Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro - Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe (2024)

Appetizers, Gluten Free, Mezza, Vegetarian15

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Last Updated on June 6, 2022

Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro Recipe

People from my mother’s home village in Lebanon, Bakarkasha, are nicknamed “Batata” which is the Arabic word for “Potatoes.” Apparently, they are known for their love for potatoes, and their many different ways of enjoying this food staple. Just the other day mom reminded me of this fact when she threw at me yet another potato recipe, and this time around it’s sauteed with cilantro and garlic.

“Potatoes in Garlic and Cilantro” serves as a delicious appetizer and is quite simple to make. I got it right the first time around.

If you are health conscious and would like to avoid frying the potatoes, you may also bake them as long as you get them to a nice crispy texture (perhaps just dazzle a few droplets of oil on them prior to baking them). We prefer the fried version, but I fried them using organic coconut oil which can sustain high temperatures.

FAQs

Do potatoes and cilantro go together?

Yes, both of them have a good combo.

Can you saute potatoes without boiling them first?

The answer is no, you don’t need boil before you fry them.

Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro

A delicious Lebanese Appetizer Made With Potatoes and Cilantro.

5 from 3 votes

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Servings 4

Ingredients

  • 4 large potatoes
  • 1 bunch green cilantro or 1/2 cup dried cilantro leaves
  • 5-8 large fresh garlic cloves crushed
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • 3 table spoons of olive oil
  • A dash of salt

Instructions

  • Slice the potatoes into small cubes of about 3/4 inch with a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Fry them in oil until they are golden/crispy (or alternatively bake them in the oven until they're crispy). Salt them lightly.

  • Meanwhile rinse the cilantro leaves then discard the stems, and chop the leaves very finely. Lay the leaves on a paper towel for a few minutes to dry the water from them.

  • In a deep frying pan, add the crushed garlic then saute it on medium heat in the 3 tablespoons of olive oil just for a couple of minutes. You want the garlic to stay a bit raw, not fully cooked, or otherwise if you overcook the garlic it looses its flavor.

  • Add a tiny pinch of salt, then add the chopped cilantro and the lemon juice to the garlic and saute/mix them well for a minute or two.

  • Finally add the fried potatoes to the pot, mix it well with the saute and cook it for 3-5 more minutes while stirring, and you're done.

  • BONUS: If you love spicy food, finely chop a bit of green jalapeno or Serrano peppers and add them during the cilantro saute

  • Serve hot or cold as an appetizer.

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

15 Responses to Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro – Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe

  • Rebecca

    I’ve made this recipe dozens of times. The recipe I found calls for three pounds of potatoes, only three cloves of minced garlic, one bunch of cilantro, a quarter cup of olive oil, and salt to taste when finished. You cook the cilantro and garlic in the oil for a minute or two, then add the diced/cubed potatoes to the skillet and cook until golden brown. Sprinkle salt over potatoes just before serving. I always get compliments from everyone when I make this dish.

    Reply

  • Yves

    Could you tell me how to prepare 1 liter if the saisoning

    Reply

  • Amar

    Made this recipe just now. I baked my potatoes instead of frying. Ya allaahhhh I love this recipe. My grandma makes it for me all the time but I decided to try it on my own. Thank you for sharing 🙂

  • joseph

    Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro - Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe (7)
    Best appetizer there is! Just as a tip, my mom used to put a little bit of paprika with this. it really enhances the flavor

    Reply

  • Benoit

    Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro - Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe (8)
    Delicious! I used peanut oil and russet potatoes and this turned out amazing! What kind of potatoe would traditionally be used? Lovely lovely blog btw. Thank you.

    Reply

    • Edgard

      Thank you Benoit and I’m glad you liked the potatoes recipe. I think most types of potatoes would do well in this recipe there is no specific one to recommend.

      Reply

  • N

    any other substitute for Cilantro? Also, can u tell me the ingredients used in all spice which I have found in most of the Lebanese recipes. Thanks!

    Reply

    • Edgard

      This is a tough one because this recipe’s base flavors revolves around Cilantro. As for the 7-spices you could use equal proportions of Allspice, Black Pepper, White Pepper, Cinnamon, Ground Cloves, Ground Nutmeg, and Coriander. https://www.mamaslebanesekitchen.com/pantry/

      Reply

  • John

    Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro - Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe (9)
    Beautiful recipes I love the creative mix of garlic and cilantro. Thank you!!

    Reply

    • Edgard

      You’re welcome John. If you like meat, you can try to sautee beef stew chunks with garlic/cilantro and 7-spices (or pepper).. GOOD stuff!!

      Reply

  • miriam

    hi again..round potatoes cored and stuffed with mincemeat/ maybe fried then stwed in tomato broth

    Reply

  • miriam

    yum..what would this be fried in tradionally? and any chance on a batata mahshi recipe from Mama?

    Reply

    • Edgard

      Hi Miriam – any traditional Lebanese frying is always done with olive oil as that has been the staple oil for the country. What is the Batata Mahshi dish like can you describe it pls? There may be a few versions of it.

      Reply

  • Heba @ midEATS

    Looks absolutely delicious! I love potatoes. I try not to eat them TOO much, because they’re starchy, but that still results in about a 1x per week potato-rich meal. Thanks for giving me an idea for this week’s potato meal 😉

    Reply

  • sare

    Mama, ıt’s great.My mouth is watering.
    I love your garlic sause but ıt’ll be made at the weekend for me.

    Reply

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Potatoes Saute in Garlic and Cilantro - Batata ma3 Kizbra Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should you soak potatoes before sauteing? ›

First, get the starch off! Rinsing or soaking the potatoes for an hour (or, even better, overnight) will remove some of the starch from the surface and prevent the sugars from browning before the potatoes are cooked.

How do you saute potatoes Jamie Oliver? ›

Method. Scrub the potatoes, chop into 2cm chunks, then place in a large non-stick frying pan on a medium heat with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper. Fry for 20 minutes, or until golden and cooked through, stirring regularly, then remove to a bowl.

What happens if you don't soak potatoes before frying? ›

The main reasons to cut the potatoes and pre-soak in water are: To allow the excess starches and sugars to be removed from the outer surface of the fry strips AND to keep the potatoes from browning prematurely from exposure to air. Covering in water helps the potato from turning a dark color.

Why do you soak potatoes in water before cooking? ›

Soaking potatoes in water helps remove excess starch. Excess starch can inhibit the potatoes from cooking evenly as well as creating a gummy or sticky texture on the outside of your potatoes. Cold water is used because hot water would react with the starch activating it, making it harder to separate from the potatoes.

Should you cook potatoes in butter or oil? ›

It's simple: Pan-fry with cooking oil(s), not butter. As much as we love butter, it burns too quickly over high heat, which is necessary for optimal crispiness. While olive oil does taste great with potatoes, it also has a lower smoking point.

Can you saute potatoes without boiling them first? ›

It takes about 20 minutes for the potatoes to be tender (which is about the same amount of time it would take for the water to come up to a boil and for the potatoes to cook in it, therefore there's no need to incorporate boiling into the process).

Do you season potatoes while cooking? ›

Before cooking, peel, cut into one to two-inch pieces, drizzle with a little olive oil, add some salt and pepper and maybe some rosemary, then during the roasting give the pan a couple of shakes to let the potatoes turn and brown on all sides.

How long should you soak potatoes before frying? ›

Soak potatoes in water mixture for 15 minutes. Remove potatoes from water and dry thoroughly on paper towels. Heat oil in a deep-fryer to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Cook potatoes in hot oil until golden, 5 to 6 minutes.

Why do soaking potatoes make them crispier? ›

Soaking the sliced potatoes in water helps to draw out some of the starch from the middle of the potato, resulting in a sturdier, crispier French fry.

Does soaking potatoes in vinegar make them crispy? ›

When a small amount of vinegar is added to the soaking water before frying, it can help impart a tangy flavor to the fries without making them taste overly vinegary. The acid in the vinegar can also help to slightly break down the surface of the potatoes, aiding in the development of a crispier texture during frying.

How do you saute potatoes without sticking them? ›

Wash your potatoes leaving skins on. Slice them and place them between paper towels to absorb as much as the moisture as possible (very important!) Add sliced potatoes to your pan and continue cooking on low When browned on underside, flip and cover for about 10 minutes No sticking to pan and delicious!

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