My Sweet Potato Fries Recipe is a piece of heaven. It yields delicious fries with a crispy crunch and delicate sweet potato flavor. The flavors are out of this world, especially when paired with the roasted garlic and lemon aioli.
I am a big fan of baked sweet potato fries and have made tons over the years. While baked fries are my go-to healthy snack, I got an intense craving for crunchy sweet potatoes, which I haven't had since going paleo. I decided to make shoestring sweet potato fries to satisfy the craving. Wow! The fries exceeded my expectations with their huge flavor, and I had to share the recipe with you. Let's dive into the details!
This recipe is:
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- Gluten Free
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- Dairy Free
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- Paleo
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- Vegetarian
Table of Contents
6 Reasons To Love This Recipe
Thanks to this recipe, I love my homemade sweet potatoes deep-fried. You may also love it for many reasons:
- Just look at the picture… they look delicious.
- Spiralized sweet potatoes cook perfectly!
- My kids love this recipe more than any restaurant fries.
- Easy and quick (fries in minutes).
- Learn to fry right in your kitchen!
- A perfect low-carb snack, in moderation!
Are Sweet Potato Fries Low-Carb?
No, sweet potato fries are not considered low-carb because sweet potatoes are relatively higher in carbs than other vegetables. However, you can incorporate the fries into your low-carb diet with moderation. Remember, a typical low-carb diet recommends 130 g net carb intake per day.
This recipe is low-carb, with less than 11 g net carbs per serving. You can enjoy the fries moderately, keeping in mind your low-carb diet goals.
Sweet Potato Fries Ingredients List
You need these ingredients to make deep-fried sweet potato fries:
For the Sweet Potato Fries
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and spiral-sliced
- 4 cups olive oil, or other frying oil of your choice
- Kosher salt, to season after frying
For the Lemon Garlic Aioli
- 1 cup olive oil mayo
- 8-10 cloves roasted garlic, smashed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1 pinch kosher salt or coarse sea salt
- 1 pinch fresh cracked black pepper
Ingredient Substitutions
Some great alternatives to a few of the ingredients listed above are:
- Olive oil: Besides being expensive, olive oil can throw off the fries' natural flavor. Use coconut oil, vegetable oil, or any other oil that is appropriate for frying.
- Olive oil mayo: My paleo mayo is a great alternative. Store-bought mayo will also work.
- Roasted garlic: Use 4-5 cloves of finely chopped regular garlic. Heat about 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Cook the garlic for approximately 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned. Stir frequently to avoid burning.
- Parsley: Swap for chopped basil or even cilantro.
Additional Ingredients
I love to jazz up the flavors of my crispy sweet potato fries with these optional ingredients:
- Spices: Dust the spiralized sweet potatoes with dry seasonings, like savory spices or seasoned salt. Some good options are garlic powder, smoked or sweet paprika, and a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili powder for a good kick of heat.
- Cheese: After the sweet potato fries are cooked, sprinkle with grated Parmesan for extra lusciousness.
Note: The additional ingredients are optional and not part of the original recipe.
Cooking Tools
Get the following tools for deep frying sweet potato fries in oil:
- A rack-rimmed or paper towel-lined baking sheet
- Vegetable spiralizer
- High-sided pot
- Candy / deep fryer thermometer
- A perforated spoon
- Paper towels
- A mixing bowl
- A fork
How To Cook Sweet Potato Fries: Complete Cooking Guide
Cooking Method
- Deep-frying
Preparation Steps
- Gather the tools and ingredients for the recipe.
- Wash the sweet potatoes and let them dry.
- Peel (optional) and spiralize the sweet potatoes. You can leave the skin on for a rustic feel. The skin will be hard to notice on shoestring fries.
- Prepare the lemon garlic aioli. Add all ingredients to a bowl. Mix well with a fork and set aside.
Note: If you don't have a vegetable spiralizer, use a mandolin with an inserted julienne blade. You won't get curly fries, more like evenly-sized matchsticks, which are equally delicious.
Cooking Instructions
- Add oil to the high-sided pot, ensuring it is not more than ⅓ full of oil. Heat over medium-high heat to 375°F (190°C). Once it has reached this temperature, increase the heat to high.
- Add the spiralized sweet potato slowly and in small batches to the oil. Be careful not to splash or cause a boil-over.
- Cook for 1 minute 25 seconds for crispy edges, then remove from the oil. Place on a paper towel-lined or rack-rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
- Clip the thermometer back onto the pot and bring it back to temperature. Repeat the earlier steps with the remaining sweet potato.
- Serve with the lemon garlic aioli and enjoy.
Step 1: Almost to the 375 degree mark. Anything less will give us soggy french fries. Use a candy thermometer and make sure it doesn’t touch the bottom of the pan!
