Snack Smarter (and Healthier)
Craving french fries but on a diet or watching your calorie intake? Don't worry—you don't have to give them up completely. Instead of using regular potatoes and frying them the usual way, why not swap them out for veggies to make them more nutritious? From carrots to green beans, here are 20 healthier ways to make French fries so you can indulge guilt-free.
1. Carrot Fries
Even if you're not too fond of carrots, we bet jazzing them up into tasty fries will change your mind. Simply cut into matchstick chunks, toss in a mixing bowl with olive oil and your pick of spices (like smoked paprika, salt, pepper, or garlic powder), then bake until crispy.
2. Eggplant Fries
Eggplants are deceptive—before dicing them up and cooking, they don't look all that appetizing. But when they're breaded and seasoned with simple ingredients, like flour, salt, pepper, breadcrumbs, and garlic powder, they're brought to (delicious, delicious) life.
3. Avocado Fries
We know what you're thinking: avocados are meant to be eaten when ripe and soft, so how could they possibly be made into fries? Magic, of course. Well, magic—along with seasonings and a crispy, crunchy breaded coating that will make these fries so tasty you'll lick the bowl clean.
4. Butternut Squash Fries
Before you chop up your squash to make soup or another recipe, try turning them into healthy fries. The trick to get that perfect crisp with these is to cut them into thin sticks. Then coat with corn starch, a bit of oil, and seasonings of your choice, and bake until golden and tender.
5. Jicama Fries
If you've never had jicama before, it's a kind of turnip native to Mexico that looks and tastes similar to potato. Only jicama is slightly sweeter, contains much fewer calories, and boasts more fiber than its russet twin. This means they make healthier fries!
6. Sweet Potato Wedges
Loaded with vitamin A and antioxidants, sweet potatoes are generally considered healthier than regular potatoes, though they share similar nutrition profiles. Turn them into thick-cut wedges, though, and they'll still be relatively healthier—but you'll probably be too distracted by how delicious they are to think about the difference.
7. Parsnip Fries
Low in calories and high in fiber, this parsley-carrot root vegetable makes a great alternative to your regular starchy potato. If you want to bring out the natural sweetness and tenderness of parsnip, make roasted fries instead of baking or air-frying.
Emiliano Vittoriosi on Unsplash
8. Cauliflower Tater Tots
Craving tater tots? Make some with cauliflower! Use eggs to bind the ingredients together, then add flour—regular or almond would work, depending on how healthy you'd like these to be—and seasonings and some parmesan cheese to give these tots a cheesy twist.
9. Zucchini Fries
Rich in fiber, vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, like manganese and vitamin A, zucchini is an extremely healthy squash that also makes delicious fries. Simply dip into egg, coat with spices and parmesan cheese, then bake until crispy. Enjoy right away or they'll soften!
10. Chickpea Fries
You may know of chickpea fries as panisse, a popular, go-to street snack you'll find in the south of France. Made with chickpea flour mixed with salt, water, and flour, then heated to form a cake-like mixture before being fried up in a pan, you'll never go back to regular fries after this.
11. Polenta Fries
High in protein and fiber but low in fat, polenta is another great choice if you're looking for a potato alternative. As you cook your polenta, season it with herbs, garlic, and cheese to get it creamy, then freeze the batter, and bake whenever you get that craving!
12. Artichoke Fries
Artichoke might not be everyone's favorite food, what with its earthy, slightly bitter flavor profile. But jazz them up with seasoning—like salt, pepper, and garlic powder—and panko breadcrumbs, and you'll definitely change your mind. (We recommend dipping these bites into some sauce on the side, like lemon aioli!!)
13. Beet Fries
Beet is another one of those love-it-or-hate-it foods, but they're not just a vibrant red to scare you away. They're extremely high in folate, which is important for cell growth and the formation of red blood cells, and manganese, which helps with bone health and brain function. Toss in seasoning, bake (or roast) until crunchy, and we're sure you'll forget all about their "dirt-like" taste.
14. Baked Fries
If you're not ready to give up on potatoes, you don't have to give them up altogether. Plus, making them at home pretty much guarantees they'll be healthier than the ones at fast food restaurants. Just substitute the oil with avocado or olive oil, then dust liberally with salt and spices before baking.
15. Air-Fried Fries
If you find that baking doesn't give you that satisfying crisp and crunch, place your fries in the air fryer. Prepare in the same way as you would with baking—cut into thick (or thin) strips, coat generously with seasoning and a drizzle of oil, then lay them in an even layer in the air fryer basket.
Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States on Wikimedia
16. Taro Fries
Packed with fiber and good carbohydrates, eating taro regularly may help regulate your blood sugar, lower your risk of heart disease, and aid in weight loss. If that doesn't convince you to make them into delicious fries, we don't know what will. Bake or air-fry them to get them crispy without using excessive oil.
17. Green Bean Fries
Green beans are loaded with protein, calcium, vitamins A and C, and are also full of antioxidants which help protect your cells from damage. To make them into fries, roll in flour, dip in egg, then coat with salt, parmesan cheese, and panko. Bake until just golden.
18. Yuca Fries
Also known as cassava root, this starchy vegetable (used to make tapioca pearls in bubble tea) is a childhood staple for many, especially East Africans. One thing to keep in mind when making yuca fries is to ensure it's thoroughly cooked—yuca should not be eaten raw. Boil first until tender, toss with oil and seasoning, then bake.
19. Plantain Fries
If you're trying to branch out from frying up your regular vegetable options, why not try making plantain fries? Plantains are rich in fiber, magnesium, potassium, antioxidants, and many other vitamins and minerals, making them yet another great alternative to regular potato fries. Simply toss in seasoning and a drizzle of oil, then bake until brown.
20. Broccoli Fries
Don't throw away those broccoli stalks! Instead of wasting them, repurpose them into yummy fries. While you'll need to peel off any rough layers of the stems, they're pretty much ready to go. Toss in a mix of salt, pepper, paprika, onion powder, or garlic powder, along with a bit of oil, then bake or place in the air fryer.
