Chtitha Batata (Algerian Potato Stew)

Name: Chtitha Batata (Algerian Potato Stew)
Prep time: 13 min
Cook time: 23 min
Total time: 36 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Algerian
Ingredients: 4 cloves Garlic; 1 small Red Chilli; 1 tsp Ground Cumin; 1 teaspoon Paprika; 1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper; 1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper; 1/2 teaspoon Salt; 2 tablespoons Olive Oil; 2 Lbs New Potatoes; 1 tablespoon Tomato Puree; Boiled Water; To taste Salt

By The Spice & Simmer Kitchen · Published May 3, 2026

A one-pot Vegetarian recipe with Algerian flavors, built for busy weeknights when you want real food without a sink full of dishes. Comes together in roughly 41 minutes, serves about 4, and uses ingredients you can find at any normal grocery store. The technique is simple: build a base in your pot, layer in the main ingredients, simmer until everything has had time to talk to each other, and serve straight from the pan. If you're cooking for picky eaters, this one tends to land — the flavors are recognizable, the texture is comforting, and there's nothing weird hiding in the ingredient list. Perfect for the kind of evening where you want dinner on the table by 7pm and the kitchen empty by 7:30.

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings · 36 min total

4 cloves Garlic
1 small Red Chilli
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 teaspoon Paprika
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1/2 teaspoon Salt
2 tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Lbs New Potatoes
1 tablespoon Tomato Puree
Boiled Water
To taste Salt

Step-by-step instructions

Combine garlic, chile pepper, cumin, paprika, black pepper, cayenne, and salt in a mortar; grind with a pestle until it forms a paste. Add olive oil and mix dersa well.
Heat a large saucepan over medium heat and stir-fry dersa until fragrant, 2 to 4 minutes. Add potato halves and stir to combine with the dersa. Stir in tomato paste. Pour in enough water to just cover the potatoes and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 40 minutes.
Ladle potatoes into a serving bowl. Spoon any remaining sauce over the potatoes.

Why this works on a weeknight

Chtitha Batata (Algerian Potato Stew) lands at about 36 minutes total — a little longer than our 30-minute target, but most of that time is hands-off simmering, which is why it earned a spot in our Stir-Fry collection. The technique is forgiving, the ingredient list is grocery-store standard, and the active cooking time is short enough that you can answer a text message in the middle without ruining dinner.

Cleanup notes

This is a single-pan recipe, so the cleanup is exactly one pan, one cutting board, and one knife. While the dish rests, fill the pan with hot soapy water — by the time you are done eating, the residue lifts off with a single pass of a sponge. Skip the steel wool on cast iron; a stiff brush and warm water are all you need to keep the seasoning intact.

Make-ahead and leftovers

Leftovers keep covered in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat in a dry pan over medium-low with a splash of water or stock to loosen the sauce. Chtitha Batata (Algerian Potato Stew) actually improves overnight as the flavors keep talking to each other, so doubling the recipe and packing tomorrow's lunch is a high-leverage weeknight move.

Filed under 🥢 Stir-Fry Vegetarian Algerian