Craving French Fries? Here's A Healthy and Tasty Alternative!

We all seem to have been raised to like "fat and starch" foods such as French Fries.  You don't get through the fast food takeout without an side order of them, it seems.  They really aren't healthy in any respect, especially those from the fast food places.  We know it, but we order them.  The taste, texture and general eye appeal triggers our brains.

What about some healthier alternatives to plain old potatoes?  And maybe considering some alternative methods of preparation to make them just a bit "healthier" and tastier?

Do you know that almost any type of root vegetable is a wonderful replacement for the plain white potato?  And most of those root vegetables have way more flavor and are more nutritious, as well.

You can make your own "veggie fries," from Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Beets, and Parsnips, just to name a few.  And even Eggplant, a very healthy vegetable is a great alternative for snack fries, with a bit more preparation.  Preparing a batch of great fries is as easy as it gets!!  You use the same basic recipe for most all the root vegetables and anyone can do it!  Here's a basic recipe you can use with any of the root vegetables I mentioned, or try them with other root vegetables you may enjoy.

INGREDIENTS
Your choice of Root Vegetable
1/3 Cup Olive Oil
Salt to Taste
Optional Herb (Rosemary, Basil, Oregano, as examples)

PREPARATION
Wash the vegetables you plan to use for making fries.  Cut the vegetables into French Fry cuts....about 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch thick.  Pat the pieces dry with paper towels.  Put the Olive Oil into a big plastic zip lock bag, along with salt and herbs, if you decide to use them.  Add the vegetables to the bag and shake the vegetables around to coat them with the oil.  Olive oil is a much healthier alternative to most of the vegetable oil used by fast food places.  Place the vegetable fries on a flat baking sheet, covered with foil to help with clean up.

Preheat the oven to 425 F degrees.  This high heat with make your fries crispy on the outside, while still soft and flavorful inside.  Put the baking sheet into the oven for 25 to 30 minutes.  Turning the fries about halfway through the baking time will make them more uniform in crispiness.

Now, serve them up, nice and hot, using a dipping sauce such as Ranch Dressing or some other sauce you enjoy.  A pleasant alternative to ketchup.

NOTE:  I always bake regular French Fries, as well, since I don't like a lot of grease soaked into my food and avoid a lot of fried foods.

If you MUST have fried food to satisfy your craving, rather than baking your veggie fries, just follow the same procedure and instead of baking, fry them with Olive Oil as a healthier alternative.

If you would rather try Eggplant, Zucchini or other softer vegetables, follow the same procedure for preparation, however when finished coating them with oil and salt, give them another quick coating of Panko Bread Crumbs to help them stay firm and enjoyable.  When you finish cooking them, just before serving, try shaking a bit of dry Parmesan cheese on them before dipping.  They are great!

If you have questions, please feel free to email me at: stan.kain@gmail.com  Likewise, you may subscribe to my Recipe Blog and receive updates and new recipes as I add them.  And, don't hesitate to share the Recipe Blog, your comments or recipes with others!!!