French Fries...

Ran out of ideas to make something new, tasty, easy and in a jiffy, here comes "French Fries" to your rescue.

French Fries...

Ingredients-

3 medium-sized Potatoes

3.5 cups cold water

Rock Salt or Black Salt or Regular Salt to taste

Red Chilli powder or Paprika or Cayenne pepper to taste

Black Pepper powder

Oil for deep frying

Prepping Potatoes-

Firstly take the potatoes and rinse well in water. Then peel them. Then slice the potato in slices having 1 cm thickness. Before slicing, you can remove the top and bottom part of the potato to get a square or rectangle shaped potato.Then begin to cut them in sticks having 1 cm width. Rinse these potato sticks for a couple of times in water to get rid of the extra starch.

Soaking Potatoes-

In a bowl take 3.5 cups cold water and place the potatoes in it. Keep this bowl outside or in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 45 minutes. In a hot and humid climate keep the bowl in the fridge.After 30 minutes or 45 minutes, drain the potatoes in a colander.

Rinsing And Drying Potato Sticks-

Rinse the potatoes in clean fresh water using a colander or mesh strainer. Drain all the water. Then place them on clean kitchen cotton napkin. Fold the napkin and press, pat and dry the potatoes. The potatoes have to be completely dried before you begin to fry them. 

First Frying-

Heat oil in a wok or pan over medium-low or medium heat. For a heavy pan, keep medium heat and for a less heavy pan, use a medium-low heat. Now, working in batches, add the potatoes to the oil. Do not overcrowd the wok (kadai) or pan with the potatoes. The oil will sizzle and bubble less when you fry the potatoes at this temperature. Stir at intervals while frying them for uniform cooking. Fry in oil for about 3 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked, but not brown from outside. They should just get a crust from outside without any major color change. Light browning of the edges is fine. Remove with a slotted spoon. Place the half fried potatoes on paper kitchen towels. Stack 3 to 4 paper towels. Press some paper towels from top also to absorb extra oil. Let the half fried potatoes cool down at room temperature. Note that after removing this batch, you can fry the second batch of potatoes. By the time you fry the second batch of the potatoes, the first batch will cool down. So even though you have to fry twice, you’re using the same batch of oil all the way through.

Second Frying-

Now increase the heat to a medium-high or high. Again here for a heavy pan, use a high heat and for a less heavy pan, use medium-high heat. Add the first batch of once-fried potatoes to the hot oil. The oil will sizzle and bubble quickly as soon as you add the potatoes. Stir often while the potatoes fry to cook them evenly. Fry french fries for 3 minutes or until crisp and golden. The edges should become golden. Remove with a slotted spoon. Place french fries on paper tissues again to remove the extra oil.

Serving Suggestions-

While still hot, take the french fries in a bowl. Sprinkle with some salt, paprika or red chilli flakes, black pepper powder and dried herbs or dry rosemary (optional). You can add your choice of herbs and spices. Gently shake and toss the bowl so that the salt, herbs mix evenly with the fries. Serve these homemade french fries hot with any dip or sauce of your choice like tomato ketchup or with some mayonnaise.

Please do try this recipe at your home and let me know how it was in the comments section below. Also do share and follow me for more such easy,tasty and delightful recipes.

Thank you. Enjoy.