Feel the Goodness of French Fries

2 years ago / by Abhijit Masih
French fries recipe
Courtesy of Unsplash

Strips of potato deep fried to put a smile on anyone’s face. The French Fries are as common on a plate with a burger or a hotdog as a bottle of ketchup is at a cook out. Known by different names in different countries the simple dish is called French fries in America, chips in England, finger chips in India and hot chips in Australia. A strip of potato with any name will taste just as yum. As a side dish, you could never go wrong with a potato, be it in any form. Whether it is potato wedges, garlic mashed potatoes, your regular hash browns or the classic French fries. The simple French Fries recipe that we are going to learn is as simple as peeling the potato.

The easy French Fries recipe reveals the secret to getting the French Fries crisp. Read on to learn how to make French Fries at home that tastes as good as the one you pick up at the mall counter. It may be good to note that many restaurants use frozen fries and are no where compared to the freshness that a plate of homemade French fries can offer.

How to make the Best French Fries:

Ingredients needed:

  • 2 large Russet potatoes per person
  • Cold water to soak
  • Oil 

The key to the perfect and crispy French Fries is to remove the starch and moisture from the potatoes. The secret to making the best French fries is the process of removing the starch completely. This can be done by washing the potato slices in cold water and to get rid of the moisture is to cook the fries twice, so that you get the nice and crunchy fries that would be a match to any of those drive-in joints.

Directions:

Step 1: Slice the potatoes. They should be ½ inch thick

Step 2: Soak them in cold water for a minimum of one hour. Do it over night if possible.

Step 3: Rinse them twice again with cold water and using a paper towel, pat them dry.

Step 4: Heat oil to 300 degrees F. Fry them in separate batches for a minimum of 5-6 minutes. Do not put too many at a time so that they don’t stick together. Use a slotted spoon to drain the oil and put the fries on a paper towel.

Step 5: Now increase the heat to 400 degrees F. Fry in batches till they turn golden brown. About 5 minutes.

Step 6: Place them on the paper towel and sprinkle the salt as per taste. 

Step 7: Serve with ketchup. 

The French fry—though indisputably a fry—may not actually be French. It is believed that the Belgians were the first to fry strips of potato. Some claim, by some I assume it’s the Belgians, that fries originated in their country, where villagers along the River Meuse traditionally ate fried fish. In winter, when the river froze, the fish-deprived villagers fried potatoes instead. It is said that this dish was discovered by American soldiers in Belgium during World War I and, since the dominant language of southern Belgium is French, they dubbed the tasty potatoes “French” fries.

Nutrition facts:

Per Serving – 100 g

Calories – 196g

Carbs – 18.5 g

Fat – 13.1 g

Sodium – 141 mg

Sugar – 1.25 g

Protein – 1.93 g

Fiber – 1.6 g

FAQs

Can French Fries be made in an oven?

If you do not want to use oil you can bake the potato slices in an oven. Simply toss them in an oven at 425 degrees F for 30 minutes.

How do I make homemade French fries crunchy?

The trick is to remove all the moisture and starch from the potato slices. Rinse them in cold water you can even let it soak for some time. The second thing that this easy French Fries recipe teaches is to cook the fries twice.

Should I use vegetable oil or olive oil when making them?

Both vegetable or Olive oil are equally great options. Just be mindful not to exceed the oil’s smoking point.

To accompany your delicious French fries, check out Isha Thakkar’s Delicious Zucchini Sabudana Burger!