This Lebanese Potato Bowl is my husband's favorite way to eat batata harra and once you make it this way, you will never think of it as just a side dish again! Crispy roasted russet potatoes tossed in a bold cilantro, garlic, lemon, and chili sauce that is the soul of traditional batata harra, topped with spiced ground beef, sliced avocado, and a cool garlic yogurt that ties every component together into a complete and genuinely satisfying bowl.
1tablespooncornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water
⅓cupwater
Garlic yogurt
1cupfull fat plain Greek yogurt
1garlic clovegrated
1tablespoonfresh lemon juice
Salt and black pepper to taste
For serving
1ripe avocadosliced
Instructions
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Roast the potatoes
Preheat your oven to 450F. Peel and cube the russet potatoes into even pieces roughly an inch in size. Add to a large bowl and toss with the olive oil, coriander, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and salt until every piece is evenly coated.
Drizzle a generous amount of olive oil across one or two large sheet pans. Spread the seasoned potatoes in a single even layer with space between each piece. Do not crowd the pan. Roast at 450F for 35 minutes, flipping halfway through at the 17 or 18 minute mark. If any pieces are sticking when you flip, add a small drizzle of olive oil and continue roasting. The potatoes are done when they are deeply golden and crispy on the outside and completely tender on the inside.
Cook the ground beef
While the potatoes roast, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and spread into an even layer. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until a golden sear develops on the bottom. Break up the beef and continue cooking until fully browned.
Add the beef bouillon, paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Stir to coat evenly. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook for 2 minutes stirring constantly until the paste darkens and smells rich. Add the cornstarch slurry and the water and stir to combine. Simmer for 2 to 3 minutes until the beef is slightly saucy and glossy. Remove from the pan and set aside.
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, ½ tbsp beef bouillon, ½ tsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water, ⅓ cup water
Make the garlic cilantro sauce
In the same pan reduce the heat to medium. Add the olive oil. Add the mashed garlic paste and chopped cilantro and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly until fragrant. Add the coriander, red pepper flakes, and shatta if using. Stir to combine. Add the fresh lemon juice and cook for 2 minutes until everything is fragrant and slightly reduced.
2 cups fresh cilantro loosely packed (or about a bunch), 5 large garlic cloves, 1 tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tbsp shatta, ⅓ cup fresh lemon juice, 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Toss the potatoes
Add the hot roasted potatoes directly to the pan with the garlic cilantro sauce. Toss firmly until every piece of potato is thoroughly coated in the sauce. The potatoes should be hot enough to absorb the sauce deeply rather than just having it sit on the surface. Taste and adjust lemon, salt, and red pepper flakes as needed.
Make the garlic yogurt
In a small bowl stir together the Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning. Set aside until ready to serve.
1 cup full fat plain Greek yogurt, 1 garlic clove, 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice, Salt and black pepper to taste
Assemble and serve
Divide the garlic cilantro dressed potatoes into four bowls. Top each bowl with a generous portion of the spiced ground beef. Fan the avocado slices alongside. Finish with a generous spoonful of garlic yogurt over the top. Serve immediately while the potatoes are still warm and the yogurt is still cold.
Nutrition facts are only estimates.StorageStore each component separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat the potatoes in the air fryer at 400F for 5 minutes to bring back the crispiness before tossing in the sauce. Reheat the beef gently in a skillet over medium low heat with a small splash of water to loosen the sauce. Store the garlic yogurt separately and add cold right before serving. Assemble bowls fresh each time rather than storing assembled bowls as the potatoes will absorb the sauce and soften overnight.