Do your kids love French fries? What kid doesn’t?! Make up a batch or two together on July 13 — National French Fries Day.
Even though they’re called “French” fries, they most likely didn’t originate in that country. Instead, they were probably a Belgium invention. Sources date French fries back to 1781.
That’s right: People have been making up French fries for years! And you can, too, with a recipe for perfect French fries.
Skip the frying by following the directions for crispy baked French fries or oven baked sweet potato fries. Another idea? Use other veggies like those in roasted carrot fries and crispy healthy zucchini fries.
Perfect French Fries
Want to know the secret to extra-crispy fries? In this perfect French fries recipe from The Pioneer Woman, you’ll find the answer: a long soak in cold water. Cut regular potatoes into fry pieces and submerge in water for 2-3 hours. Let them air dry and fry them once in hot oil for a couple minutes. Drain again and then fry until crisp.
Crispy Baked French Fries
You don’t have to fry your fries (even if that’s part of the name). Oven-cooked fries are just as good and this recipe for crispy baked French fries from Cookie + Kate proves it. Cut the potatoes into wedges and toss with oil. Cook at high heat for 10 minutes, rotate and then cook for 10 more. Sprinkle with salt and pair with ketchup for dipping.
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Chewy on the inside with almost a candy-like flavor, these oven-baked sweet potato fries from Simply Recipes almost taste like dessert. Coat with oil before baking and then sprinkle with spices like smoked paprika, pumpkin pie spice, Cajun seasoning, or even cinnamon and sugar.
Roasted Carrot Fries
No potatoes or sweet potatoes on hand? What about carrots? Cut carrots into small, long pieces and place on a cookie sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and then salt before baking. Cook at 450° for 10-12 minutes. That’s it to make these roasted carrot fries from Taste of Home.
Crispy Healthy Baked Zucchini Fries
Here’s another way to make more nutritious fries – crispy healthy baked zucchini fries from Chocolate Covered Katie. Dip zucchini sticks in flour, then milk, and finally breadcrumbs. Bake to golden perfection for about 18 minutes and then offer up with marinara sauce.
Smothered French Fries
Take regular fries to the next level by following the directions from Kraft for smothered French fries. First, bake packaged French fries. In a bowl mix together sour cream, ranch dressing and garlic. Put the fries on a large platter and add the sauce and top off with bacon pieces, green onion slivers and crumbled blue cheese.
This post was originally published in 2016 and is updated regularly.
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