Lebanese
Batata Chap
"Croquettes" With Savory Filling
Batata chap has a crisp outer layer made from mashed potatoes and a juicy filling, seasoned with the Lebanese seven spice blend. The beauty of this recipe is the diverse filling styles one can make. Branch out to fish, cheese, rice, lentils, or beans.
Batata Chap Spice Blend
Allspice, black peppercorn, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, coriander, cloves
Lebanese Batata Chap
Batata chap has a crisp outer layer made from mashed potatoes and a juicy filling, seasoned with the Lebanese seven spice blend. Originally from France, the recipe for ‘croquettes’ has been adopted by various cultures. Batata chap is a Mediterranean variation hailing from Beirut, Lebanon. The beauty of this recipe is the diverse filling styles one can make. Branch out to fish, cheese, rice, lentils, or beans.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or lamb
- 2 lb russet potatoes peeled
- 1.5 cup tomato puree
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 1 clove garlic grated or pressed
- 1 lemon for juice
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup yogurt
- 1 cup starch arrowroot powder or corn
- olive oil
- salt & pepper
Optional
- 0.5 cup pine nuts
- a fresh salad of your choice
Batata Chap Culinary Spice Kit
- Allspice, black peppercorn, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, coriander, cloves
Instructions
Filling
- In a PAN, heat 2 tbsp oil over medium heat.
- Fry onions and optional nuts for 5 minutes.
- Add meat, salt to taste, and Batata Chap spices.
- Stir-fry until the meat is crumbled.
- Add tomato puree and adjust salt.
- Cook for about 5 minutes until the sauce thickens.
Potatoes
- In a POT, boil potatoes until soft. Drain and mash. Add salt & pepper to taste.
- When cooled, add eggs and starch. Mix well.
Patties
- Form little ‘golf balls’.
- Press each ball as flat as possible and fill it with 1 tsp of meat.
- Press the dough around the meat until closed.
- Pat the patties until flat and smooth.
- Preheat OVEN to 375°F.
- Place the filled patties on a greased baking sheet.
- Spray them with oil.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes until they turn brown on all sides, turning halfway.
Sauce
- In a CUP, mix yogurt, garlic, and 1 tsp olive oil. Season with lemon juice and salt to taste.
- Serve
- Serve batata chap with the remaining meat sauce, yogurt sauce, and a fresh salad.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- Substitute beef with chicken, turkey, or pork.
- Substitute meat with 2 cups cooked green lentils or black beans. Use Batata Chap spices to taste.
- Substitute a part of the tomato puree with fresh chopped tomatoes.
- Instead of baking, fry batata chaps in hot oil
- Instead of the forming the patties, use a greased baking pan. Spread half of the potato dough on the bottom. Spread the filling on top. Finish with another layer of potato dough. Spray the top with oil.
- Alternatively, use the Batata Chap spices for Lebanese Pumpkin Kibbeh.