(Hand Cut) Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries

May 5, 2014

(Hand Cut) Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries


There are some things I’ll just never be able to grasp. Like physics. Or how the trashcan fills up so fast. Or where all my socks go.
For real folks, I have 18 unpaired socks.
And I’m sorry for them. Being a sock isn’t easy already (especially MY socks). But being an unpaired sock is even worse. Forced to make their own solitary way in a world of pairs.
A beautiful love story of Left + Right that started out in a factory faraway, and that ends in separation.
I held the dryer responsible for all these losses.
Because sometimes socks get lost before and after they go into the laundry, but most of the time it seems like the dryer ate them for a snack.
If you ask around, you'll find that pretty much everybody shares my suspicion for the dryer — evil machine.
Or maybe between the washing machine and the dryer, they run way. There's probably a huge black market in runaway single socks somewhere. Who knows...
Anyways, I have 18 unpaired socks, and I’m holding onto them in hopes that their twins will return from the space wrap before I do my annual sock purge.


Sweet Potato and Rosemay


Another thing I cannot grasp is the difference between a sweet potato and a yam.
I’ve looked it up on Google and apparently sweet potatoes and yams are two completely different things. Two different species of root vegetable, remotely related.
So why are we still calling sweet potatoes -> yams and yams -> sweet potatoes?
Because the U.S. government has perpetuated the error of labeling sweet potatoes "yams." In most cases sweet potatoes are labeled with both terms, which just adds to the confusion.
Turns out I had no fault in this, it’s the Government’s fault.
Let’s blame it on the Government and march on the Congress!
Just kidding. I’m no revolutionary. I’m happy to know that it was not my fault but rather a sort of government conspiracy to try to confuse me. That must be where all of our tax dollars are going(!)

(Hand Cut) Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries


Call them sweet potatoes, call them yams; all I know for certain is that they taste good.
So much, I’ve decided to cut them into shoestring size and baked them until nice and crispy.
Sweet potato shoestring fries people: Are you kidding me?
So good, you take a handful and walk around your apt eating them kinda good.
Honestly I don’t think you really could go wrong with these babies.
Now, I must confess that baking sweet potato fries will make the majority of them crispy, not all though.
Be warned that some of your shoestring fries may be on the soft side.
Still, the majority will get a bit more french fry like and crispy.
I still like even the soft ones, but I'm probably alone on that one.
Trust me though, the flavor is so great you don’t mind sacrificing a bit of crunchiness.
What are you waiting for?! Stuff yo’ face!


(Hand Cut) Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries
(Hand Cut) Crispy Baked Sweet Potato Shoestring Fries                               Print this recipe!

Ingredients


1 medium sweet potato per person
1 tablespoon olive oil (or coconut oil) per sweet potato
A couple of rosemary sprigs, leaves removed from the woody stems
Fine grain sea salt
Ground black pepper
Any seasoning you like such as as garlic powder, ground chipotle, thyme, cayenne or smoked paprika (it really depends on your mood)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and place a rack in the middle. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper and set aside.
Wash your potato and remove any unsightly areas. Slice the sweet potato in half, place flat side down and cut thin slices, about ¼ inch thick or smaller. Then turn your thinly sliced pieces on their side and do the same as before cutting thin slices. Try to get them as uniform in thickness as possible so they cook evenly. You may have to go through after cutting and double check your work.
Rinse the potatoes under cold water to help remove some of the starch. Dry well removing as much moisture as possible using a large tea towel (or paper towels).
Place potatoes on your rimmed baking sheets and sprinkle with olive oil.
Toss gently to coat and spread potatoes in a single layer (preferably spread out so they don't touch much) sprinkle with rosemary, salt, black pepper and seasoning of choice.
Bake for 10 minutes and rotate baking sheets, then bake for another 10 to 15 minutes until golden and crispy.
The cooking time really depends on the thickness of your fries so keep an eye on them so they don’t burn.
Serve immediately!

Nutrition facts

One serving (i.e., fries resulting from 1 medium sweet potato) yields 222 calories, 14 grams of fat, 24 grams of carbs and 2 grams of protein.

