Monday 5 February 2018

Spicy Lebanese Potatoes - Batata Harra


These are flavourful spicy potatoes which are suitable as a side dish to a main course or a party snack.
Simply cut potatoes into bite sized pieces and place in a bowl with a small amount of rapeseed oil (canola) a sprinkle of sea salt flakes and then mix around so that all of the potatoes are covered.  Line a large roasting tin with greeseproof paper making sure that all the potatoes are evenly spaced and in one layer to enable them to become crispy and golden. Roast for around 30 mins at 220℃. When the potatoes are cooked, crush 2 or 3 garlic cloves and lightly cook in oil for 1 minute only to take away the raw flavour, remove from heat and whilst the oil is still warm add 1 teaspn each of cayenne pepper, cummin, and corriander, this process blooms the spices.

 Spoon over the potatoes and toss so that they are all covered in the spices and garlic.
Add some freshly chopped basil (corriander or parsley) whatever you prefer.
 I then sprinkled on some optional Sumac which is a lemon flavoured middle-eastern spice. In this dish you can use whatever oil, fresh herbs, or spices that you prefer.

Soon I shall be refilling my Masala Dabba - the Indian spice box bought home from Delhi. We are visiting an island during the month of May where spices grow in profusion-Turmeric, Cinnamon, Pepper, Cardamom, Clove,   Nutmeg, Vanilla etc.
                    
 
Having recently discovered the delights of using coconut milk in my own cooking I was interested to read that on the island it is a staple used in many of their savoury and sweet dishes. I look forward with anticipation to tasting their ice cream made using coconut milk.
There are large pineapple plantations on this island - a popular and tasty snack is prepare by simply cutting up cubes of the fruit, and sprinkling it with chilli powder and a touch of salt which is left to infuse for 30 mins before eating.  I can imagine that this would make a tasty addition when making a pineapple upsidedown cake.

Lastly there is a plant grows on the island, which results in a commodity found in most British kitchens and used on a daily basis.
 

57 comments:

  1. Love potatoes!!! Those look so tasty, will give them a try. Where are you?

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    1. We are here in the Cotswolds Janet - the trip isn't until May.

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  2. Those potatoes do sound delicious! I'm going to guess that you're going to somewhere in the Philippines?

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    1. Not right, but I think that they use coconut milk too - at least I know that they do in Thailand.

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  3. I love roasted potatoes and your mix of spices sounds wonderful - am going to make these soon!

    I'm thinking Sri Lanka? Even though my visit there was brief (we were on the Queen Elizabeth and it was her first visit to Colombo), it was interesting and fun. . . . . . . and very, very hot! So dear Rosemary, if I'm correct, be prepared with lightweight clothing and sunscreen!

    Mary x





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    1. Give them a try Mary - they are very moreish - a note has been made.

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  4. Hello Rosemary, I am sure that your spicy potatoes are getting you in a perfect mood to visit the tropics. I just bought some potatoes, and was thinking of making curry, but it might be fun to try these instead.
    --Jim

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    1. Hello Jim - let me know how you get on, and what you think if you have time.

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  5. Those potatoes look very tasty! YUM!

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    1. I love to try out new things Catherine, and these were a great hit with us both.

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  6. Dear Rosemary,
    you made my mouth water... I LOVE potatoes! - and I copied the recipe, because in a few days, after my verbal exam in Dutch at the FU, I will have time again to COOK. Which I love so much. Thank you for sharing your recipe!

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    1. Whatever would we do without the humble potatoe Britta - I love them done in so many different ways.

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  7. I love the sound of both your potatoes and your exotic trip.

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    1. You have all of the ingredients so close to hand Annie. I bought my Sumac the last time that I was in Istanbul.

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  8. Rosemary,
    That looks so tempting and tasty! Extra spicy for me. Always love new ways to cook potatoes. Cheers, L

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  9. I imagine that could get quite spicy, but I'd give it a try.

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    1. It is not too spicy but if an extra teaspoonful of cayenne pepper were to be added then that would make quite a big difference.

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  10. A dip into exotic delights and tasty treasures that is sadly lacking in my own menu routine at present due to my golden rule... 'can I make it in under 20 minutes?' Just laziness on my part to stick to food I'm very familiar with so this has inspired me to try harder as I am slightly fed up with the same old tastes.