Step 2: Make your sweet potato fries in small batches. The oil will expand when the sweet potato is added, so don’t just throw them in the pot- it will boil over!
Step 3: Use a metal spider to pull the fries out of the hot oil. If you place them on a rack over a rimmed baking sheet, the dripping oil will be contained as well.
💡 My Pro Tip
Here are some HUGE tips for deep frying sweet potato fries or any food at home:
- Use a high-sided pot and only fill ⅓ of it with oil. The oil will bubble up when you add food to it. The only way that oil can go is to come up and over the top of the pot if you have too much oil. If your oil boils over, the first thing to do is turn off your burner and then deal with the oil.
- Don't throw handfuls of the food into the oil. This will make the hot oil bubble up rapidly. Add the food in small batches to have more controllable results. Unless you are using a dedicated deep fryer, you won't be able to fry the entire sweet potato at once. Adding an entire load of sweet potatoes to the pot of hot oil at once will make the pot boil over and also drop the temperature significantly. The temperature may take time to recover, creating soggy potatoes. Using hot oil makes for a crispier method.
- Allow the oil to come back up to temperature before adding your next small batch. This critical step is so important. It is amazing how quickly oil loses temperature, and it takes a couple of minutes to get it back.
- Be careful when deep frying. Use the back burner on your stove. Keep little hands clear of the cooking area. Make sure you have everything ready to go before you start frying including: your thermometer, something to get the food out of the pot, a paper-lined prepared baking sheet or rack rimmed baking sheet. Having them all ready will help immensely!
- Whatever you do, make sure you are using a thermometer to take the oil's temperature correctly. Remember, if the oil is too cold, it results in soggy food and if it's too hot, it scorches the food. For thin fries, start from 375°F (190°C), and if you are making larger fries, start at 350°F (180°C). Use a thermometer clip to free your hands and keep the thermometer suspended in the oil for accurate temperature reading. Get the famous Taylor Precision Thermometer if you are looking to buy one. I swear by it because it's the one I have used for ages. It is inexpensive (under $9) and has a clip for convenient suspension from the side of your pot.
⏲️ Time-Saving Tips
- Use a deep-frying appliance. These are made for frying and will save time because they heat quickly and maintain heat well. With a deep fryer, you will never have to guess how long to cook sweet potato fries. It is so convenient and will shorten your overall cooking time.
- Buy pre-sliced sweet potato wedges or fries to cut prep time. However, they are much thicker and need to be cooked much longer!
- Preheat the oil. If you have never fried anything before, heating the oil to 350°F (180°C) will take longer than expected.
What to Serve with Sweet Potato Fries?
This crispy method for making sweet potato fries is one of my favorite snacks. While they taste fantastic on their own, they are also a perfect side dish for meals like:
- Sauces: Dip the fries in a tasty dipping sauce like my chipotle aioli or honey mustard sauce for a burst of flavor. Try my simple BBQ sauce if you love tangy, smoky flavors. Alternatively, make yourself a quick sauce for sweet potato fries. Mix 1 tablespoon of sriracha hot sauce and ¼ cup of mayonnaise.
- Grilled Chicken Wings: Serve the perfectly grilled wings alongside the sweet potato fries and your favorite fry sauce for a tasty and filling meal.
- Bacon Avocado Salad: The fresh avocado salad with bacon contrasts the sweetness of the fries beautifully while adding healthy fats and fiber to the meal. Serve the fries with your favorite dipping sauce.
- Grilled Pork Burger: Enjoy the juicy pork burger with the delicious sweet potato fries. Dip the fries in a tasty dipping sauce for maximum flavor.
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Bacon: Pair the two dishes for a light lunch. The bacon adds extra savoriness and protein to the meal.
- Pan-Seared Steak: The savory flavors of the pork complement the sweetness of the sweet potato fries, making this a perfect cozy dinner combo.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage
- Deep-fried sweet potato fries do not store well in the fridge. I’ve never had a French fry that tastes good after being refrigerated.
Freezing
- The fries freeze well. Freeze them after they have cooled to room temperature. I put them in a freezer bag that can sit on top of the other items, as the frozen spiralized sweet potatoes get smushed easily in the freezer. Keep them frozen for up to 3 months. Place the frozen fries on a sheet with parchment paper and a wire rack. Reheat according to the instructions below and re-season.
Reheating
- Reheat the fries in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven. I would not microwave them.
Conclusion
I haven't talked at all about the roasted garlic and lemon aioli. Normally, I would make mayonnaise myself, but I ran out of time, and the kids were hungry. So, I cheated and used olive oil mayo. Let's be honest, a hungry family trumps homemade mayo. I love a flavorful aioli, so I used a lot of roasted garlic and a generous amount of lemon zest and lemon juice. The lemon juice thins out the sauce a little. Add a tablespoon or two of cold water to the aioli if it is too thick, but don't add too much water as it will thin out too quickly!
