Sweet Potato French Fries

October 6, 2011 Ceri

Here’s another one for the “How have we never done X before?” file. X being sweet potato fries this time around. Sweet potato fries? Shouldn’t that have been like the second or third post we ever did? Um yeah… and yet? Not so much.

I was talking to someone just this morning about how we all fall back on foods we know aren’t the greatest (I’m looking at you mac and cheese) but that kids will eat without a fuss. “They’re guarantee foods,” my new genius friend quipped. Exactly! Well, these fries are absolutely a guarantee. But since they’re made sweet potato they also pack a nutritional punch. Shall we review? Our namesake veg is high in fibre and contains impressive levels of vitamins A, C and B6. This is so easy it’s almost not a recipe at all. Which makes it a must for your weekly roster. They’re a great side for lots of mains. Feel free to monkey around with the spices or don’t use spices at all – but this combo is killer, if I may say.

photos by Maya Visnyei

Ingredients

3 Medium Sweet Potatoes
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp salt
1 Tbsp 5-spice

Method

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Peel and slice sweet potatoes into match sticks.

I like to start by cutting them in half lengthwise.

Then lay them flat on that cut side and make thin strips.

Then turn those strips on their sides and cut into more fine slices.

The skinnier you make them, the crisper they're going to be

Mix your spices in a large bowl.

Pour oil over the spice blend and combine well.

Throw in your potatoes and toss until they're completely covered.

Lay them out out in a single layer on a cookie sheet.

Use two sheets if they're looking crowded.

Place in a hot oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

Take out at the fifteen minute mark and turn them over with tongs or a spatula.

Keep an eye on them at the end as the edges will char (not that that's a bad thing)

Sweet Potato Chronicles

. Try to let them cool before you dive in. Good luck with that!

Category Fall By Ingredient Vegetables By Season By Meal Type Sides

8 Comments

Lindsay
October 06, 11:02 Reply

This looks awesome, but I’m dying to know what 5-Spice is.
- Ceri Marsh
  October 15, 15:28 Reply
  
  Hi Lindsay,
  Sorry – I should have replied to sooner to your question! 5-Spice is a spice combo that’s used in a lot of Chinese dishes. It’s usually made up of fennel, cloves, cinnamon, star-anise and Szechuan peppercorns so it’s sweet and spicy together. You could go to a specialty store to find it but I see it more and more these days in better grocery stores. But honestly, you can create any spice mix you think your family would like!
Insensate
October 07, 03:19 Reply

these look awesome… beautiful pictures as well
Polwig
October 07, 10:09 Reply

We love sweet potato fries, my 3 year old twins will pick them over regular fries any day. I have had them with paprika before but never with Chinese 5 spice. So worth a try.
Liz
October 07, 16:32 Reply

These look AMAZING!!! Going to try soon~
Jo
October 07, 18:56 Reply

I adore yam fries! Fantastic on their own or dipped in some chipotle-mayo, Mmmm
Natalie
October 11, 21:19 Reply

These look great! I love sweet potato!
Karen Lalonde
September 14, 10:24 Reply

I tried this recipe using All spice instead of 5 spice it worked great. 5 spice is the Chinese Version of All spice and you can get it in the chinese food shop. All spice you get in the grocery store. Both work.