French fries can be highly addictive, and being high in calories and low in nutrients, they can make you obese if eaten regularly. Considering that they are usually fried and cooked in an unhealthy oil, in the long term they can increase the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, blood pressure, among others. The worst thing about store-bought fries is that you can’t stop eating them until you finish the last one. However, if you’re a French fry lover looking for a healthier version of this sinful food this National French Fry Day (March 14), you can make them at home using minimal oil, less salt and herbs, and spices for seasoning Take it in moderation as they still do not have enough fiber and other essential nutrients for weight loss and good health. (Also read: Crisp Chemistry: What It Takes To Make The Perfect French Fry)
“As a nutritionist, I am constantly looking for healthier options for myself and my family. One thing I hate is packaged items. Everyone in my house knows that if something is in a package, I won’t eat it. My son loves French fries, but the ones that are available in the market are very unhealthy since they have a lot of sodium, preservatives and trans fats.Therefore, i discovered this recipe- once i tried it, we never looked at the bags again.the icing on the cake is that they taste even better than the packaged ones. Made with love, care and no added preservatives, one cannot stop trying this recipe,” says nutritionist Sakshi Lalwani in an interview with HT Digital.
Healthy French Fries Recipe:
1. Wash and peel the skin of the potatoes well and dry them with a paper towel or cloth.
2. Cut the potatoes into thin slices the size you want. I usually cut it to 1/16 inch, as the thinner it is, the crispier it will get.
3. Dress them with a little olive oil, just enough so that each one of them has a shiny effect, it is not necessary to use a large amount since when baking it will absorb everything anyway.
4. Layer slices on baking sheet. When layering the potatoes, make sure there is space between them so that the heat has enough room to surround each potato.
5. Preheat the oven for 3 minutes on the grill at 200-220 degrees. Bake for 10 minutes, then carefully remove them from the oven and, using tongs, flip each one over and bake for an additional 7 to 8 minutes. Be sure to keep an eye on them as towards the end they will cook fast.
6. You can season them with salt and pepper or add some chili powder or oregano and you can eat them with any sauce.
7. Baked potato chips are best eaten right away, but can be stored in a covered container for 1-2 weeks (just be sure to let them cool completely before storing).
“When trying to make healthy French fries, you should check the quality of the oil used for frying and the addition of salt. To be completely honest, there is no healthy alternative to French fries. This is mainly because the texture and the flavor of chips are designed to be addictive and no healthy variant would do that,” says Khushboo Jain Tibrewala, founder of The Health Pantry, nutritionist and diabetes educator.
Tibrewala suggests some easy ways to cook French fries to make them healthier:
1. Soak the potato slices in lightly salted water for some time. Drain and dry with a kitchen towel. Place on a tray, brush the slices with a little oil and cook in the microwave for 3-4 minutes, until golden. Sprinkle salt and pepper. To reduce the salt, add some dried herbs.
2. The same method can be used to bake or air fry them.
3. Use raw plantain, sweet potato, beets, carrots instead of potato. This makes for a really attractive colorful bowl of chips at a party.
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