Batata harra or Lebanese spicy potatoes have been air-fried and tossed through coriander (cilantro), lemon, garlic, and chili. A highly popular dish in Lebanon and the Middle East.
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What is Batata Harra?
Batata harra or Lebanese spicy potatoes is a naturally vegan dish consisting of fried potato pieces that have been tossed through cilantro (coriander), garlic, and chili.
The spiciness of this dish comes from the added chili which can be adjusted to suit.
Traditionally batata harra is deep-fried in oil, however, an air fryer has been used in this recipe, which yields amazing results as the deep-fried alternative.
If you do not have an air fryer, you can oven roast instead if you prefer to avoid deep frying.
Batata Harra in English
The Arabic word “batata harra” translates to “potato spicy” in English.
However, this meal is commonly referred to as Lebanese spicy potatoes and has been called by a few other names including Lebanese potatoes, Arabic potatoes, Middle Eastern potatoes, coriander potatoes or cilantro potatoes, or additionally batata bi kizbara “potatoes in coriander” for those who tend to omit the chili.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Vegan and gluten-free
- A new way to enjoy potatoes which hold a good amount of nutrition
- Air fried and not deep fried
- Gorgeous flavoring with a slightly crispy yet soft texture
- A versatile Lebanese side dish that can be paired with so many other foods
Ingredients You’ll Need
Notes on some of the ingredients, the full list of ingredients and their measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Potatoes should be fresh, peeled, and then cubed into 2½ cm (1") cubes. A good starchy potato such as Russet or Yukon Gold works well.
After peeling the potatoes place them into a bowl of water for at least 15 minutes, this will help expel excess starch and in turn create some crispiness when fried.
Cilantro, (coriander leaves AU) (cilantro in Arabic is “kiz-ba-rra”), should be fresh.
Use the leaves and soft stalks and finely chop up after washing and thoroughly drying. You will need 1 cup divided into 2 portions; 1 for air frying and the other for tossing the air-fried potatoes through at the end.
The coriander in batata harra is the hero in this dish (in my opinion).
Chilli can be used fresh or dried. The type of chili selected can be left up to you and your threshold for spiciness.
In this recipe, I have used dried bird’s eye chili, mainly because I have quite a bit in my pantry.
I will generally chop up a whole chili, seeds and all, to toss through these Lebanese spicy potatoes whilst air frying.
Fresh lemon juice is used to dress the batata once they have been air-fried. I do not recommend store-bought lemon juice.
Oil should be selected based on its high smoking point. I have used avocado oil (affiliate link), however, any neutral oil is okay.
Fresh garlic cloves are best to use in this recipe. You can either finely chop or crush the garlic.
How to Make Batata Harra
Step 1 - Soak potatoes in cold water (after dicing) for 15 minutes. Thoroughly dry with a paper towel or tea towel.
Step 2 - In a bowl mix potato, oil, half the coriander (cilantro), chili, garlic, and salt. Make sure everything is evenly mixed together.
Step 3 - Transfer to an air fryer and fry on high for 15 minutes, then toss and fry for another 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked.
Step 4 - Place air-fried potatoes in the same mixing bowl as used in step 2 and add the remaining coriander (cilantro) and lemon juice. Toss all ingredients and adjust salt if required. Serve immediately.
Pro Tips
Changing the size of the potato cubes will change the cooking time i.e., if larger cubes are used, you may need to air fry for longer.
Ensuring that all ingredients are dry before cooking is vital, otherwise, the potatoes will not crisp up in the air fryer.
Air Fryer’s differ in makes & models and have different settings.
I recommend keeping an eye out on the batata when you first make this recipe. This is a similar air fryer (affiliate link) to what I am using.
I like to toss my Lebanese spicy potatoes in the lemon juice (step 4) just before serving, this will help keep them crisp for longer.
Variations
Air fryer batata harra can be turned into batata b kizbara which translates to potatoes in coriander (cilantro). You can do this by simply removing the chili altogether from the recipe.
The amount of garlic, chili, lemon, and coriander (cilantro) can be adjusted to suit your taste.
Adding all the coriander (cilantro) to the Arabic potatoes before air-frying is also a good option, I just love having the contrast of both the fried and fresh herb, I find it more aromatic.
Other Methods of Cooking Lebanese Spicy Potatoes
Double frying is the original method used in Lebanon, this includes deep-frying plain potatoes first, then shallow frying with the other ingredients.
Roasting the potatoes is also a good option, simply preheat your oven to 200C (390F) and roast (tossed in a little amount of oil and half the amount of cilantro) until crispy golden brown, then toss through the remaining ingredients.
Parboiling is the method that includes boiling the potatoes (about 10 minutes) until they have just started to soften (not cooked) and then either roasting, air frying, or shallow pan-frying with half of the other ingredients and then tossing the remaining ingredients.
❓FAQ
Whilst it is advisable to enjoy batata harra immediately, they can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for a few days. To heat up, add them back into the air fryer, oven or pan until crispy again, though they will not be like when freshly made.
It is advisable to prepare the sauce ahead of time rather than pre-cooking the potatoes. As the potatoes are tossed in a sauce, they will soften very quickly and will lose their crispiness.
The Arabic word for coriander (cilantro) is “kizbarra” pronounced as kiz-ba-rra.
