Oven Fries

[Hoosier Que]

I don't know about you, but I love french fries in whatever form they take: steak fries, waffle fries, pommes frites, shoestring, home fires. You name it, I eat it. Unfortunately, as the decades roll on, so does the gut. Thanks to stuff like french fries, I can no longer see my belt.

So I have been playing around with various methods to make a tasty oven baked "fry" using very little oil. This recipe uses only about 1.5 tablespoons of oil for about four servings, not a bad amount. This is more about technique than ingredients.

I searched all over this site to see whether any one else had posted anything like this and couldn't find anything, but if I missed it, I apologize in advance. Here goes:

6-8 medium russet potatoes
1.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil
salt to taste
fresh ground black pepper

1 - Pre-heat the oven to 400 degrees.
2 - Cut the potatoes into 3/8" to 1/2" strips, leaving the skins on if preferred.
3 - Soak the raw potatoes in hot tap water and change it a couple of times. The idea is to wash away as much starch as possible. Total soaking time should be at least fifteen minutes.
4 - Spread the potatoes out on paper towels and let them dry completely.
5 - Toss the potatoes in a bowl with the oil, salt, and pepper until completely and evenly coated.
6 - Spread some parchment paper on a cookie sheet and spread the fries out evenly. Bake them in the oven for about forty five minutes to fifty five minutes (depends how thick you cut them) and stir them around every ten minutes or so to brown evenly.
7 - During the last ten minutes of baking, you could add other seasonings such as garlic or onion powder, cayenne, or whatever.
8 - Chow down.

I have to confess, these really aren't as good as the deep fried variety, after all, I believe you could deep fry a concrete block and it would taste pretty good. But these are still pretty good and do alot less harm to the old waistline.

This photo isn't professionally styled, but you'll get the idea...[/img]
_________________
No one expects the Spanish Inquisition.

[spunkymunky]

You are right about the GUT. One thing that I have learned during my 68+ years that if you put it in your mouth and it taste good spit it out because it is "fattin" for sure. I love potato's and especially fried so I will give this a good try and post back to you.............Thanks for thinking of us that like to watch our waist line (My just grows).
_________________
I came into this world with nothing and proud to say that I have most of it left.
ECB Propane Water Smoker (Modified)
TEC-CharBroil Infrared 5 Burner Grill w/Side
NEW UDS (She's a beauty)
Mod. Smoke Cube & Aussie 2 Burner-Lake House

[samson]

The wife does fries like that but she will cook up some evoo with minced garlis and use the garlic oil. When its almost done she tosses in the cooked garlic and a little parsley once done. Good stuff. Good flavor.

I can get the exact recipe if anyones interested. Its from a low fat cookbook.

[Bunqui]

I would also recommend trying some sweet potatoes that way. To cut down even more on the oil try one of the sprays or spritzers of EVOO. A light coating and away to the oven.
_________________
CharGriller 5050 w/ SFB
Cooking with gas and blowing Smoke

Weber Smokey Joe
LIAR#38

[messerist]

I like your use of parchment paper. I use it alot to prevent sticking. I think I ate a deep-fried concrete block for lunch yesterday at work. The menu said "chimichanga." Now I have to find out how to say "deep fried concrete block" in Spanish

[seattlepitboss]