Sweet Potato Fries Recipe

These addictive seasoned “fries” from Mark Bittman are actually baked, but we promise you wont miss the grease. The spice mix – garlic powder, paprika, salt and black pepper – can be used on regular potatoes as well (youll just need to increase the baking time a bit).

Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Learn how to make crispy, oven baked sweet potato fries! Tossed with olive oil and sea salt, sweet potato fries are an easy and healthy homemade snack or side dish. Recipe yields 4 side servings.

Prep: 10min

Total: 45min

Yield: 4

Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 263 calories, Sugar 9.5 g, Sodium 389.9 mg, Fat 7.1 g, Saturated Fat 1 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 47.4 g, Fiber 6.8 g, Protein 3.6 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds sweet potatoes (about 2 medium-large or 3 medium)
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Optional spices: freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper and/or garlic powder

Instruction:

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit with racks in the lower and upper thirds of the oven (make sure the top rack is about 6″ from the heat source and no closer). Line two large, rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper so the fries don’t get stuck to the pans.
2. Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into fry-shaped pieces about 1/4″ wide and 1/4″ thick. Try to cut them into similarly sized pieces so the fries will bake evenly. Transfer half of the uncooked fries to one baking sheet, and the other half to the other baking sheet.
3. Sprinkle the sweet potato fries with the cornstarch (use 1 1/2 teaspoons per pan) and salt (1/4 teaspoon per pan). Toss until the fries are lightly coated in powder. Drizzle the olive oil over the fries (1 tablespoon per pan) and toss until the fries are lightly and evenly coated in oil, and no powdery spots remain (use your fingers to rub visible cornstarch into the fries as necessary).
4. Arrange your fries in a single layer and don’t overcrowd; otherwise they will never crisp up. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the fries so they can cook on all sides. (The easiest way to flip them is with a metal spatula. Section by section, scoop up about ten fries and flip them with a quick turn of the wrist.)
5. Arrange the fries in even layers across the pans again, moving any particularly browned fries more toward the middle of the pan so they don’t get overcooked. Return the pans to the oven, swapping their positions (former top pan goes to the lower rack and vice versa).
6. Bake for 10 to 18 more minutes, or until the fries are crispy. You’ll know they’re almost done when the surface of the fries change from shiny orange to a more matte, puffed up texture. Keep an eye on them, as they can turn from crisp to burnt quickly. Sometimes the lower pan will be done a few minutes before the top pan. Don’t worry if the edges are a little bit brown; they will taste more caramelized than burnt.
7. If desired, toss the baked fries with seasonings, to taste. I like to use lots of freshly ground black pepper, and a scant 1/4 teaspoon each cayenne pepper and garlic powder. Serve warm!

The BEST Baked Sweet Potato Fries

This Baked Sweet Potato Fries recipe is legit-crispy, easy to make, perfectly seasoned, and guaranteed to disappear pretty much…immediately.

Prep: 50min

Total: 1h15min

Yield: 4

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sweet potatoes, peeled
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly-cracked black pepper
• fine sea salt, to taste

Instruction:

1. Slice your sweet potatoes into long, thin strips, about 1/4-inch wide. It’s important that the fries are uniformly sized for even cooking. Add the fries to a large bowl of cold water and soak for at least 30 minutes (or up to overnight).
2. Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet (or two medium baking sheets*) with parchment paper, or mist with cooking spray. Set aside.
3. Drain the fries, rinse out and dry your bowl of water, then blot dry the fries with a clean towel.
4. Add the fries back to the clean bowl.* Then drizzle evenly with the olive oil, and toss until they are evenly coated.
5. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch, garlic powder, smoked paprika and black pepper until combined. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bowl of fries, then toss until the fries are evenly coated and the cornstarch has soaked into the oil.
6. Spread the fries out in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Be sure that the fries aren’t overlapping, or else they will not cook evenly.
7. Bake for 15 minutes. Then remove pan from oven, and take the time to flip each fry with a spatula. Rearrange so that the fries are evenly spaced and not overlapping again. Then bake for 10-15 more minutes, or until the fries are crispy and have begun to brown a bit on the tips.
8. Transfer the baking sheet to a cooling rack, sprinkle with your desired amount of salt, then let the fries rest for 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Crispy Sweet Potato Fries | The Secret to the BEST Fried Sweet Potatoes

FAQ

Why won t my sweet potato fries get crispy?

Do sweet potatoes need to be soaked before frying?

How to make sweet potato fries that aren t soggy?

How long to soak sweet potato fries?