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    1. If you have all the necessary incredients to hand Bob then they do not take long to make.

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  11. These sound absolutely delicious! I'm guessing you are headed to the tropics, perhaps Madagascar or Sri Lanka? I like using coconut milk in some soups.

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    1. They were very much enjoyed by both of us Lorrie - good guesses.

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  12. Look´s really good and tasty - I must try this :)
    Lovely to follow your journey...
    Greetings from a snowy Sweden and Titti

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    1. We were supposed to get some more snow but it did not materialise - luckily we have lovely sunshine and blue skies today.

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  13. Those potatoes look delicious and will make a nice change. I'm glad you have already found an alternative holiday after your disappointment. Having time to look forward to a future break always adds to the experience. Sarah x

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    1. I love potatoes done in all different ways, but these are particularly good.

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  14. We love our potatoes. Seems a nice way of doing potatoes.
    I made last evening for dinner a potato quiche which was lovely and tasty

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    1. There are so many ways to use potatoes - what a delicious staple they are.

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  15. Dear Rosemary,
    your potatoes look delicious! I will try the recipe.
    Best wishes,
    Lisa

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  16. Dear Rosemary, Your potatoes look delicious. I love to cook and I love to try new recipes. In the past I have only used salt and duck fat to roast my potatoes. I must become more adventures. Thanks for sharing your recipe.

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    1. Dear Gina - potatoes are a favourite of mine regardless of how they are cooked - I don't think that I know anyone who doesn't love a potato.

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  17. Love this easy recipe, looks delicious, will absolutely try these potatoes.

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  18. mmm these look delicious. When you said spices grow in profusion my first thought was Zanzibar.

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  19. I'm writing here regarding the snowdrop identification question. I contacted Judy's Snowdrops and they very kindly took a look at the photo and identified it as a "nicely marked form of elwesii var elwesii." Thank you for pointing me in that direction.

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    1. Thank you for letting me know Lorrie - I knew that you had something more special than the ordinary Galanthus nivalis growing in your garden.

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  20. Hi Rosemary,

    The spicy potatoes look delicious and I often cook wedges with a sprinkling of ingredients like this.
    Glad you have found another holiday destination to go to - as for the fresh pineapples, yumm is all I can say and my favourite.
    happy weekend
    hugs
    Carolyn

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    1. I haven't tried the fresh pinapple with a sprinkle of chili yet but I can imagine that it is good.

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  21. Looks delicious even though the food is stranger to me.
    Hugs

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  22. Such deliciously prepared potatoes would be for me the main course, not an addition to the main course. Regards.

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    1. You are right Giga the potatoes are perfectly lovely on their own.

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  23. Cardamom. Was there ever a more heavenly scented spice in the whole history of spice-dom? :) I think not. Funny, just this past week I bought my first spice bottles of curry, turmeric and ginger. I also bought a can of coconut milk - the first time ever. I'm going to be making a lentil coconut curry dish I found on Pinterest - my first attempt at Indian cooking. Served probably with lime flavored rice which I have also just discovered. At my age, you'd think I would have tried all this much sooner. But better late than never. (I also like the look of your potatoes, Rosemary.)

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    1. I love these flavours from the east Yvette, and coconut milk is great in cooking. Just make sure that you add the thick white coconut from the top of the tin a little at a time allowing it to melt and blend in with what you are cooking before adding the clearer liquid from the bottom.

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  24. I adore potatoes and these look amazing.
    I appreciate your visits Rosemary especially when I see how many followers you have.

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    1. I don't think that I know anyone who does not love a potato, and with these added spices they are even more delicious.

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  25. They sound absolutely delicious. Having watched a program on Lebanese cooking recently I would love to go to Lebanon and try many different local dishes.

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    1. Thank you for your visit Cherie - I love these middle eastern flavours which were first introduced to me following several visits to Turkey.

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  26. Dearest Rosemary,
    Well, that no doubt makes a very spicy and delicious potato dish.
    Love all the spices that are being grown on the island of your next trip!
    Sending you hugs,
    Mariette

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    1. Dear Mariette - I wonder just how people managed years ago without all of wonderful selction of spices and herbs that are readily available today.

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