Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries & Healthy Vegetarian Aioli
Ever had those gross soggy, lifeless and flavorless sweet potato fries? Ā Well these are not them!!! Learn how to make baked sweet potato fries that are super crispy and spicy! Ā Plus as a bonus I whipped up a healthy aioli to them in! Ā These are the ultimate addition to your summer burgers!
I used to be one of those people who found sweet potatoes to be entirely unnecessary in my life. Ā Several years ago, sweet potatoes started becoming a trend in restaurants as a healthier alternative and someone convinced me try one. Ā I reluctantly obliged.
I typically am set in my food ways and do not venture out and try things that I am convinced are not up my alley. Ā However, on this particular sunny day, I was dining outside with a group of my favorite girlfriends, sipping white wines, munching on a variety of appetizers and gabbing all about the latest gossip in the Russian community.
Side note: the Russian Community is a lot like Melrose Place, for those of you that still remember that little piece of heaven. Ā We all know each other or of each other or everything about each other. Ā And we all learn who everyone is dating, planning on dating or breaking up with. Ā One can imagine how entertaining our lives are filled with such gossip.
Anyhow in between our trending gossip conversation my friend says, “We HAVE to get the sweet potato fries here…they are THE BOMB.” Ā I scrunched up my nose and put my menu in front of my face to hide the disgust.
I never quite understood sweet potatoes. Ā If I want to eat a potato I am going to eat a potato. Ā And if I want to eat fries I will have fries! Ā Why combine the two? Ā The whole sweet + potato idea never quite stood out to me.
Until that day.
The waitress Ā brought over a gorgeous bouquet of sweet potato fries, perfectly crispy and lightly dusted with some sea salt. Ā That was it. Ā I was intrigued. Ā They looked innocent enough. Ā And they smelled absolutely incredible.
My friend offered one up to me and I could not resist. Ā I bit into the fry. Ā And I was amazed by the crispy texture and theĀ multitude of emotions that my tongue felt at that very moment.
This was flipping fantastic!!! They were sweet and salty, crispy and chewy and caused me to immediately and frantically wave my waitress down and ask for another order of these fries because I was convinced I would be devouring all of these within the next few minutes.
I’m a hedonist and if it feels good, tastes good or looks good…it’s all mine for the taking.
“It’s a lot healthier you know,” my friend said to me. Ā Healthier?! Really? Ā OK look…they are delicious. Ā However ANYTHING that is deep fried in a vat of oil cannot be healthy for you. Ā Sorry to disappoint everyone but you aren’t winning too many brownie points by choosing sweet potatoes vs regular potatoes when we are referring to them being fried.
That being said…if we bake them, things make a bit more sense.
In general, yes the sweet potato is healthier. Ā It has a lower glycemic index than regular white potatoes. Ā And people who consume food with a lower glycemic index can sustain the fat burning mode for longer periods of time within their bodies which ultimately leads to a leaner physique. Ā Naturally this is combined with an otherwise great diet, regular working out and plenty of water and rest.
So in return to what my friend said, yes the sweet potato is healthier when combined with a healthier cooking method and an overall healthier lifestyle.
So what’s the one question I get more and more frequently since this sweet potato fry trend caught on? Ā How do I make baked sweet potato fries crispy and delicious if they are not baked? Ā Simple. Ā Just a bit of knowledge is all you need.
In order to make them crispy, simply cut them thinly. Ā This can be done by a knife (prepare for some minor blisters if you are cutting a lot) or a nice sharp mandolin will do the trick nicely as well. Ā It’s a bit faster on the mandolin just be careful with your fingers! Ā Those things are sharp!
Once they are cut up, place them on a sheet pan that has been fitted with parchment paper.
Prepare a sheet pan by spraying it with pan spray and THEN putting parchment on top. Ā Create a huge āXā on the sheet from one corner to the next. Ā This is a great trick to get your paper to stick onto the sheet pan. Ā I learned THAT in culinary school! Ā See how important education is!?!
Drizzle about 1 tbsp of oil per pan onto the fries and sprinkle them liberally with salt, garlic powder, black pepper and my secret ingredient, cajun spice.
Toss them all with your hands so they are evenly coated. Ā That’s it! Ā Place them into a preheated 425-degree oven and let them roast. Ā Toss them about 15 minutes into the cooking process to ensure they are not burning r cooking unevenly.
In the meant time lets make our healthy aioli. Ā Place cilantro, Greek yogurt, plenty of peeled garlic, lime juice, avocado and salt and pepper into a food processor or Vitamix. Ā Blend it all up until smooth, creamy and combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
Remove the fries and serve immediately with some ketchup and the divine creamy healthy aioli. Ā Now dip baby dip š
Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog if you like what you see here! Ā Just go on over to the top of the page on the right š Ā More fun stuff to come for my insider readers!
