How to Bake Homemade Sweet Potato Fries Snacks
Discover > Texas Recipes > How to Bake Homemade Sweet Potato Fries Snacks
In 2018, while hosting our annual Superbowl friends’ get-together, I hopped into my pantry to fetch some potatoes for the party staple – French fries. To my horror, I discovered an almost empty basket with just one teensy lonely potato, huddled in the corner. Even if I shredded it, it wouldn’t be enough to make fries for 8 people. I panicked. A party without fries was unheard of in our circle. It was the kind of thing that people talked about for days after. Not wanting to be the black sheep of party hosts, I decided to step up the game - it was Superbowl night after all – and make sweet potato fries instead. And also decided to take it a step further and bake the fries. That way if they didn’t turn out nice, I could at least rave about how healthy they were. Start the health v/s taste debate, and divert attention from the fries.
But my overthought nightmares never materialized. That night, Eagles picked up the trophy, but amongst our little circle, my baked sweet potato fry was the real winner. People went back for seconds and thirds. And I had to bake a fresh batch during the game! But I’m not complaining. Because since that day, these sweet potato fries are not only a staple on my party menu but also a go-to snack for Netflix marathons, BBQ dinners, or just those cold evenings when I need a pick-me-up snacky indulgence.
The earthy aroma of baked sweet potatoes and their bright orangey hue brings back to mind, the image of a Texan maple tree in full bloom during autumn. Like autumn these fries are wholesome, vibrant, bright, and unfortunately, finish off soon. Frost was right – Nothing gold can stay.
No-Guilt Indulgence
There’s no reason to not try these baked potato fries. Texas is the 5th largest producer of sweet potatoes in the country. So, farm-fresh sweet potatoes are literally just round the corner, or you can also find them here.
Also, sweet potatoes are filled with micronutrients, which its not so sweet cousin -the potato- is devoid of. Sweet potatoes have more fiber, antioxidants and are rich in beta-carotene which the body converts into vitamin A. Read more about these super tubers and other superfoods that you need to stock up your pantry with ASAP.
So, for your next house party whip up a batch of these golden crunchy on the outside, soft and yamy when bit into, spicy and sweet baked sweet potato goodies, and indulge in crunchy fries without a side of guilt.
They are Better Baked
I tried a fried variation of these super fries. To my pleasant surprise – they did not turn out as good as the baked ones. Sweet potatoes have a lower starch content than white potatoes. Hence when fried, instead of turning crisp, they soak up a ton of oil and become lumpy.
Another reason to not fry sweet potatoes is that they burn very quickly. Because of their orange hue, they turn brown in minutes but remain uncooked from within, and if you fry them for longer, they’ll burn (almost char) from the outside.
Making Sweet Potato Fries
Preheat oven to 390°F
Slice the Potatoes
Slicing the potatoes evenly and medium-thick is the key to crunchy, well-baked sweet potato fries. Each wedge should be no more than 1/4th inch thick.
Coat the Slices with Cornstarch
Toss the sweet potato slices in cornstarch (how long does cornstarch last?) till each one of them is well coated. You can skip this step. But doing this will make the fries crispier.
For the most extensive selection, I suggest buying cornstarch online!
Spread Slices Evenly on a Baking Tray
Spread out the slices evenly on a baking tray. Make sure the fries are not overcrowded or piled on top of each other. Otherwise, fries that touch the surface of the baking dish will crisp on the outside while those on top won’t.
Save time and effort by ordering a baking tray online!
For more information about the difference of sweet potato and yam, click here!
Baked Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400F.
- Slice the sweet potatoes into sticks 1/4 to 1/2 inch wide and 3 inches long, and toss them with olive oil.
- In a small bowl, mix the spices, salt and pepper, and season the sweet potatoes. Spread them out on 2 rimmed baking sheets.
- Bake the sweet potatoes until brown and crisp on the bottom, about 15 minutes. Flip and cook until the other side is crisp, about 10 minutes. Serve hot and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories
261.44Fat
7.2Sat. Fat
1.01Carbs
46.61Fiber
7.1Net carbs
39.51Sugar
9.55Protein
3.78Sodium
707.09Cholesterol
0
