Why buy ready-made when you can make the best baked homemade fries at home. Thin strips of potatoes tossed in olive oil, chaat masala spices and oven-baked to perfection. Served with a scattering of rainbow vegetables and drizzles of vegan ranch, tamarind chutney and fresh mint. Drooling yet? 

Spicy oven baked french fries loaded with peppers, cucumber and dressings with chopped herbs on a wooden board

Confession time: as a dietitian, homemade French fries in the oven are an absolute obsession of mine! The irresistible aroma, the mouthwatering sight of perfectly baked fries… they simply make my taste buds dance with joy.

But what truly seals the deal is the fact that these homemade potato fries offer a nutritious twist compared to their deep-fried counterparts. Picture it: crispy perfection with every bite, a delightful accompaniment to juicy and moist chicken patties, grilled vegetables, or even a refreshing, easy side salad.

Brace yourself for the explosion of flavours and textures that await you with potato fries. Trust me; it’s a culinary experience you won’t want to miss!

How to bake fries at home – the ingredients

graphic showing loaded oven baked french fries with its respective ingredients all around with accompanying labels
  • Potatoes
  • Olive oil
  • Chaat masala
  • Chilli powder
  • Cucumber
  • Pepper
  • Jalapeno
  • Tamarind chutney
  • Vegan ranch

Crispy and flavorful: Mastering the art of perfect oven-baked fries!

If you’ve ever wondered why your oven-baked fries end up soggy, fear not—I’ve got some simple yet effective tips!

  • Start by choosing yellow flesh potatoes like local Ontario ones. Make sure they’re thoroughly washed, scrubbed, and peeled. For uniform fries, you want to use a food processor or a sharp knife to cut them into thin strips. 
  • To prevent sogginess, soak the cut potatoes in tap water for 30 minutes, then pat them dry on a clean tea towel. When it comes to oil, use an adequate amount for that desired crispness—extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil work great, or you can use an air fryer with less oil.
  • Use an adequate amount of oil – to help give the french fries a certain amount of crispness in the oven. This recipe uses simple extra virgin olive oil, though you could lean on an air fryer and use a lesser amount of oil.
  • Now, let’s add some flavour! Give your fries a desi (South Asian) twist by adding chaat masala and red chilli powder. Chaat masala is a tangy and spicy spice mix commonly used in Indian and Pakistani cooking. Coat each potato stick with this delightful blend for an explosion of taste.
  • Lastly, to ensure crispy results spread the fries out on an extra-large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Now you’re all set to send them in the oven.

How to make crispy French fries in the oven

Here’s an overview of the steps to make oven-baked potato fries:

step by step preparation images of how to make homemade masala oven baked french fries
  1. Preheat and Prep: Begin by preheating your oven and preparing the potatoes. Wash, peel, and cut them into perfect French fry shapes using either a food processor or a trusty knife (Image 1).
  2. Soak and Dry: Give the cut potato strips a water soak for at least 30 minutes to remove as much starch. Then, drain and ensure they’re thoroughly dried using a clean tea towel (Images 2-3).
  3. Coating Magic: Lay out a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Add the potatoes, oil and spices, and get your hands in there, coating every single potato strip with the flavourful blend (Image 4).
  4. Perfect Placement: Spread the coated potatoes in a single layer on the baking tray. This ensures even cooking and crispiness (Image 5).
  5. Bake to Perfection: The baking time can vary based on your oven and the thickness of your fries. In this recipe, I recommend baking them for approximately 50 minutes on the middle shelf. Keep an eye out for that irresistible golden-brown colour.
  6. Tantalizing Toppings: While the fries bake, it’s time to prepare the toppings—ranch dressing and tamarind chutney (Images 6-7). Chop pepper and cucumber into small cubes, finely dice the jalapeno and mint and create your tamarind chutney by combining tamarind paste with warm water.
  7. The Finishing Touch: Once the oven-baked fries are perfectly crisp, transfer them to a serving tray. Top them off with vibrant vegetables (Image 8), a drizzle of ranch dressing and tamarind chutney (Image 9), and a garnish of fresh mint (Image 10).
  8. Serve and Savor: It’s time to gather around and indulge in the mouthwatering delight. Serve the oven-baked French fries immediately while they’re piping hot and at the peak of their flavour.
Spicy oven baked french fries loaded with peppers, cucumber and dressings with chopped herbs on a wooden board

You asked: Are oven-baked french fries bad for you?

we steer clear of labelling foods as “good” or “bad.” Such broad judgments take away the joy of eating and can negatively impact our relationship with food and our bodies.

Now, let’s talk potatoes. They often receive an unfair reputation for being high in starch and dense in carbs. Yes, they can cause a spike in blood sugar followed by a dip due to their glycemic load, making them something to consider if you have diabetes. However, it’s all about how you prepare them as well as your portion size.

While it’s true that regularly indulging in deep-fried potatoes or drowning them in cream and butter might not be the best choice for your overall health, finding creative ways to add a variety of colourful and wholesome foods – to ensure you get a mix of essential nutrients – is a sure-fire approach to excellent health, vitality and longevity. 