PrintSpicy Baked Sweet Potato Fries & Healthy Aioli
- Total Time: 35 minutes
Description
Ever had those gross soggy, lifeless and flavorless sweet potato fries? Well these are not them!!! Learn how to make baked sweet potato fries that are super crispy and spicy! Plus as a bonus I whipped up a healthy aiolo to them in! These are the ultimate addition to your summer burgers!
Ingredients
- Sweet Potatoes
- 3 large sweet potatoes
- 3–5 tbsp olive oil or pan spray
- 1 tbsp Kosher salt
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1/2 – 1 tbsp Cajun spice (depending how spicy you like it)
- Healthy Aioli
- 3/4 a cup 0% fat Greek yogurt
- 1/2 an avocado
- 3 garlic cloves (peeled)
- 1 small handful cilantro
- juice of a lime
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425-degrees.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them thinly. This can be done by a knife (prepare for some minor blisters if you are cutting a lot) or a nice sharp mandolin will do the trick nicely as well. It’s a bit faster on the mandolin just be careful with your fingers! Those things are sharp!
- Once they are cut up, place them on a sheet pan that has been fitted with parchment paper.
- Prepare a sheet pan by spraying it with pan spray and THEN putting parchment on top. Create a huge āXā on the sheet from one corner to the next. This is a great trick to get your paper to stick onto the sheet pan.
- Drizzle about 1 tbsp of oil per pan onto the fries and sprinkle them liberally with salt, garlic powder, black pepper and my secret ingredient, cajun spice.
- Toss them all with your hands so they are evenly coated. That’s it! Place them into a preheated 425-degree oven and let them roast. Toss them about 15 minutes into the cooking process to ensure they are not burning r cooking unevenly. Allow to cook for another 10-15 minutes until tender on the inside and crispy on the outside.
- In the meant time lets make our healthy aioli. Place cilantro, Greek yogurt, plenty of peeled garlic, line juice, avocado and salt and pepper into a food processor or Vitamix. Blend it all up until smooth, creamy and combined. Taste for seasoning and adjust as necessary.
- Remove the fries and serve immediately with some ketchup and the divine creamy healthy aioli.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: American
I love sweet potatoes all ways, and I’m really loving the cajun spices and the aioli, yum.
Thanks Janette!!! That aioli is sooo versatile!
It’s official. I’ve got a girl crush.
Hahahahah that’s the nicest thing I have heard all day Trisha…thank you!
This looks delicious Mila!
I LOVE sweet potatoes! I ate sweet potatoes more than eating potatoes when I was younger, so I have a “sweet” spot for them! š
Awwww thanks honey. I never ate them growing up so they were a pretty late discovery for me š
Boy! I sure wish I could have been at the gabfest — I could have pretended I understood Russian š I’d just keep munching on the delicious fries and sipping on my wine. The fries look delicious and we do like them fried but this is so much better. Can’t wait to get the mandolin out and the potatoes. Great photos!!!!
Thank you Marisa!!! This is how most of our lunches are š Always a great time!
My husband loves sweet potatoes and is always requesting that I make them more often. He’s going to be so happy with these awesome fries! And I love the avocado aioli – I can see using that on a lot of things!
Kathleen…it’s soooo versatile I can’t even tell you!!!!
I have loved sweet potato fries since college and my admiration for them only increases with the years! Love your healthy aioli…Delish! And gorgeous photos (once again!)!
Annie!!! Thank you honey!!! I sooooo appreciate the love XO
Love sweet potatoes and I just realized I haven’t had them in months! This needs to change, I’ll try your recipe tomorrow! Love the use of cajun spice!
Thanks Mira!!! Sweet potatoes are kind of a magical food aren’t they?!
Oh my goodness! Mila, first off your photos are straight up gorgeous. Just like your face! And that aioli! Umm, can we please get together and cook together? Actually, can we get together and you cook, and I will just tell you that you cuss too much? And btw if this happens, you absolutely must speak in your Russian accent the whole time. The. Whole. Time. Okay, now I am dreaming about cooking together with you, filming it (with a good bleep editor in place), and having the best time ever. I’m coming over.
OMG so I just got out of a meeting and the first thing I see is this incredible comment!!! Thank you for all your fantastic comments! It would be so much fun to cook together wouldn’t it?! Let’s plan it!!! You can just have me on skype next time you do a video and I’ll chime in with my Russian accent š
These look so delicious! And love your nails.
Amy thank you so much for stopping by!!!! Thanks for the compliments darling!!! I still need to stalk your site so I can make one of your recipes and interview you š
Hi Mila–This is a really nice article and I plan to make this healthy version of aioli. FYI you have an “n” instead of an “m” in the word “lime” above the picture of the aioli ingredients.
Oh thank you!