Batata Harra

This is a simple, lemony, lightly spiced, Lebanese potato side dish. Batata Harra actually translates from Arabic to English to mean spicy potatoes.

There are a few different ways to prepare your potatoes for this dish: Some people deep fry the potatoes on their own first then pan fry them with the other ingredients. Another option which I prefer, is to boil the potatoes first then pan fry them with the lemon, herbs and onion. This is the healthier option for sure. You can also oven roast the potatoes with just oil and salt to get them nice and crispy and then add them to the pan with the with the other elements.

I tend to use potatoes which are good for boiling such as Maris Piper or King Edward but I happened to have some new potatoes handy so I used them. They worked just as well but didn't get quite the same crunchy edges.

Batata Harra for 2 hungry people

Approx 8-10 new potatoes

1/2 lemon

1 &1/2 cloves or garlic

1/2 green chilli (optional)

3/4 onion (red or white)

Big handful of chopped coriander

Pinch of cayenne pepper

Oil for frying (I prefer Rapeseed)

Wash and chop your potatoes into even sized pieces and boil until cooked. I put mine in cold salted water and bring them to boil then gently simmer for approx 15 minutes. By starting the potatoes in cold water rather than adding them to hot your potatoes will cook more evenly throughout. Drain them and set aside.

Finely chop the onion. I prefer red onion for this dish but the recipe is very adaptable and as I only had 1/4 red onion I added 1/2 a brown one. I like fresh chilli so I de-seeded and finely chopped a green chilli, but this optional. Crush your garlic.

Gently fry your onion until it gets some colour, add in your garlic and chilli and stir for a few minutes, don't let it catch and burn. Tip in your potatoes, add salt and fry until they heat through and get a little colour. Add in your chopped coriander, squeeze in half a lemon and sprinkle on a pinch or two of cayenne pepper.

This is so simple and delicious, it would go really well with roast chicken, grilled fish or a kebab.