A heaping plate of french fries is the ultimate guilty pleasure for many of us. However, indulging in this salty treat too often might lead to unwanted pounds. Also, potatoes aren’t the most nutritious vegetable that you can eat, so french fries don’t really contribute much of anything to your health. The good news is that there are so many other starchy vegetables that you can easily turn into yummy fries to eat with your burger!
All the vegetables listed below can be turned into healthy fries. Simply cut up your vegetable into thin strips, put them in a mixing bowl, add a healthy oil (olive oil is always a good choice), and stir to coat. Then add in the seasonings that you like on your fries. I personally love to add salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and a little bit of cumin.
Set the oven to 375 degrees and let cook for around 15-30 minutes; longer for the harder vegetables. Toss the fries about halfway through to make sure everything heats up evenly. When the smell is enough to make your mouth water and the fries are perfectly tender, pop them out of the oven and chow down.
Try all five healthy french fries and let us know which one is your favorite!
Wondering when is the best time to buy these vegetables to turn into healthy french fries? Here’s some useful information on eating with the seasons.
1. Sweet Potato Fries
This is probably the most common alternative to regular potato french fries. Savory seasonings contrast very nicely with the sweetness of this orange vegetable. Sweet potato fries are also very kid-friendly; many picky eaters love them.
2. Parsnip Fries
Parsnips are root vegetables that look like carrots, but with light yellowish skin. It tastes like somewhere between a potato and a carrot. When cooked in the oven, they become soft inside and crisp on the outside — the perfect combination for french fries. Many cooks like to add rosemary to their parsnip fries.
3. Carrot Fries
Yes, the rabbit’s favorite food can easily be turned into french fries. You can cut up a regular carrot into strips, but I like to use baby carrots and simply halve them. So easy, so good.
4. Rutabaga Fries
Don’t pass by the rutabagas at the grocery store. These root vegetables might look rough on the outside, but peel the knobby, purple skin and you’ll find it to be crisp and juicy. They taste somewhat similar to turnips, but milder. When cooked, rutabaga will satisfy your desire for something savory and starchy.
5. Jicama Root Fries
Another root vegetable, the jicama is delicious even when raw but can be turned into tasty and healthy french fries. Try squeezing a lemon over them before putting them in the oven. They don’t take very long to cook, which makes them perfect for a quick lunch.
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