Sweet potatoes have always been at-home favorites. Now, sweet potato fries are popping up in restaurants too. Pubs serve them with chipotle mayonnaise as a trendy finger food, while fancy restaurants have been known to serve them alongside a variety of main courses.
Rutabaga and turnip aren't quite so trendy, but are surprisingly sweet and frugal too.
Try either one of these fry recipes with weekday meals and burgers, or with barbecued fare such as Veggie Burgers or Barbecued Corn. The fries can also be dressed up as a side dish for Vegetarian Meatloaf or Tofurky.
Cooking Turnip and Sweet Potatoes
Since sweet potatoes and rutabagas / turnips are dense, slow-cooking vegetables, it saves time to parboil the “fries” briefly, before baking. Doing so will result in a crispier fry with a more supple centre. To enhance the crispiness, bake them on a higher rack in the oven, but watch closely for burning.
Sweet potato fries and turnip fries are enhanced by the use of coarse-grain (kosher) salt or sea salt and a favourite dipping sauce.
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Sweet potato fries are thick-cut wedges of sweet potato drizzled with olive oil and baked in the oven. They're lower-calorie than regular fries: one medium sweet potato contains only 103 calories, compared with 160 for a medium white potato.
Ingredients:
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- Extra virgin olive oil, to coat
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. cinnamon (may substitute nutmeg)
- ½ tsp. garlic powder
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees Farenheit.
- Wash and scrub sweet potatoes well; peel off any blemishes.
- Cut the sweet potatoes “cactus-style” (wedges) and place on a cookie sheet with edges, or a shallow bowl.
- Drizzle or brush with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and garlic powder, tossing to coat.
- Transfer to baking sheet and bake in a single layer for 10 minutes.
- Flip fries over and bake an additional 10 minutes.
- Allow to cool and serve with Chipotle Mayonnaise.
Turnip Fries Recipe
Note: Rutabaga and turnip may used interchangeably in this recipe
While turnip (Swede) is delicious in Root Vegetable Mash or on its own, it can also be dressed up and showcased as “fries”. Skip the deep-frying though, and try this baked version instead to create a healthy, unique side dish or snack. Turnip is low in calories, so enjoy!
Ingredients:
- ½ medium rutabaga (or a few small turnips)
- Extra virgin olive oil (1-2 Tbsp.)
- ½-1 tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. salt
Directions:
- Preheat the oven to 450 degrees Farenheit.
- Wash the rutabaga and peel well to remove the waxy coating.
- Carefully, slice rutabaga into French fry-shaped sticks. Turnips are difficult to slice – be watchful of your fingers
- Place sliced turnip into a medium bowl or onto an oiled cookie sheet.
- Drizzle or brush with olive oil.
- Sprinkle with chili powder and salt, tossing well to coat.
- Transfer to baking sheet, if required, and bake in a single layer for 12-15 minutes. Flip fries and bake an additional 12-15 minutes.
- Serve as-is or sprinkled with lime juice.
References:
- Calorieking Food Database (2007).
- United States Department of Agriculture (2007). GRIN Taxonomy of Plants.
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