 2 lbs potatoes (1 kg) preferably Yukon gold, cut into 1-inch cubes or baby potatoes
  • ¾ teaspoon onion powder
  • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil

Cilantro Sauce

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • ¼ cayenne pepper
  • ½ cup cilantro chopped
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice or to taste

Instructions
 

  • Pat the potatoes dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel until they're completely dry. This is an important step.
  • Mix the onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and paprika in a medium bowl. Stir in the oil to make a paste.
  • Add the potatoes to the spice mix and coat evenly until every surface is covered.

Air Fryer Instructions

  • Place the air fryer basket in the air fryer and coat with oil. You can either use a paper towel soaked with oil or an oil sprayer. Don't use canned aerosol oil as that can harm the coating of the air fryer basket.
  • Transfer the potatoes to the basket and make sure they're evenly spread out.
  • Close the lid and air fry for 18 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • At the 9 minute mark, shake the basket so the potatoes are tossed well. Close the lid and continue cooking.
  • When the cooking time is up, check to make sure the potatoes are cooked to your liking. Toss the potatoes again and air fry for another 2 minutes, if desired.
  • Transfer potatoes to a serving dish.

Oven Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat the foil with oil.
  • Spread the potatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet.
  • Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through and golden in color. Potatoes are done when a toothpick can be easily inserted into a piece.
  • Transfer potatoes to a serving dish.

Cilantro Sauce

  • In a small saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
  • Turn the heat down to low. Add cayenne pepper and stir briefly. Stir in cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice. Stir to combine and remove from heat.
  • Add cilantro garlic sauce to the potatoes. Stir all ingredients together and serve immediately as a side dish or appetizer.

Notes

  • Prep time does not include the time needed to peel and cut the potatoes.
  • Cooking time can vary based on the air fryer model and the size of the potato cubes. At the 15-minute mark, check the potatoes to see if they’re done.
  • See the blog post for more detailed recipe tips.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 110 kcal | Carbohydrates: 20 g | Protein: 2 g | Fat: 2 g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1 g | Sodium: 201 mg | Fiber: 3 g | Sugar: 1 g
Course Sides
Cuisine American
Main Ingredient vegetarian
Have you made this recipe? I love seeing your photos! Tag me on Instagram @PaintTheKitchenRed or #PaintTheKitchenRed!

Thank you for visiting Paint the Kitchen Red. All photos and content are copyright protected. Please don’t use any content without prior written permission. If you’ve made this recipe and would like to share it with your friends, please link back to this recipe. Thank you!

I am not a certified nutritionist.  I provide my best estimate of nutritional information merely as a courtesy to my readers.  If you depend on nutritional information for dietary or health reasons,  I suggest using your favorite online nutrition calculator to confirm the nutritional value of this recipe based on the actual ingredients that you use.

Did you know that the best way to support your favorite bloggers is to comment and rate recipes, and share on social media? If you loved this recipe, please comment and give it a five ⭐ rating in the comment section below. If you’re a pinner, pin this post using the Pin buttons at the top and bottom of this post and in the recipe card above. Thank you for your support!

BACK TO TOP

More Spicy Potato Recipes

Instant Pot Air Fryer Potatoes

Air fryer roasted potatoes go with just about anything! These air fryer fried potatoes are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside and they cook in much less time than in the oven. They make a great side dish for dinner or you can serve them as breakfast potatoes! If you don’t have an Instant Pot air fryer or air fryer lid, you can use a traditional air fryer or bake them in the oven.
GET RECIPE DETAILS
White plate with crispy golden potatoes stacked and garnished with parsley

Instant Pot Chorizo and Potato

Instant Pot Chorizo and Potato is a vibrant recipe that's versatile enough to be served with eggs for breakfast, or accompanied by a side of greens and crusty French bread for dinner. Traditional Spanish Chorizo gets an Asian twist with the warming flavors of Indian spices such as cumin, cloves, turmeric, and red chili pepper. [Stovetop instructions also included.]
GET RECIPE DETAILS
Black round serving dish with chorizo and potato sprinkled with cilantro and copper mug with fresh cilantro and fresh tomatoes in background

