Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Potato Fries and Ketchup, along with Pizza, seem to have taken over the tastebuds of all kids in America! Everything tastes good with a side of French Fries and Ketchup and any vegetable is ok if used as a pizza topping. Sometimes, if you can't fight the system, it is smart to go with the flow. That's what I decided to do here.
In the past, I have futilely tried to fight my daughter's craze for french fries. And she fought back with double the intensity. But, once I started making these "Sweet French Fries" she hasn't missed the greasy Fast Food French Fries ( alliteration alert).

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Ingredients (Serves 4):

• Sweet Potato -1 
• paprika - 1 tbsp
• salt, to taste
• italian seasoning - 2 tsp
• olive oil - 1/2 tbsp
• olive oil spray 

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450F.
2. Scrub the Sweet Potato and remove the skin.
3. Cut it into "fingers".
4. In a gallon ziploc bag, add paprika, salt, Italian seasoning and the olive oil.
5. Add sweet potato fingers to this and close the bag shut. 
6. Squish, shake, manipulate with your hands - just ensure that potato fingers are completely coated with the spice rub.
7. Spray a cookie sheet with olive oil spray. Spread the potato fingers in a single layer and bake at 450F for 20 minutes. 
8. Around the 10 minute mark, flip to cook the other side. I can never do this safely, so here's what I do. Instead of the cookie sheet, I use a roaster pan's tray (the one with slots in it). The slots ensure that bottom of the fries/fingers are also cooked, so you can totally skip the "flip to cook the other side" part.
9. Remove and serve with cilantro-cumin dip.

Cilantro-Cumin Dip:
This is based on the mayo I use with my Tuna burgers.

• low fat sour cream - 1/2 cup
  
• cilantro - 5 sprigs
• cumin powder - 1 tsp
• salt, optional

1. To a small mixing bowl, add sour cream and cumin powder.
2. Finely chop the cilantro and add this as well, to the bowl.
3. Using a fork, mix everything together. 
4. Taste and add salt, if needed.

Sweet Potato Fries with Sour Cream Dip

This recipe helps you avoid deep frying, potatoes, highly processed ketchup and all the empty calories linked with these.

Griddle-Roasted Sweet Potato

Elephant Yam, known as karanai kizhangu in Tamil, is one of my favorite vegetables and the best way to have it? Roasted on the griddle, like Fish steaks. Try as I might, I couldn't find fresh Elephant Yam in my local Indian Grocery store. The frozen variety comes pre-cut in small size and these are not suitable for roasting. I have learnt to substitute sweet potatoes in this recipe as they lend themselves well to golden perfection, when roasted on a cast iron griddle.

Sweet Potato, fried on a griddle

Ingredients:

• Sweet Potato - 1 lb (about 2)
• turmeric powder - 1 tsp
• sambar powder - 1 tbsp
• salt, to taste
• lemon juice, optional - 1/2 tbsp
• olive oil - 2 tbsp, divided
• PAM spray , optional

Method:

1. Wash and peel sweet potato into 1/2 inch thick slices.
2. In a steamer (or a pot of boiling water), steam the sweet potato until it is half done. You do not want it to be fork tender. The rest of the cooking will be done on the griddle. 
3. Drain and spread the sweet potato on a kitchen towel to dry.
4. In a mixing bowl, mix turmeric powder, sambar powder, salt and lemon juice (if using). Add 1 tbsp olive oil and stir to make a thick paste.
5. Heat a cast iron griddle on a medium heat. When ready, pour 1 tbsp of oil (or spray with PAM) and wait for it to get heated.
6. Meanwhile, add the dried sweet potatoes a few at a time (about 6-7 pieces) to the bowl and coat it with the masala.
7. Line a plate with paper towel and have it ready.
8. Lay the pieces on the griddle, ensuring that these are not crowded and not touching each other.
9. Cook for 3-5 minutes before flipping the slices over. Cook for another 2 minutes and remove to the lined plate.

The sweetness of the sweet potatoes and the heat of the sambar powder are an interesting combination. Do try this out, with Elephant Yam (if you are lucky enough to have access to it!) or sweet or regular potatoes...

Link ups:
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