Batata harra "spicy potatoes"

Batata harra is a light spicy delicious potato dish very extremely famous in our Lebanese cuisine and for a good cause. The garlic lemony taste flavored with the fresh coriander gives this dish a distinctive flavor. These spicy roasted potatoes are usually fried which is the actual way but I prefer roasting them in the oven . It is much lighter and resulting the same amazing taste and aroma. It is usually eaten spicy but in my recipe it has the touch of the hot spice, you can add the desired amount of spices.

Prep. time: 15 mins

Cooking time: 40 mins

Serves: 3 to 4

INGREDIENTS:

5 medium potatoes

2 tbsp olive oil

I tsp salt

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper or more is desired

4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

2 gloves garlic crushed

Juice of a large lemon

PREPARATION: preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit peel the potatoes and cut into cubes 2 and a half cm. In a large oven tray put 1tbsp of olive oil and the potatoes then mix well until the cubes get oily, sprinkle the salt, the paprika, the cayenne pepper all over then mix again. Bake in the oven for 35 to 40 mins or until you get the light golden colour, turn if needed for most of the pieces to be crispy.

Make sure that the potatoes are not crowded in the pan, they won’t bake and crisp properly. Mix the crushed garlic with the rest of the olive oil then add them to the potatoes making sure they are scattered all over them, for the garlic to blossom the flavor of the spices. Put it back in the oven for another 10 mins or until you have a lovely golden colour. Sprinkle the coriander and mix all the ingredients together using a flat serving spoon . Finally pour the lemon juice all over and serve on a platter or in small plates.

This dish is easy to prepare as well as it is desired by everyone in the family. Because of its amazing taste and aroma it disappears fast, once you have the first bite you can’t stop. Batata harra can be served as a side dish or an appetizer with the mezza.

Enjoy!!