Instant Pot Aloo Gobi | Indian Cauliflower with Potatoes

Instant Pot Aloo Gobi is perfectly seasoned with Indian spices and makes a wonderful vegetarian main dish or side dish for an Indian-themed meal.  This Indian Cauliflower with Potatoes recipe is so quick and easy, you can have it on the dinner table within minutes.
GET RECIPE DETAILS
Instant Pot Aloo Gobi | Indian Cauliflower with Potatoes in a bowl with spices in background

More Air Fryer

  • Blue plate with roasted broccoli laid out.
    Air Fryer Broccoli Recipe
  • A piece of breaded chicken with french fries and a chicken sandwich in the background.
    Frozen Breaded Chicken Breast in Air Fryer
  • Golden biscuits stacked on a dark surface.
    Frozen Biscuits in Air Fryer
  • Glazed meatballs on a black plate, garnished with parsley
    Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Denise

    June 05, 2023 at 8:28 pm

    5 stars
    Once again, a terrific recipe. Thank you.

    Reply
    • Paint the Kitchen Red

      June 05, 2023 at 8:43 pm

      Thank you so much, Denise! That was quick 🙂

      Reply

Questions, Comments? I love hearing from my readers and I reply to all comments! Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Rate This!




Primary Sidebar

Neena in red sweater head tilted

Hi, I'm Neena and welcome! I am the creator, photographer, and author of recipes and tips at Paint the Kitchen Red. I live in the glorious west in Salt Lake City, Utah with my family.

More about me →

Popular

  • Reasons Why Instant Pot is Not Sealing or Pressurizing
    Reasons For Your Instant Pot Not Sealing
  • Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with colorful vegetables in white bowl with spoon on rich red napkin.
    Instant Pot Thai Red Curry with Chicken
  • Black plate with crispy popcorn chicken with orange sauce in glass bowl
    Air Fryer Frozen Popcorn Chicken
  • 4 Instant pots - 3, 6, 8 and 10 quart - what size instant pot should i buy?!
    Sizes of Instant Pot – What Size do you Need?
  • Instant Pot Chili in white bowl on green cloth with cornbread; topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Homemade Instant Pot Chili (using Dried Beans)
  • Natural Release vs Quick Release
    Instant Pot Natural Release vs Quick Release of Pressure
  • Instant Pot Panang Curry with chicken, green beans, red and green peppers, Thai basil in a white bowl on a light wood background
    Thai Instant Pot Panang Curry with Chicken
  • Beginner's Manual and User's Guide Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
    How to Use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer | Beginner’s Manual

Seasonal

  • Instant Pot Khao Suey - Burmese noodles in coconut curry broth topped with fried onions, garlic, boiled egg and cilantro
    Khow Suey (Burmese Noodles)
  • Blue bowl on counter with yellow rice, peas, chicken topped with cilantro
    Instant Pot Arroz con Pollo | Chicken and Rice
  • How to quick soak Instant Pot dried beans
    How to Quick Soak Dried Beans in the Instant Pot
  • Instant Pot Thai Green Curry with Chicken with colorful green curry in white bowl on three colorful napkins. With lime slice and chilies on a black background- Paint the Kitchen Red
    Instant Pot Thai Green Curry with Chicken
  • White plate with crispy golden potatoes stacked and garnished with parsley
    Instant Pot Air Fryer Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Chili in white bowl on green cloth with cornbread; topped with cheese, sour cream and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Homemade Instant Pot Chili (using Dried Beans)
  • Instant Pot Red Beans and Sausage served on rice in a black bowl on a white wooden background with multicolor napkins. Garnished with parsley and green onions - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Authentic Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice Recipe
  • Instant Pot Gumbo L21 - Paint the Kitchen Red
    Delicious New Orleans Instant Pot Gumbo

Featured In

Media that have featured Paintthekitchenred.com including cnet, nbc news, cnbc, instant pot, the huffington post.

Social Media

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility Statement

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Web Stories

  • Google Web Stories

Shop

  • Amazon

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Copyright © 2016 - 2023 Paint the Kitchen Red