Yakhnet Batata (Lebanese Beef and Potato Stew)

About This Recipe

Yakhnet batata is a straightforward, unfussy stew found in Lebanese households on any given weeknight, beef and potato chunks simmered together in a tomato-based broth until both become tender and the flavors meld completely. The dish leans on a simple aromatic base of onion, garlic and a touch of baharat, letting the beef's natural richness and the potato's starchiness carry most of the work rather than relying on a long list of spices. Ladled generously over rice, with the potatoes having soaked up much of the savory broth by the time it's served, yakhnet batata exemplifies the kind of everyday, sustaining home cooking found across the Levant.

Ingredients

Serves 4

• 600 gbeef stew meat(cubed)
• 3 tbspolive oil
• 1onion(diced)
• 3 clovesgarlic(minced)
• 2 tbsptomato paste
• 3 cupswater or beef stock
• 1 tspbaharat
• 1.5 tspsalt
• 1/2 tspblack pepper
• 4potatoes(peeled and cubed)
• 2 tbspchopped parsley(for garnish)

Instructions

1. 1

   Brown the beef

   Heat olive oil in a heavy pot and brown the beef cubes on all sides, about 10 minutes; remove and set aside.

2. 2

   Cook the onion

   Cook onion in the same pot until soft, add garlic, then stir in tomato paste, cooking 2 minutes.

3. 3

   Braise

   Return the beef to the pot with water or stock, baharat, salt and pepper; cover and simmer 45 minutes until nearly tender.

4. 4

   Add potatoes

   Add the potato cubes and continue simmering, covered, 20-25 more minutes until both the beef and potatoes are fully tender.

   Add the potatoes partway through rather than at the start so they don't overcook and turn mushy before the beef is ready.

5. 5

   Adjust and serve

   Taste and adjust salt, then garnish with parsley and serve hot over rice.

Variations

• •

  Adding green beans or peas along with the potatoes gives extra color and nutrition.

• •

  Lamb can substitute for beef, adjusting the cooking time slightly depending on the cut.

• •

  A version with a splash of lemon juice stirred in at the end brightens the finished dish.

Storage

Refrigerate up to 4 days in an airtight container; the flavor deepens the next day, and it also freezes well for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions