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!
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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.
These Middle Eastern potatoes are sometimes known as shawarma potatoes.
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 potatoes are a delicious accompaniment to any dish. Serve them with other Lebanese recipes such as green beans, shawarma, mujadara, and falafel as part of a mezze platter.
Ingredients and Tips
🧂 Ingredients for Frozen Broccoli in Air Fryer
💡 Ingredient and Recipe Tips
🍶 Prevent Sticking: Spray vegetable oil in the air fryer basket or baking sheet to prevent potatoes from sticking. Make sure potatoes are completely dried before adding spices and oil. The easiest way to apply the spices and oil is with your hands!
🥔 Potato Type: Yukon gold or baby potatoes work best for this recipe. Red potatoes are great too, but avoid russet potatoes as they’re too starchy.
📏 Size Matters: Cut potatoes into uniform 1-inch cubes for even cooking. Different sizes lead to uneven results – some pieces undercooked, others overdone. For baby potatoes, cut in half or leave whole (add extra cooking time if keeping whole).
🌶️ Spice It Up: Add ¼ teaspoon or more cayenne pepper for heat or try crushed red pepper flakes, harissa, or chopped chilies in the cilantro sauce for an extra kick. Make the roasting spice mix in bulk to save time – it’s so handy for roasted veggies and meats, especially chicken!
🧄 Flavor Boosters: Add ground cumin or coriander if you enjoy those flavors. Use extra garlic cloves for a deeper garlic taste. For tomato lovers, stir one tablespoon tomato paste into the cilantro sauce and cook for about a minute.
❓ FAQS
Fresh potatoes work best, but if using frozen, partially cook them and then add the spices once they’re a bit dry. The cooking time may need adjustment.
Parsley works as a substitute, though it will change the traditional flavor of the dish.
⏲️ How to Make Batata Harra in Air Fryer
- Add potatoes to a mixing bowl. Mix salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, and olive oil in a small bowl. Mix well with potatoes.
- Add the potatoes to the air fryer basket and bake. Shake the basket halfway through the cooking process. Potatoes are done when a toothpick can easily be inserted. Transfer to a serving dish.
- 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. Stir in cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice or lime juice.
- Remove from heat and add garlic sauce to the reserved hot potatoes. Stir all ingredients together to make a delicious potato side dish.
♨️ How to Make Batata Harra in Oven
Cook Potatoes in the Oven
- Season the potatoes with spices and olive oil.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat the aluminum foil with oil
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Spread potatoes on the sheet pan in a single layer.
- Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until the potatoes are crispy, golden brown in color, and cooked through.
- Transfer to a serving bowl.
Make Sauce on the Stovetop
- In a small saucepan, saute garlic in olive oil over medium heat. Add cayenne pepper and stir briefly.
- Turn down the heat and stir in fresh cilantro, paprika, and lemon juice.
- Add the garlic sauce to the potatoes.
- Toss the potatoes.
- Add a squeeze of lemon over the finished dish.
See the recipe card below for detailed instructions.
Lebanese Spicy Potatoes – Batata Harra
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 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ cup cilantro chopped
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice or to taste
Instructions
- Pat the 2 lbs potatoes dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel until they're completely dry. This is an important step.
- Mix the ¾ teaspoon onion powder, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper powder, and ½ teaspoon paprika in a medium bowl. Stir in the 2 tablespoon olive 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 1 teaspoon garlic in 2 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Be careful not to let the garlic burn.
- Turn the heat down to low. Add ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper and stir briefly. Stir in ½ cup cilantro, ½ teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon 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
- Substitute the spices used in the roasting step with 1 tablespoon of my homemade roasting seasoning.
Nutrition
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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.
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Sunil Desilva says
Great recipe as always! Thanks so much for sharing
Neena Panicker says
Hi Sunil, thanks for trying it out – one of my favorites!
Sunil Desilva says
Loved it! Thanks for sharing
Neena Panicker says
Hi Sunil, that’s great to hear that you loved the batata harra Lebanese potatoes. Thanks for trying it out!
Lisa D says
Perfect! I took this to a friend’s birthday potluck and everyone was raving about it. Thank you the tips too. btw, I made it in the oven, but I have made in air fryer too.
Neena Panicker says
Hi Lisa, thank you so much for commenting. I’m glad your friends like the recipe for batata harra!
Denise says
Once again, a terrific recipe. Thank you.
Paint the Kitchen Red says
Thank you so much, Denise! That was quick 🙂