Last night I made this Sweet Potato Fries Recipe to pair with hand-packed roasted garlic burgers. The aioli paired perfectly as a burger sauce as well. Get some fresh potatoes and surprise your family with this quick and easy recipe for sweet potato fries. Season with your favorite spices to achieve your desired flavor profile. They may soon become your favorite side dish. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. Drop your questions and thoughts on the recipe in the comments below.
More Snack Recipes to try:
FAQs
The standard frying time is 3 to 5 minutes or until golden brown and with crisp edges. However, the time varies according to various factors, including the size of the fries, the desired level of crispiness, and the oil's temperature.
To maintain the crispiness of the potatoes, cut the fries into evenly sized pieces, fry in hot oil, avoid overcrowding the pan, and drain the cooked potatoes properly on a wire rack set over a baking sheet.
Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Ingredients
For the Sweet Potato Fries
- 1 large sweet potato peeled and spiral-sliced
- 4 cups olive oil or other frying oil of your choice
- Kosher salt to season after frying
For the Lemon Garlic Aioli
- 1 cup olive oil mayo
- 8-10 cloves roasted garlic smashed
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- 1 pinch kosher salt or coarse sea salt
- 1 pinch fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
Preparation Steps
- Gather the tools and ingredients for the recipe.
- Wash the sweet potatoes and let them dry.
- Peel (optional) and spiralize the sweet potatoes. You can leave the skin on for a rustic feel. The skin will be hard to notice on shoestring fries.
- Prepare the lemon garlic aioli. Add all ingredients to a bowl. Mix well with a fork and set aside.
Cooking Instructions
- Add oil to the high-sided pot, ensuring it is not more than ⅓ full of oil. Heat over medium-high heat to 375°F (190°C). Once it has reached this temperature, increase the heat to high.
- Add the spiralized sweet potato slowly and in small batches to the oil. Be careful not to splash or cause a boil-over.
- Cook for 1 minute 25 seconds for crispy edges, then remove from the oil. Place on a paper towel-lined or rack-rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt.
- Clip the thermometer back onto the pot and bring it back to temperature. Repeat the earlier steps with the remaining sweet potato.
- Serve with the lemon garlic aioli and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
“This website provides approximate nutrition data and information for convenience and as a courtesy only.”
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amy says
OMG Scott, I want to take a big handful of these sweet potato fries and shove them in my mouth! I love thin and crispy fries but I don't have a spiralizer.....going to be putting one on my " to get list". Thanks for the recipe and I love the pictures.
Scott Groth says
Hi Amy-
I'm never a huge fan of a "one use" piece of kitchen equipment, but I use my spiralizer at least once a week. Since going gluten free, zoodles have become a staple in our house and the spiralizer makes it easy!
Thanks for stopping over to take a look- I really appreciate it.
Take care,
Scott
Michele says
These look absolutely delicious!!! I don't yet have a spiralizer but thinkbI should. And yes, you have been known to be hard on kitchen equipment! ...but love you anyway!
Scott Groth says
Hey Micky-
I'm ridiculously hard on kitchen stuff- including myself! Thanks for checking out the blog- hope you're doing great today!
Take care,
Scott
Loreto Nardelli says
These shoe string fries look so good, I did a potato noodle fry with herbs and spices and baked them in the oven with a nice dusting of parmigiano reggiano, they had so much flavor, but sweet potato has that nice bit of sweetness looks great
Loreto
Scott Groth says
Hi Loreto:
Thank you so much for your nice thoughts.
Hope you have an excellent day in the kitchen!
Scott
Tanya says
New fan alert! I love your site. I also love love love sweet potato fries. Great idea making them shoestring. Gotta give this a try.
Scott Groth says
Hi Tanya:
Thanks so much! That's awesome!! Sorry for the late response- I was having a few issues with the comments on my site... but that's all fixed up now.
I hope that you have a fantastic day and thanks again for reading.
Take care-
Scott
Taylor Greenwald says
Wow Scott! I have been dying to make some sweet potato fries, and these are prefect! My husband and I will definitely love them. I am going to make them tonight! So excited. Thanks for your awesome recipe!
Scott Groth says
Hi Taylor:
Don't they look fantastic?!? Sorry for the late response- I've been having a few issues with the comments on my site. Looks like they are all fixed now though- how did they turn out? Would love to hear.
Take care-
Scott
Taylor Madden says
I made these about a week ago and my family is still RAVING about them. I was nervous about frying, but it was pretty easy! Delicious. I also added some parmesan on them- so good.
Scott Groth says
Hi Taylor:
Excellent tip on the parmesan. Thank you for sharing.
Have a delightful day in the kitchen and happy eating!
Scott