Unlock Crispy Sweet Potato Fries With This Simple Trick

The sweet potato vine, which is the encyclopedic name for the sweet potato, has traveled a long way before making its way onto Polish tables. Originating from South and Central America, sweet potatoes have only recently gained popularity in Poland. Nowadays, fries made from them are an essential item on the menu of nearly every reputable burger joint — and they don't stop there!

Increasingly, those looking to whip up a tasty snack for a movie night or to enjoy with family board games are skipping traditional fries in favor of those made from sweet potatoes. However, one must be in on a particular trick to achieve the kind of crispiness admired in restaurants. It's quite simple, though perhaps not immediately apparent to everyone.

So, before the sweet potatoes hit the oven (because that's the variety of fries we're focusing on today), they must be soaked in water. The reason behind this is straightforward. Sweet potatoes are rich in carbohydrates that come from starch — it's this excess starch we aim to eliminate to ensure the fries turn out perfectly crispy. With that clarified, let's dive into the recipe!

Ingredients:

• 3 sweet potatoes
• 5 tablespoons of canola oil
• 3 tablespoons of potato starch
• 1 teaspoon of sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
• A pinch of chili powder

1. Peel the sweet potatoes. To avoid making the task harder, it's best to do so "dry" without washing them first.
2. Cut the peeled sweet potatoes into fries. They can be slightly thicker than those made from regular potatoes.
3. After cutting, rinse the sweet potatoes and soak them in a bowl of cold water for about 20 minutes.
4. Following the soak, remove the sweet potatoes from the water and dry them thoroughly with paper towels. Then, transfer the sweet potatoes to a large bowl, add the oil, and toss to coat.
5. In a separate bowl, mix together the potato starch, salt, sweet paprika, chili powder, and garlic powder. Sprinkle this mixture over the sweet potatoes and stir to evenly coat.
6. Spread the prepared sweet potatoes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in an oven preheated to 392 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Enjoy your crispy and delicious sweet potato fries!