Baked Sweet Potato Fries

11/4/2015

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I've got a new recipe for you today that's super easy and so yummy. It's always a crowd pleaser and makes for the perfect side dish! If you've never made sweet potato fries at home, get excited! These are baked to perfection, making them a much healthier option than your usual sweet potato fries from your favorite restaurant. ​

I was recently reading up on the Whole30 Program, which is all about eating lean meats, tons of veggies, healthy fats, limited carbs, and of course, no treats (sad face). Basically, eating unprocessed, clean foods for 30 days to re-boot your body, and eventually making it more of a lifestyle once the month is over. While I haven't yet committed to starting the 30-day program, I've been trying to follow the philosophy a bit more in my daily life and meal choices. The program is big on sweet potatoes, which I haven't made in a while, so I decided it was time for a (bun-less) burger night with a nice healthy side of sweet potato fries. Totally Whole30 approved!

There's really not much to this recipe, but it's pretty darn delicious, and we all love easy side dishes, so it's a win win! All it takes is cutting your potatoes into the shape of fries (or using a mandoline to make the process super quick) tossing them in avocado oil (my go-to for high-heat cooking), sprinkling salt, pepper, and paprika, and then baking for about 30 minutes or so. Doesn't get much easier than that!

You can use sweet potatoes for this recipe, or you can add in some colorful carrots & parsnips (as pictured) and make a bright assortment of root veggie fries! 
​

Ingredients
3 small sweet potatoes/yams, scrubbed & cleaned (no need to peel, there's lots of nutrients in the skin!)
Optional: 1 bunch scrubbed, cleaned & sliced parsnips or colorful carrots 
2 tbsp avocado oil
Pinch of sea salt & pepper
Pinch of paprika 
Plus: parchment paper

Serves 4. 

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Slice sweet potatoes (and parsnips & carrots, if desired) into fries or use a mandoline slicer. (Try to keep the thickness of the fries consistent)
3. Toss in a large bowl with avocado oil.
4. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread fries out in a single layer so they have room to roast and get crispy.
5. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.
6. Bake for 30 minutes (or until they've reached desired crispiness), flipping the fries halfway through. 
7. Serve right away. Enjoy!

Photography by Kristen Schellenberg. Updated 8/11/2017