There’s a to-die-for Mediterranean restaurant in my tiny Florida beach town, and recently, something on its appetizer menu caught my eye. I really love potatoes, you see, but until a recent visit to our go-to Lebanese spot, I had never heard of batata harra. Described as “fresh potato cubes sautéed with garlic, cilantro, lemon, and chili pepper flakes,” I knew I had to try it as soon as I saw the dish.
As someone who craves all forms of potatoes, from fries to gratin, I was destined to fall in love with batata harra. The dish, a heaping plate of roasted, cubed potatoes tossed with garlicky, spicy olive oil, is this potato lover’s idea of comfort food perfection and has quickly become a must-have from Lily’s Mediterranean Grill, our little slice of Mediterranean food heaven here in Indialantic, Florida.
What Is Batata Harra?
Karim Ghussaini, the owner of Lily’s Mediterranean Grill, says what makes batata harra unique is how “simple, healthy, and delicious” the dish is. “Batata harra is a traditional Lebanese side dish that’s full of flavor,” Ghussaini tells Allrecipes. “To translate, it means ‘spicy potatoes,’ and it consists of potatoes, garlic, lemon, cilantro, and crushed red pepper.”
So what does batata harra taste like? The dish is similar to any cubed, roasted potato dish, but it packs an incredibly fresh and flavorful punch thanks to the sautéed olive oil and spices the potatoes get tossed with. The dish is light and fresh on its own, but I also like to order a side of tzatziki for dipping, as the cool, cucumbery tang of the tzatziki complements the slight spice the potato dish gets from red pepper flakes.
Turns out, I’m not the only one smitten with batata harra: On TikTok, lots of creators have shared recipes for the flavorful dish using the #batataharra hashtag. In one video from a Lebanese creator with more than 2 million views, the dish is described as “the best friend of the shawarma sandwich,” making it a great side dish for Mediterranean sandwiches like shawarma or gyros. In fact, our go-to order at Lily’s Mediterranean Grill is its hummus topped with spicy gyro meat along with a side of batata harra.
How To Make Batata Harra
Ghussaini says the dish is simple to make at home as well. “You can easily make this dish at home by chopping potatoes into cubes, drizzling them with olive oil, and baking them at 450 degrees F [(230 degrees C)] for 20 minutes until crispy,” he shares. “In a separate frying pan, add garlic, cilantro, crushed red pepper, lemon juice, and olive oil and cook it for a few minutes, then toss the baked potatoes into the sauce mixture.”
“Once you try batata harra, you are hooked,” Ghussaini adds, and I’d have to agree. In fact, I’m already planning a visit to Lily’s Mediterranean Grill this week for my weekly spicy potatoes fix.
Read the original article on Allrecipes
Dining and Cooking