FRENCH FRIES
crispy french fries with a side of steak au poivre!? oh my!
6 servings
Ingredients:
3 russet potatoes
Oil (peanut or canola)
Salt
Pepper
The Blistered Peppers Take:
Everyone’s going to say you can oven bake french fries and they’re still crispy. Honestly, this has never really worked for me. I’m a fry lover and it is one of the things I missed most during lockdown - I figured out how to make curry, tacos, asian fusion… but how could I get a fry crisp on the outside and soft on the inside.
Well this recipe is the answer. Combining various strategies from soaking in water, drying out, par-boiling and double frying, I’ve got the crispy homemade fry down and it is super easy for you to replicate!
Recipe:
Cut the potatoes. Try to keep them about 1/4 inch thick - thinking of McDonald’s fry size that we all know and love. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl of water and let soak for about 30 minutes.
Remove the potatoes from the water and dry out on a paper or kitchen towel. Let sit at room temp for about 30 minutes - the dryer the better!
When you’re ready to start frying, use a large pot or dutch oven and cover the bottom of the pot with oil about 1/2 inch deep (this will vary based on size of the pot used, hence the lack of measurements). Heat the oil over medium heat.
If you have a thermometer, you’re aiming for 300 degrees. If not, you can use a wooden spoon or spatula to test the heat: place the wooden spoon into the oil, if small bubbles start to form around the spoon then you’re ready - if the bubbles are aggressive, turn the heat a little lower, you don’t want to burn your fries!
Working in batches, place the fries in the hot oil for about 3-5 minutes. They should be golden but not yet browned! Remove the fries using a slotted spoon or tongs so the oil is left behind, let dry on a wire rack or paper towel for a few minutes.
Increase the heat (if using a thermometer aim for 350 degrees) and place the par-boiled fries back into the oil, this time leaving them in until brown. This should only take a few minutes! Remove fries again with a slotted spoon and immediately toss with salt, pepper, paprika, any seasoning of choice!
Enjoy while fries are still hot!
