Best-Ever Oven-Baked French Fries Recipe
Some cravings you just can't conquer. Case in point, the ever delicious—yet ever caloric—French fry. Most of the time, you end up ordering some while dining out, especially when it comes to the fast-food variety of restaurants. And since fries are not something we commonly tend to make from scratch, when they are made in our kitchens, they are more often than not coming from a bag bought in the frozen food aisle and pack about as many calories as they would at a diner. But never fear! We are in the business of creating healthy versions of the foods you crave, and we've done it again in this recipe with a healthy crispy French fry, oven-baked to perfection. We know what you're thinking, crispy baked French fries: for so many years an oxymoron, but now, they are just 40 minutes away.
The key here is washing the surface starch from the potatoes before baking, which helps encourage surface browning and crisping. The rosemary and Parmesan are nice touches, but the real star of this show is the spud itself. This side dish goes great with a steak and a side of spinach, a juicy burger, or better yet, a turkey burger. On second thought, you might not even need a main course to enjoy handfuls of delicious crispy, homemade, oven-baked French fries!
Nutrition: 190 calories, 8 g fat (1.5 g saturated), 240 mg sodium
Serves 4
You'll Need
2 medium russet potatoes
2 Tbsp canola oil
Salt to taste
2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
1 tsp fresh rosemary leaves
1⁄4 cup grated Parmesan
How to Make It
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Peel the potatoes and cut into 1⁄4-inch fries (about twice the thickness of standard fast-food fries).
- Soak in warm water for at least 15 minutes before cooking.
- Drain the potatoes and dry thoroughly.
- Combine the fries and the oil in a mixing bowl and toss until they're evenly coated.
- Season thoroughly with salt.
- Spread the fries out on a large baking sheet, being careful they don't overlap.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the fries are just tender and lightly browned on the outside.
- Sprinkle with the garlic, rosemary, and Parmesan and return to the oven for another 10 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the garlic lightly browned.
