Dip your french fries in ketchup or barbecue sauce to add a kick of flavor.
French fries make a handy and tasty side dish to any meal. They work with burgers, baked or fried chicken, barbecue ribs and almost any main course you create. French fries, generally deep-fried in fatty oils, have a reputation for being unhealthy. Of course, it's the frying rather than the spuds themselves, that is unhealthy. You can bake your french fries, using a few simple ingredients, while limiting your fatty oil consumption. Russet potatoes are often cited for their low moisture content and starchiness as a safe bet for making great-tasting fries.
Instructions
1. Clean the skin of several small potatoes with a scrubber while running under cool water to remove all the dirt and grime. Because potatoes are grown in the ground, it's important to thoroughly scrub them clean.
2. Peel the potatoes using a vegetable peeler. Rinse the potatoes again under cool water.
3. Cut the potatoes in half, then make long, vertical slices using a utility knife. "The utility knife is good for cutting larger vegetables and sandwich meats that are not large enough for a chef's knife," says Knives Kitchen.com." Make a horizontal cut across the middle of the slices for shorter french fries.
4. Line a baking sheet with tin foil. Spritz olive oil on the foil to help keep the fries from sticking. Use a minimum amount of oil; squirt three to four times, then spread the oil across the sheet with a paper towel. You don't want to drown the fries with oil. Your goal is to bake the fries, not fry them.
5. Arrange the potato slices in a single layer on the pan. Spritz them lightly with olive oil. Sprinkle salt and herbs to taste. Some good seasonings to add include: salt, garlic, paprika or even Parmesan cheese.
6. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. Carefully flip by hand or with a spatula to help ensure that none stick and all cook evenly. Continue baking for another 15 minutes.
7. Line a bowl with a folded paper towel to absorb extra oil from the fries. Transfer the fries to the bowl. Allow them to cool, but not too much, before serving.
Tags: french fries, cool water, paper towel, sheet with, under cool