This took years to master, but I, the Cooking Cleric has the technique perfected and is now sharing with you for your enjoyment and pleasure: Spicy Oven Fries! I'm going to take you step by step on how you can make these bad boys. Remember, healthy tasting food is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy! (PS, the burger is just as yummy but easy. Grass-fed beef, open pasture, seasoned with a little seasoned salt, worcheshire sauce, and liquid smoke). A regular recipe can be found at the bottom of this entry.
Here's what you need; two-three small-medium russet or baking potatoes, a nice large bowl with a lid, olive oil, cayenne pepper sauce, paprika, cumin, kosher salt, pepper, and a large baking sheet.
First thing's first; preheat your oven to 440 degrees. Next, peel the potatoes. Blah, I know. . Next, make your spicy oil mix in the large bowl with the lid. Do this BEFORE chopping up the potatoes. You'll need 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of the cayenne pepper sauce, and 1/2 a teaspoon of paprika and 1/2 a teaspoon of cumin. Now if you're scared of the heat, that makes me sad, but just do the olive oil then, perhaps 1 tablespoon more if that's the case. Then stir it up with a fork or something.
Now it is time to slice your potatoes. Cut them into wedges or french fry shape, either is fine. I have this picture here for scale; DO NOT CUT YOUR FRIES OR WEDGES LARGER THAN THIS. I'm serious, smaller is better. Larger wedges will under cook, and you'll chew a half-cooked potato and ruin your dinner. This one is as thick as you want to get. As you make your wedges drop them into the large bowl with your oil mix.
Once you're done making your wedges, put on the lid and shake it! Shake it! Shake it like a Polaroid picture! It's the easiest way to evenly spread your oil among all sides of your fries, and it's also the most fun!
Now it is time to put your fries on the baking sheet. Trust me, be OCD on this, don't just dump them. Line them up nicely like this, it'll make the next step easier, plus it's the most crucial step. Also lay the flattest side down on the pan. In the oven the baking sheet will do most of the cooking, not from the top down. Also, put your fatter fries on the right and left ends, not the center. They cook a bit harder on the outside, so save that extra cooking power for the larger fries. I learned this from experience. Now finish seasoning the fries with kosher salt and pepper. Don't hold back on the salt. The salt helps dehydrate the potatoes so they cook.
Put the pan in the oven in the middle section for 17-18 minutes. You can watch the steam build up. After the timer goes off, open the oven and avoid the cloud of steam that threatens to engulf your face. It's not very comfortable. Now take out the pan and set it out. Let the fries rest for a minute or two. Now it's time to get a spatula, the thinnest one you have. Seriously, a thin one is what you're after. Thicker spatulas will tear your fries up. Now carefully start flipping the fries. Most will be stuck to the pan, and that's okay. That's the secret! It'll leave a cooked, hard outside like a french fry which is out of this world! I've found flipping my spatula over and then attacking the pan works well. Get those fries unstuck, and flip them over to a lesser cooked side. Put them back in the oven and cook them for 5-7 more minutes. Note that tiny fries are probably already done and can be enjoyed now. The normal and thicker ones will need this extra time.
Once the timer goes off, get them out and a couple may be stuck to the pan but most are not. I made two patches tonight, we had an extra potato. Eat them immediately!!! Note that if you have leftovers, they are reheated best in a toaster oven or regular oven. DO NOT MICROWAVE THEM! They'll go soft and become nasty. Just don't even bother.
These fries go great with a burger, hotdog, bratwurst, grilled veggies, grilled chicken, grilled fish, or heck, by themselves!!!
Mr. Lane Cunningham tried them tonight for the very first time. And he gave his stamp of approval! Yum yum! So you will too! Enjoy! If you have questions, concerns, need advice, please ask!
It is a pleasure to serve. God Bless.
Masterpiece Spicy Oven Fries
Prep time: 20 minutes. Cooking Time: 25-27 minutes.
Ingredients and tools:
- 2-3 russet or baking potatoes
- olive oil
- cayenne pepper sauce
- paprika
- cumin
- kosher salt
- pepper
- large bowl with lid
- baking sheet
- Preheat oven to 440 degrees.
- Peel the potatoes.
- Mix 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, 1/2 teaspoon of paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin in the large bowl.
- Slice the potatoes into wedges or french fry shapes. Be sure to not slice the wedges too thick or they'll undercook. Put the wedges in the bowl with the oil as you go.
- Put the lid on the bowl when all the potatoes are cut and shake it well.
- Place the wedges on the baking sheet. Do so uniformly with the flattest side on the pan. Larger wedges need to be placed toward the ends of the pan.
- Season the fries with kosher salt and pepper
- Put the pan in the preheated oven in the middle rack. Cook for 17-18 minutes
- Remove the pan and let it rest for 2-3 minutes.
- Carefully flip the fries with a thin spatula. Put the uncooked side down on the pan.
- Put the fries back in the over for 5-7 minutes.
- Remove from the pan and enjoy!
No comments:
Post a Comment