Spicy oven baked french fries loaded with peppers, cucumber and dressings with chopped herbs on a wooden board with raw potatoes and plants in the background

Nutrition highlights:

One serving* of these oven-baked french fries is:

  • An excellent source of fibre
  • An excellent source of vitamin A
  • An excellent source of vitamin C
  • very high source of potassium
  • good source of calcium
  • An excellent source of iron
  • Net carbs: 40 g

*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000-calorie diet.

Spicy oven baked french fries loaded with peppers, cucumber and dressings with chopped herbs on a wooden board

Looking for some easy and healthy Summer side dishes? Make sure to check out:

  1. Massaged Kale Salad With Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
  2. Fattoush Salad With Smoked Salmon
  3. Za’atar 7-Layer Vegan Salad
  4. Chaat Salad With Corn
  5. Warm Beetroot Poriyal Salad

What’s your favourite Summer side dish?

If you give this baked French fries recipe a shot, I’d love to hear from you! Drop a comment, rate it, or snap a photo and tag #DesiliciousRD on Instagram. Can’t wait to see your creations!

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Spicy oven baked french fries loaded with peppers, cucumber and dressings with chopped herbs on a wooden board
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Get the Recipe:

Chaat Masala Baked Homemade Fries

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Yield: 3 people
Why buy ready-made when you can make the best Oven Baked French Fries at home. Thin strips of potatoes tossed in olive oil, chaat masala spices and baked to perfection. Served with a scattering of rainbow vegetables and drizzels of vegan ranch, tamarind chutney and fresh mint.

Video

Ingredients
 

  • 3 potatoes, 530 g, yellow-skinned, large, washed, peeled and cut into quarter inch sticks. You could use a food processor for this step.
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, extra virgin
  • 1 tbsp chaat masala, powder
  • 2 tsp chilli powder
  • ½ cucumber, small, washed, chopped into small cubes
  • ½ red pepper, small, washed, chopped into small cubes
  • ½ jalapeno, washed, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup tamarind paste, you could use ready-made tamarind chutney
  • ½ cup water, warm, to make tamarind chutney
  • 3 tbsp vegan ranch
  • ¼ cup mint, fresh, washed, finely chopped

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven at 400 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare the potatoes: wash, peel and cut into french fries using a food processor or use a knife to cut the potatoes into 1/4 inch sticks. Soak in water for at least 30 minutes. After this time, drain and dry the potato strips thoroughly using a clean tea towel.
  • Lay potato strips on a large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Add oil, chaat masala and chilli powder, and use your hands to coat all the potato strips with the oil and spices.
  • Spread the potatoes into a single layer on the baking tray, and send to bake at for 50 minutes on the middle shelf in your oven.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the toppings, ranch dressing (https://shahzadidevje.com/5-easy-and-healthy-salad-dressing-recipes/) and tamarind chutney. Combine tamarind paste with warm water and mix thoroughly. Remove any stones, strings or lumps.
  • Once the french fries are baked, transfer to a tray, top with chopped vegetables and jalapeno, and drizzle with ranch dressing and tamarind chutney. Garnish with mint and serve immediately. Best enjoyed hot.

Notes

Crispy and flavorful: Mastering the art of perfect oven-baked fries!

  • Start by choosing yellow flesh potatoes like local Ontario ones. Make sure they’re thoroughly washed, scrubbed, and peeled. For uniform fries, you want to use a food processor or a sharp knife to cut them into thin strips. 
  • To prevent sogginess, soak the cut potatoes in tap water for 30 minutes, then pat them dry on a clean tea towel. When it comes to oil, use an adequate amount for that desired crispness—extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil work great, or you can use an air fryer with less oil.
  • Use an adequate amount of oil – to help give the french fries a certain amount of crispness in the oven. This recipe uses simple extra virgin olive oil, though you could lean on an air fryer and use a lesser amount of oil.
  • Now, let’s add some flavour! Give your fries a desi (South Asian) twist by adding chaat masala and red chilli powder. Chaat masala is a tangy and spicy spice mix commonly used in Indian and Pakistani cooking. Coat each potato stick with this delightful blend for an explosion of taste.
  • Lastly, to ensure crispy results spread the fries out on an extra-large baking tray lined with parchment paper. Now you’re all set to send them in the oven.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 317kcal (16%)Carbohydrates: 49g (16%)Protein: 7g (14%)Fat: 11g (17%)Saturated Fat: 2g (10%)Polyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 64mg (3%)Potassium: 1162mg (33%)Fiber: 9g (36%)Sugar: 9g (10%)Vitamin A: 1266IU (25%)Vitamin C: 75mg (91%)Calcium: 63mg (6%)Iron: 3mg (17%)

Keep in mind that the nutritional values provided are approximations and suggestions, and might fluctuate depending on ingredient variations, portion sizes, and recipe adjustments. This nutrition facts table cannot account for your individual needs. Your body — including your hunger and satiety cues — change daily. It’s perfectly fine to eat more or less on different days. Instead of letting food guilt take over, consider mindful eating.

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Cuisine: Desi, ethnic recipe, Fusion, Indian
Course: Salad, Side
Did you make this recipe?Mention @desiliciousrd on Instagram or tag #desiliciousrd.