30 comments:

  1. ROFL...you are killing me with the sock dilema. And now I am craving fries...it is almost lunch time???!!!

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    1. Imo, it's always the right time for sweet potato fries!

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  2. Not to get all technical on you but... Sweet Potatoes and Yams - two completely different things, LMFAO! UHHHHH why am I being a snob about this considering these root veggies scare the crap out of me. Give me a butternut squash any day of the week but I cannot do sweet potatoes or yams because of a very BAD experience when I was younger! LOL!!!! But I can make this recipe with my beloved squash, AND I WILL... While wearing one purple sock and one neon green sock!

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    1. When you make squash fries you have to let me know. I'm intrigued!

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  3. And..... I need some fries! Out to buy some sweet potatoes/yams - whatever they're called they're awesome!

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    1. I think we should change the name and call them yUms, that's what they in the end!

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  4. Can I have some please?

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  5. Love sweet potato fries and/or yam fries. Great post Mike!

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  6. Annual sock purge is afar better idea than my 3 load purge (if matching sock doesn't turn up after the 3rd load be in a week or less, the sock is made into a dog toy)! Only, in my case, said 2nd sock shows up after like the 5th load and it's too late...cos its pair has been shredded to bits by the dog! GAH! these fries would definitely help me drown my sorrows.... :)

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    1. These fries can help drown any sorrows, I promise!

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  7. I can definitely relate to the odd sock story - though I can't quite match your 18 mismatched pairs! And I never knew the difference between a sweet potato and a yam either - although I've never actually seen anything labelled a 'yam' here in Australia, I've only ever seen American sites using the term and just assumed form the pictures it was the same thing. Whatever you call it, these fries look delicious, this is definitely something I'd be eating in my house :)

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    1. So how do you guys call them on your side of the pond?

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  8. I absolutely love sweet potato fries and I also make them with rosemary - such a tasty combination :))
    Do you want to follow each other on Bloglovin?

    Lu ❤ www.balgarka.co.uk

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    1. How can I say no after all those nice words? :)

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  9. It looks so yummy…. I have to try! Thank You for this recipe. Greetings from Germany...

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    1. OMG thank you, where in Germany exactly? I'm curious to know!

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  10. Haha, I ALWAYS lose my husband's socks! I'm not sure how his are the sock of choice for the dryer to either eat or send down a chute into oblivion, but they are. These fries, however, look insanely good! :-)

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    1. I'm telling you, it's the dryer. I'm fairly certain about it!

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  11. These are incredible! Definitely plan on stuffing our faces with these soon. Love the pics as well. Thanks!

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  12. These look amazing. I need to make these asap! They would be perfect as an addition to other little finger foods. Pinning this for later use.

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  13. This was such great fun to read!
    I live in a house were all male family members ( husband& 3 sons) are constantly hunting for missing socks. Maybe there is a kind of black whole in my washing machine?
    The colors and flavors of the sweet potatoes and rosemary combine beautifully , I'm going to pin this!

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    1. Thanks Daniela! And yes, I'm fairly certain there is a black hole in the washing machine and/or dryer. I might soon report it to the authorities! ;)

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  14. Ummm...yes, please! I love sweet potato fries, and the fact that you turned them into shoestring fries is simply genius. I want that whole basket in my mouth. Now. And I totally support your belief that the dryer is an evil invention. I was just thinking this morning about how I am missing some of my favorite socks. It's not like socks are small things either. How does an entire sock disappear? I need answers in my life!!

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    1. I need them as well my friend. I'm sick and tired of wasting money on socks just because the dryer likes to play tricks on me. I'm starting to get frustrated and I might take action soon (although I still don't know exactly what to do!)

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  15. Hahahaha you had me laughing like crazy with the whole sock thing... I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful, amazing wife that does my laundry, and she has gone quite awhile without losing ANY of my socks. It's pretty impressive, really. Quite possibly the greatest feat a wife can ever accomplish.

    And dude, I want these sweet potato fries RIGHT now. They look awesome!

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    1. She does your laundry and never loses any of your socks?
      She must have super powers then and I'm telling ya: NEVER LET HER GO! ;)

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