Lebanese Spiced Potatoes Batata Harra Food

LEBANESE SPICED POTATOES (BATATA HARRA)

Steps:

• Heat canola oil and fry medium size cubed potatoes until crisp.
• Remove onto a paper towel lined plate.
• In another pan heat olive oil and add finely chopped onion, minced garlic, cayenne, ground coriander and finely chopped cilantro, saute then add the potatoes sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
• Mix well and add lime juice.
• Serve Immediately with garlic sauce such as recipe#108234 without the fresh cilantro added.
• Enjoy!

BATATA HARRA (SPICY LEBANESE POTATOES)

Steps:

• Put the potatoes in a pot that holds them in a single layer and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the potatoes are tender but still hold their shape, about 30 minutes. Drain and let cool. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, remove their skins.
• Pour several inches of vegetable oil into a large heavy pot and bring to 350 degrees F over high heat.
• While the oil heats, cut the potatoes into cubes.
• Fry the potatoes until golden, 5 to 7 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mash the garlic and 1 tablespoon flaky sea salt with a mortar and pestle until a paste forms. Stem and roughly chop the chiles and add them to the mortar; continue mashing. Add the lemon juice, cilantro, and olive oil and mix well. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if necessary.
• Remove the potatoes to a heatproof mixing bowl with a slotted spoon.
• Pour the dressing over the potatoes and toss to combine. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with paprika, chopped chiles and cilantro.

LEBANESE POTATOES WITH CILANTRO SAUCE (BATATA HARRA)

Steps:

• Cut the potatoes into half-inch cubes. Rinse under cold water until water runs clear. Drain and dry thoroughly on paper towels.
• Pour oil into a deep fryer, or a large, deep, frying pan, to 2 inches depth. Heat the oil to 300 degrees. Set aside a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Working in batches, if necessary, fry the potatoes until tender inside, about 5 minutes. Transfer potatoes from the oil to the baking sheet. Turn off the fryer, or if using a pan, remove from stove, but do not discard the oil.
• Allow potatoes to cool to room temperature, then refrigerate uncovered for two hours. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce.
• Heat the oil in a wide saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir in garlic, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and pale gold, about 3 minutes; do not allow to brown. Add cilantro and stir until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, transfer to a large mixing bowl, and set aside.
• Remove potatoes from refrigerator and allow to come to room temperature. Meanwhile, heat the deep-fryer or frying pan to 350 to 375 degrees. Set aside a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Pat potatoes with paper towels to be sure they are completely dry. Working in batches, if necessary, fry the potatoes until crisp and golden, 3 minutes or as needed. Transfer potatoes from the oil to the baking sheet.
• When all the potatoes are cooked, add to the bowl of sauce, and sprinkle with Aleppo pepper and salt to taste. Toss gently. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl, and garnish with minced parsley. Drizzle with lemon juice. If desired, serve with sliced tomatoes and scallions, or with fried, scrambled or poached eggs.

BATATA HARRA

Steps:

• Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1.2cm (1/2″) cubes. Place in a bowl and cover with cold water. Set aside. (This will remove some of the starch from the potatoes, making them less likely to stick to the pan when cooking.)
• Heat a large heavy skillet (I use cast iron) over low heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and cook onion until softened, about five minutes. Add peppers and chili (if using) and continue to cook until vegetables are soft (about an additional five to seven minutes.) Then add the garlic and cook for another two minutes. Remove vegetables from skillet.
• rain the potatoes and dry them with a clean kitchen towel. Heat another tablespoon of olive oil in the skillet (still over low heat) and fry the potato cubes, turning now and then, until they are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
• Drizzle two tablespoons of water around the edge of the skillet and immediately cover the potatoes with a lid. The lid does not have to fit the skillet, you can use a smaller lid and just rest it on the bottom of the skillet (which is what I do). Cook for five minutes, then remove lid and test potatoes to see if they’re cooked through. If not, cover them again with the lid and give it another couple of minutes (add a bit more water if the pan is dry).
• When the potatoes are cooked through, add the vegetable mixture back into the skillet and mix thoroughly. Season with dried coriander, cayenne, salt and pepper. Add the fresh coriander, if using, and heat through.
• Meanwhile, cut up the lettuce and tomato for the salad. Mix together the sauce ingredients until smooth, adding water as needed to thin it to the consistency of a thickish salad dressing.
• Warm pita breads and slit one side open. Put in a handful of lettuce and some tomatoes. Spoon a bit of the sauce on top. Then fill with the fried potatoes and top with more sauce.