Batata Harra
Crispy potatoes tossed with garlic, chilli, and cilantro.
Ingredients
- 800 g Potatoes
- 5 cloves Garlic
- 1 tsp Red pepper flakes
- 1 Lemon
- 5 tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 4 tbsp Cilantro (optional)
Method
- Cube the potatoes.
- Fry the potatoes in the olive oil over medium-high heat until deep golden and crisp all over, then drain.
- While the potatoes fry, mince the garlic and chop the cilantro, and juice the lemon.
- Toss the hot potatoes with the garlic, red pepper flakes, lemon juice, salt, and cilantro.
- Serve hot.
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About Batata Harra
Batata harra — literally 'spicy potatoes' in Arabic — is a Levantine side of crisp fried potato cubes tossed hot with garlic, chili, and coriander. It's a mainstay of the mezze table, where its punchy heat and freshness sit alongside gentler dips and salads. What defines it is the finish: the potatoes are fried until deep golden and genuinely crisp all over, then dressed while still scorching so the garlic mellows just slightly and the herbs wilt into fragrance rather than staying raw.
The result is craggy and crunchy outside, fluffy within, and loud with garlic, red pepper heat, lemon, and a generous hit of fresh cilantro. Frying the potatoes in olive oil until crisp before dressing is the whole game — the flavor coating happens off the heat, in a bowl, so the potatoes never soften back down. Naturally vegan and high in fiber, it works as a side to grilled meats or fish, as part of a spread of small plates, or honestly as a plate of its own with bread and a squeeze more lemon. Serve it hot, right after tossing, while the crust is at its peak.
Batata Harra: frequently asked questions
How many calories are in Batata Harra?
A serving has about 321 calories — 4.8g protein, 37.8g carbs, 17.8g fat, 5.1g fiber. Figures are estimated from the ingredient amounts and will shift with your portions and brands.
Is Batata Harra gluten-free?
Based on its ingredients, Batata Harra has no gluten-containing components, so it's naturally gluten-free — as always, check that any packaged ingredients you use are certified gluten-free to be safe.
Do I need every ingredient to make Batata Harra?
The core ingredients are essential, but you can leave out cilantro — it's optional and mainly there for extra flavor or finish.
How many servings does Batata Harra make?
This recipe makes 4 servings. In the app you can scale it up or down and the ingredient amounts adjust automatically.