These homemade pommes frites are roasted in the oven and are a healthy version of French fries deep fried in oil. Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, these are perfectly seasoned and delicious on their own or with your favorite dipping sauce.
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I do not know anyone who does not like French fries. Do you? But I do know many people, myself included, who shy away from eating too many of them due to health considerations. Well, here comes my simple, easy recipe that puts an end to avoiding this great vegetable in the form of French fries.
What are Pommes Frites?
Pommes Frites is a French term for Potato fries. In French, potatoes are called “pomme de terre” (“apple of the earth”) and frites means “fried“. The discussion about who invented Pommes Frites (the Belgians or the French) is still ongoing, however one thing is for sure: these Francophone potatoes are loved by all and make a delicious side dish.
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Pommes Frites
- They are baked, not fried and the recipe calls for only 6 simple ingredients.
- This recipe involves minimum effort. You can even speed up the prep process if you use a French Fry Cutter.
- This dish is vegan and gluten-free.
- These frites are gourmet-level, perfectly crispy and will pair well with any of your favorite dipping sauces.
Key Ingredients
- Russet potatoes: the best type of potato to use in this recipe as it is high in starch and low in moisture.
- Avocado Oil: to coat the potatoes before roasting them in the oven.
- Garlic Powder: to spice up the frites.
- Salt & Pepper: to perfectly season and flavor the frites.
- Cilantro: for garnish.
How to Make Pommes Frites in the Oven
These homemade pommes frites come together in a few simple steps:
- First cut the potatoes
- Next soak them in cold water
- Follow by transferring the potatoes to a dry bowl and tossing them with oil and seasoning
- Next dry and arrange them on a baking sheet
- Finally roast in the oven and serve
No frying is needed!
How to Cut Pommes Frites by Hand
You do not need to peel off the skin if using organic potatoes.
To cut the potatoes by hand, follow these steps:
- First step is to cut off a slim layer of each potato to make a base.
- Next you will place the potato on its flat base and cut into ¼ inch lengthwise slices.
- Now take each ¼ inch slice and further cut it into ¼ or 3/8 inch wide strips (depending on how thick you like your frites).
Here is a short video on how to cut frites by hand.
Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly
- Remember to soak the frites in cold water for 10 minutes after you cut them into strips (this will help make them nice and crispy!)
- Arrange the frites evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet and make sure they do not overlap.
- Keep the frites’ size and cut the same so they roast evenly.
- Flip frites half-way through the roasting time to ensure they brown on both sides. If the frites get stuck to the parchment paper, use a spatula or a cake cutter to gently lift them.
Other Seasoning Ideas for Homemade Pommes Frites
- POMMESGEWÜRZ – A German French Fry Seasoning consisting of sea salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika powder, garam masala, curry powder and cayenne powder.
- Spicy Seasoning – sea salt, black pepper, chili powder, cumin, dried basil.
- Bittersweet Seasoning – salt, black pepper, caraway, marjoram, rosemary and garlic powder.
- Savory-Sweet Seasoning – curry powder, allspice, coriander and onion powder.
How to Serve Pommes Frites
It is best to serve these homemade pommes frites right away. This is when they are the crunchiest and tastiest; straight out of the oven!
For dipping sauces, you have plenty of delicious options. Try one or more of these:
- Honey Mustard Sauce
- Ranch
- Vegan Pesto
- Spicy Sesame Mayo
- Garlic Aioli
- Ketchup – I like the Primal Kitchen ketchup
- Grated Parmesan Cheese – simply sprinkle the frites with parmesan cheese while hot and serve right away. The frites are already spiced with garlic in this recipe, so now you’ve got yourself garlic parmesan frites to enjoy!
- Chipotle Bitchin’ Sauce (my favorite!) – look for it in a health food store near you.
I love serving homemade pommes frites in a paper cone like they do in bistros in France and Belgium. Grab your seats and Bon Appétit, mes amis!
Other Recipes You’ll Love
- Oven Roasted Sweet Potatoes – healthful, Vitamin A-rich side dish
- Roasted Carrots with Turmeric – flavorful side dish for any occasion
Homemade Pommes Frites (in oven)
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 large organic russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp avocado oil
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 tbsp cilantro (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- In the meantime, wash the potatoes and cut them lengthwise into thin even strips.
- Rinse cut frites and leave them in a bowl filled with cold water for 10 minutes.
- Dry the frites with a clean towel.
- Place frites into a dry bowl and toss well with the avocado oil and all the seasonings (garlic powder, salt & pepper).
- Transfer the coated frites onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and spread them out in an even, single layer.
- Roast for 40 minutes until crispy and golden brown. It is a good idea to flip the potatoes after the first 20 min. to make sure they roast evenly on both sides.
- Remove potatoes from the oven, garnish with cilantro and serve with your favorite dip.
Notes
- Remember to soak the frites in cold water for 10 minutes after you cut them into strips (this will help make them nice and crispy!)
- Arrange the frites evenly in a single layer on a baking sheet and make sure they do not overlap.
- Keep the frites’ size and cut the same so they roast evenly.
- Flip frites half-way through the roasting time to ensure they brown on both sides. If the frites get stuck to the parchment paper, use a spatula or a cake cutter to gently lift them.
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