Mezze is a selection of small differing dishes that are enjoyed in one sitting. These dishes can be a combination of hot and cold dishes.
Serving Suggestions
Batata harra is usually featured as part of a mezze, side or part of a wrap. Try them with;
Arnabeet mekle, Lebanese fried cauliflower
Vegan Shawarma - this is the best vegan shawarma recipe
Quinoa Taboula, based off the the famous Lebanese parsley salad.
Easy made from scratch Lebanese falafel.
Baba Ghanouj the famous Middle Eastern eggplant dip
It is also perfect with your next vegan roast check out these vegan roast recipes.
More Potato Recipes
For a Lebanese cold potato recipe try my Lebanese potato salad.
One of my favorites is this vegan potato stew.
Or check out this curated list of vegan potato recipes.
Or try this Patatas Bravas recipe from Europe dishes.
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Batata Harra (Lebanese Spicy Potatoes)
Ingredients
- 5 medium - large Potatoes 2½ cm (1") cubes
- 1 medium Lemon Juiced
- 1½ tablespoons Oil
- 1 cup Coriander (cilantro) finely chopped
- 3 large Garlic cloves crushed
- ¼ tablespoon Salt or to taste
- 2-3 Birds eye chilli or any chilli you prefer, finely chopped
Instructions
- Soak potatoes in cold water once diced for 15 minutes. The thoroughly dry with a paper towel or tea towel.5 medium - large Potatoes
- In a bowl mix potato, oil, half the coriander (cilantro), chilli, garlic and salt. Make sure potatoes are evenly coated.1½ tablespoons Oil, 1 cup Coriander, 3 large Garlic cloves, ¼ tablespoon Salt, 2-3 Birds eye chilli
- Transfer potatoes to air fryer and fry on high for 15 minutes, then tossing and frying for another 13-15 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked.
- Place air fried potatoes in the same mixing bowl and add the remaining coriander (cilantro) and lemon juice. Mix through all ingredients and adjust salt if required. Serve immediately.1 medium Lemon
Video
Notes
Equipment
Nutrition
N.B., nutrition info is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. This will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
If you enjoyed this recipe, consider supporting my work for the cost of a cup of coffee.
Nayla
Hi Janelle! This looks so damn good 😀 I'd like to make this recipe for a big Lebanese lunching I'm throwing for friends next weekend, however I don't own an air fryer. Do you have any preferred instructions (deep frying vs. roasting in the oven) on how to otherwise cook the potatoes?
Janelle Hama
Hi Nayla,
Oh I love batata harra so much, your friends are going to love it!
Either version works well.
If you don't mind oil, try the deep fried version. Deep-fry plain potatoes first, then shallow fry with the half of the other ingredients until crispy. Then toss through the other half of the ingredients. This method requires a lot of oil.
Or go for the par boiling version, boil the potatoes (about 10 minutes) until they have just started to soften (not cooked) and then either roast them, or shallow pan-frying with half of the other ingredients and then tossing the remaining ingredients. If using the oven method, preheat your oven to 200C (390F) and roast (tossed in some oil and half the amount of cilantro) until crispy golden brown, then toss through the remaining ingredients.
No matter which method you use, to keep your potatoes crispy, add the lemon juice just before serving.
Enjoy!! If you have any other questions, let me know, happy to help 🙂
Janelle
Nayla
This is perfect!! Thanks SO much Janelle, I really appreciate the additional instructions <3 I'm sure my friends are going to go crazy for this dish 😀
BTW growing up, my mother would also add the lemon juice. I find that it's not all that common in other Lebanese households and in Lebanese restaurants, so I'm glad you incorporate it as well!
Janelle Hama
My pleasure, any time 🙂
That's why I love sharing recipes as there so many variations between families and regions, not everyone makes foods the same.
Sahtein.
Lily
Batata harra is one of my favorite potato recipes, and now using the air fryer, it's going to be on repeat at my home. I try not to fry food in oil often, so this is a great solution for crispy potatoes with cilantro, garlic, and spice!
Brad
Ahhh hello batata harra. My family and I had this at a Lebanese restaurant and we wanted to try and make it at home but with minimal oil. Found your air fryer version and we couldn’t be more happier. We are excited to try more of your Lebanese recipes, it’s hard to find good ones, and especially as we (family) are trying to eat more vegetables.
Thumbs up!
Janelle Hama
I am glad that you found PBF and you enjoyed the air fried batata harra. Hope you enjoy the next recipe you make too 🙂
Addie
These potatoes are so flavorful! This is a great side dish. Yum!
Arwa
These spicy potatoes are delicious! Thanks for the great idea with the cilantro seasoning!
Lindsay
These are SO good! Even though they were a little spicy my kids still really liked them. Thanks for the nice recipe!
Fay
You had me at potatoes, then I saw air fryer and I got really excited! These were so delicious, simple but full of flavour!
Kerry
We just had a get together where I served a mezze. I served these along with tabbouleh, hummus and falafel. Everyone absolutely love the potatoes. They were the star of the show.
Ellen
Hi Janelle,
Made these yesterday without the chilli, someone in my family suffers from reflux. Everyone loved them. I’d like to know however, how did you cut your potatoes like that?
Janelle
Hi Ellen,
Thank you for making my batata harra, which are just as good without the chilli 🙂
I used a crinkle knife to cut them, similar to this one https://amzn.to/3AX6HJp *
J