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Crispy Spiced Oven Fries with Sriracha Ketchup

Serena Wolf's Healthy football party food: Juicy flank steak, crispy oven fries
Serena Wolf's Healthy football party food: Juicy flank steak, crispy oven friesNathan R. Congleton / TODAY
Cook Time:
30 mins
Prep Time:
15 mins
Servings:
4-5
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(23)

Chef notes

Swapping greasy take-out fries for these spice-rubbed baked beauties is the easiest way to keep your healthy eating efforts on track during football season. Dipping them in sweet and spicy Srirachup (aka Sriracha ketchup that's made with no refined sugar) is a game changer.

Technique tip: Make sure to pat the fries very well to ensure they achieve maximum crispiness in the oven.

Swap option: Try this recipe with sweet potatoes instead of russets! If using sweet potatoes, soak the fries in a large bowl of cold water for 1 hour, then pat them dry before spicing and baking to make sure they crisp properly.

Kitchen equipment required: 2 large baking sheets

Ingredients

Crispy Spiced Oven Fries
  • Nonstick cooking spray
  • 3 medium russet potatoes, scrubbed well
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Sriracha Ketchup aka Srirachup (makes 1½ cups)
  • 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons Sriracha sauce
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

Preparation

For the crispy spiced oven fries:

1.

Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Spray the parchment paper with cooking spray. (Do NOT skip this step, or your fries may stick to the paper.

2.

Slice the potatoes lengthwise into 1/4-inch planks. Pat the planks dry with paper towels, then slice the planks lengthwise into 1/4-inch-wide fries. Just as a point of reference, you're aiming for McDonald's-size fries here, dudes. Pat the fries dry a second time and place them in a large bowl.

3.

In a small bowl, combine the salt and spices. Drizzle the fries with the olive oil and sprinkle with half of the spice mixture. Toss to coat.

4.

Arrange the fries on the baking sheets in an even layer, making sure there's a little bit of space between each fry. If you crowd them, they'll steam instead of getting nice and crisp. Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the fries from the oven, and carefully flip them over with a spatula. Return to the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes more until browned and crisp. Keep a close eye on them during the last few minutes of the cooking time; they go from brown to burnt very quickly.

5.

Sprinkle the fries with the remaining spice mixture and toss to coat. Serve with Sriracha ketchup (Srirachup) for dipping.

For the sriracha ketchup:

1.

In a small saucepan, add all of the ingredients and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil, then lower to a very gentle simmer and cook for 10 minutes, stirring periodically.

2.

Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature. Serve with fries or transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to use.