Everyone loves French fries. They’re such a versatile food. There isn’t a piece of meat, fish, or meat-substitute that isn’t complemented by a portion of French fries. Not only do fries make a good side dish, but they’re a perfect snack, especially when loaded with some ketchup.
There’s no getting around it; french fries are tasty. But they’re pretty bad for the waistline too. A portion of French fries contains more calories than we’d like to mention. Fortunately, there are some methods that you can follow to make French fries healthier while keeping them tasty. We’re going to look at these simple ways to make your fries healthier before we show you an easy-to-follow recipe to make healthy fries at home.
Bake or Grill – No Frying.
The easiest way to instantly transform standard French fries into something healthier is to bake them in the oven or cook them on a grill, rather than deep-fry them. As we all know, deep-frying anything will add extra calories, as well as fat that can contribute to clogged arteries. Baking or grilling are much healthier alternatives.
Substitute with Sweet Potato
Over the last few years, you’ll have noticed that restaurants have started to offer customers the opportunity to switch their regular fries for sweet potato fries. This is because sweet potatoes are a healthier alternative to potatoes. The reason why sweet potato is better for you is quite simply that it’s a complex carbohydrate, whereas your standard potato is a simple carbohydrate.
When the body processes simple carbohydrates, they turn to sugar inside you. Unless you’re doing a lot of exercise, then this sugar will immediately turn to fat. A complex carb works slightly differently. So, if you’re looking for a French fry alternative that tastes just as good, offers a similar taste and consistency, and gives a good crunch too, then sweet potato fries are a great choice.
Don’t Use Salt
Countless studies through the years have proven how detrimental salt is to the human heart, especially standard white rock salt. You should resist coating your fries in salt when you’ve made them, as this will instantly make them healthier.
Healthy Home French Fries Recipe
Before we get started with the instructions for making healthy French fries at home, let’s have a look at what you’re going to need:
- Potatoes
- Olive oil
- Salt and Pepper
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Paper
- Oven
- Sharp Knife
- Potato Peeler – Optional – (Not required for skin-on French fries)
Now that you’ve got all your ingredients and equipment ready, it’s time for the recipe.
Step One: The first thing to do is to wash your potatoes. That’s if, of course, you want to have ‘skin-on’ fries. If you don’t like to have the skin on your French fries, then peel the potatoes and rinse the outside.
Step Two: Using a sharp knife, you should cut the potatoes into fries. We recommend that the sticks should be about ½ an inch thick. The easiest way to cut the fries into the right shape is first to slice them into slabs, then take the slaps and slice them into the sticks.
Step Three: If you want your fries extremely crispy, then it’s recommended that you leave them in water for approximately 20 minutes to remove the starch. You should then dry them carefully with kitchen roll.
Step Four: Take the baking paper and lay it upon a baking tray. Then place the parchment paper on top of the baking paper. Pre-heat the oven to 450f.
Step Five: Toss your potatoes in the olive oil, covering each strip in a thin layer. You can also add some salt and pepper into the mix, but make sure to refrain from adding too much, as salt can make your fries less healthy.
Step Six: Lay the potatoes on the parchment paper. Make sure that the potatoes are spread evenly across the paper.
Step Seven: Place the baking tray in the oven.
Step Eight: Every five minutes, you should turn the fries over.
Step Nine: Keep an eye on the potatoes. They will turn crispy quickly. You should remove them from the oven when they reach the crispiness that you like. They should take between twenty and thirty minutes to cook properly.
Step Ten: Serve and enjoy!
Healthy Dips to Eat with Healthy French Fries?
As long as you don’t overdo it, then there’s no issue with eating your healthy fries with ketchup, but be aware that ketchup contains a lot of sugar, as well as categories. Ketchup is, however, a slightly healthier option than mayonnaise. You might want to look online for some tasty, healthy dips that you can make at home, as some gorgeous avocado-based dips are simple to make and will contain all the goodness that is found in avocado.
Conclusion
Now you know how to make healthy French fries at home. Keeping away from the fryer is the first step to making your fries healthy. Also, reducing how much salt you put on your fries will be a good decision for your heart. Making healthy French fries at home is simple and requires few ingredients and equipment. As long as you follow the recipe in this article, then you’ll make yourself some healthy French fries that taste fantastic.
But remember, potatoes are simple carbohydrates, and they should always be eaten in moderation, especially if you’re watching your weight. Keep in mind that the dips that you eat with your French fries will also contain calories, so refraining from coating your healthy fries in an unhealthy sauce is always a good idea.