Baked Fingerling Potatoes with a Spicy Harissa Sauce Recipe

"These kind of remind me of ... upscale fries; and, fingerlings are perfect for this. They are tender and sweet, and cook up quickly. The spicy harissa sauce is so different and absolutely delicious! Roast chicken or grilled fresh fish are actually perfect with this dish. And, this sauce is fantastic on grilled sandwiches, burgers, grilled fish or seafood, lamb chops, chicken, and even pork. Prep time does include roasting the peppers."

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Roasted Red Peppers ... You can buy them roasted; however, they are so simple to prepare. Cut your peppers into quarters and remove the ribs and seeds. Add them to a small sheet pan lined with foil (for easy clean up); and broil, skin side up in a 500 degree oven, on the second shelf down. I like to flip them the last 3-4 minutes to finish cooking. You want them to be charred and tender. Remove the peppers once the are done; and, add to either - a small brown bag; or, a bowl covered with plastic wrap. This will allow the skin to separate, and easily be removed. Let the let the peppers set a good 10-15 minutes; then, peel off the skins; but DO NOT rinse them under water. You can simply use your fingers; or, the back of a spoon works well.

Step 2

Sauce ... In the food processor or blender; add, the roasted red peppers, garlic, lemon juice, harissa, a pinch of both salt and pepper, and the bread - pulse a couple of times until everything is well combined. Then, slowly drizzle in the olive oil, and puree on low until you get a nice thickened smooth sauce. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Step 3

Potatoes ... Cut the small ones in half (lengthwise), and the larger ones in quarters. Add them to a sheet pan lined with foil and drizzle with olive oil, garlic, cumin, salt, and pepper; toss with your hands, and spread out the potatoes on the pan, so they do not overlap.

Step 4

Bake ... In a 425 degree oven, middle shelf, until golden brown. After 10 minutes, I usually flip them over and cook another 10 minutes. They will take approximately 20-25 minutes in all. They should be lightly brown, and crisp.

Step 5

Serve and ENJOY! ... First, this sauce is fantastic with the potatoes; but, it is also good as a dip for other fried foods. Try it as a sauce with lamb, pork, chicken; or a spread on burgers too.