Spicy Sumac Potatoes

Potato fans rejoice, my spicy sumac potatoes are so delicious you might find that you have eaten them all before they reach the table.

I adore potatoes in all its forms but fried potatoes are my downfall and if you don't like carbohydrates we can't be friends.

Sumac is a berry that often grows wild in Lebanon and the surrounding region. It is dried and ground to a powder and used in cooking to add sourness.

You can know if your sumac is good quality as it should be a dark red and not a dull brown. Brown sumac means it's old and sad and should probably be disposed of.

You might be familiar with the more famous batata harra (potatoes with cilantro) but it's nice to change up the side dishes now and again.

Ingredients

Cyprus potatoes are the closest you will find in Europe to Lebanese potatoes of the Bekaa valley. They are elongated in shape and when you deep fry them, they become crispy and firm.

Other key ingredients are garlic and the spice blend. Always sauté with mild olive oil and not extra virgin as it burns quicker. You will need vegetable oil to deep fry the potatoes.

Instructions

This is a pretty straightforward recipe that can be summarised in the steps below:

Combine all spices, peel and sauté the garlic in a pan along with the spices in mild olive oil

Peel and chop the potatoes into cubes 1cm thick

Deep fry the potatoes until golden

Add the potatoes to the garlic and sauté on low heat for a few minutes

Variations

Cooking is all about adapting recipes with what you have, and not being afraid to add or substitute similar elements. Try these different versions:

• Onions - caramelise an onion on low heat to add sweetness.
• Crispy Onions - garnish with crispy onions for extra crunch.
• Chilli - add fresh chopped chillis if you like things really spicy.
• 7 spice - if you don't have 7 spice you can use any popular spice blend like garam masala, 5 spice or jerk spice blend.

Equipment

You need a deep pan for frying the potatoes (I don't bother with electric deep friers as they take up too much space in m kitchen) and a sauté pan for preparing the garlic with the spices.

📖 Recipe

5 from 2 votes

Print

Spicy sumac potatoes

Fried potatoes with garlic and a sumac spice blend

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine Lebanese

Keyword Comfort food, Mezze, Quick and Easy

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Servings 4 people

Author Zaatar and Zaytoun

Ingredients

• 3-4 potatoes
• 2-3 garlic cloves chopped
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon red chilli powder
• ¼ teaspoon 7 spice
• salt to taste
• 1 teaspoon sumac
• ½ chilli optional, chopped

Instructions

1. Chop the potatoes into roughy 1 cm cubes and deep fry in vegetable oil until golden. Drain on paper towel and set aside
2. In a sauté pan, add the black pepper, red chilli powder and 7 spice to a good drizzle of mild olive oil and cook on low heat for a few minutes making sure the garlic doesn't burn
3. Add the fried potatoes and sauté for another five minutes. Add salt to taste and optional fresh chilli for extra heat

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