Sweet potato fries are a fun and sweet alternative to regular French fries. These bulbs are also slightly more nutritious than the regular ones. Although they both have almost the same amount of calories and carbohydrates, sweet potatoes are rich in antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin S, and vitamin E, to name a few. Sweet potatoes are also lower on glycemic levels, so they don't raise blood sugar levels as high. All of this combined means the sweet potato fries are worth a try.
Ingredients
- 3 large sweet potatoes, about 2 lbs. (900 g)
- 1/4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
- 2 tbsp (28.3 g) brown sugar
- 1 tbsp (14.3 g) salt
- 1 tbsp (14.3 g) pepper
- 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) paprika
- 1/2 tsp (2.4 g) cinnamon
Serving
3 to 6 servings
Step
Method 1 of 3: Preparation
Step 1. Peel the sweet potatoes
Place the blade of a sharp knife or vegetable peeler over the sweet potato and drag it down the length of the potato peeler, pressing just enough to remove the skin. Repeat with the remaining two potatoes.
Step 2. Use a sharp knife to cut off the ends of your sweet potatoes
Don't cut a lot; just 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch (1/2 to 1 1/4 cm) on both ends of the sweet potato should suffice. Doing this will prevent your fries from having small, pointed ends, which is especially important because these tiny pointed ends are flammable and unpleasant.
Step 3. Cut the sweet potato in half lengthwise
Use a sharp knife to cut each sweet potato into equal halves, cutting from top to bottom, so you have 6 halves.
Step 4. Cut the halves into quarters
Use a sharp knife to cut each slit crosswise, cutting from side to side, not top to bottom.
Step 5. Slice each quarter into even slices
Each slice should ideally be 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) thick and 1/4 inch (1/2 cm) wide, but the length of the slice may vary depending on personal preference. Slices 3-4 inches (7 1/2 to 10 cm) long are usually a good size. However, no matter what you choose, try to keep most of your slices the same size.
Be aware that you can also use a wrinkle-cutting knife to make crinkled sweet potatoes. You can also use a knife or mandolin to cut the sweet potatoes into circles
Method 2 of 3: Baking
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit (232 degrees Celsius)
Prepare a low baking sheet by spraying it with vegetable spray or by covering it with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Step 2. Place the sweet potato slices in a large bowl and add the oil
Mix the slices into the oil using your hands or with a large wooden spoon or plastic grilling spoon. Keep mixing until you see that each slice is greased with oil.
Step 3. Sprinkle sugar over your french fries
If you're on a low-sugar diet, you can skip this step, but sugar increases the sweetness of the sweet potato. Sugar also helps caramelize french fries.
Step 4. Sprinkle salt, pepper, paprika, and cinnamon over your fries
Salt and pepper are very standard, but you don't need to use paprika and cinnamon if you don't like one of the flavors. Try sprinkling your seasonings evenly over your fries to make it easier to mix them.
Step 5. Combine sugar, spices and sweet potato slices
You can use your hands, but chances are your hands are covered in more seasoning than your fries. Instead, use a plastic or wooden baking spoon to reduce the seasoning lost in the mixing process. Once you're done stirring, you should see the spices smearing each slice.
Step 6. Spread the slices on the prepared baking sheet
Spread on one layer. French fries piled on top of each other won't cook evenly, so if you have too many fries on one pan, it's better to use a second pan instead of letting your fries pile up.
Step 7. Bake your french fries in the oven for about 15 minutes
At this point, the top should look a little brown. Remove the fries and turn them over using a flat spatula or hamburger flipper before returning them to the oven for another 5-15 minutes.
Step 8. Remove the fries when they are completely browned
Test one of the fries by breaking it. The inside should be quite soft. You can taste either one to make sure it's done, but make sure you let it cool before doing so to prevent your mouth from burning.
Step 9. Let the fries cool for 5-10 minutes
Serve hot as a side dish or snack.
Method 3 of 3: Frying
Step 1. Bring water to a boil in a 5-quart (5 liter) saucepan
Heat the water on medium heat.
Step 2. Put the sweet potato slices in the boiling water
Cover the pan and let the slices simmer for 10 minutes before removing them. Dry the sweet potatoes using a clean cloth or paper towel.
Step 3. Fill a 5 quart (5 liter) frying pan or Dutch oven with oil
Leave only 3 inches (7.6 cm) of free space between the surface of the oil and the edge of the frying pan. Heat the oil to 300 degrees Fahrenheit (148.9 degrees Celsius).
Step 4. Put a handful of sweet potato slices in the hot oil
Fry the slices for 3-4 minutes or until they start to brown.
Step 5. Remove the slices from the oil with a slotted spoon
Place the sweet potato fries on several layers of paper towels. Paper towels soak up the oil, helping the fries drain. Allow the slices to cool for at least 10 minutes, but do not allow more than 2 hours.
Step 6. Repeat the frying and draining process with the remaining slices
Fry just a handful of sweet potato slices at a time.
Step 7. Reheat the oil to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius) when ready to serve
By this time, the fries should have cooled and need to be refrigerated to reheat. Even if the sweet potato fries haven't cooled down completely, you'll still need to re-fry them to finish cooking them.
Step 8. Drop your french fries in a handful of oil once
Cook the fries in the oil for an additional minute until steaming. Keep re-frying the handful of sweet potato slices until you've finished frying them all.
Step 9. Remove the fries from the oil using a slotted spoon
Drain on a dry paper towel for one minute.
Step 10. Combine sugar, salt, pepper, paprika, and cinnamon in a large bowl
Stir the spices to combine them evenly.
Step 11. Put your sweet potato fries in the condiment bowl
Stir in the fries or gently slide the bowl around until all the fries are evenly coated.
Step 12. Remove your fries from the bowl and place them on a plate
Serve the sweet potato fries as a side dish or snack.
