When it comes to cooking potatoes, there are so many different things you can do. This home fries recipe is just one of the many ways to incorporate a moderate amount of carbohydrates through a savory potato dish.
What are Home Fries?
Home fries are traditionally cooked potatoes served at breakfast. The “home” comes in as you can make them at home as rustic, great comfort food. Easy to make, packed with flavor, mouth-wateringly crispy on the outside, and fluffy in the middle. They are wonderfully versatile and you can add all sorts to them; try adding onions and/or seasonings of your choice to adjust them to your preferred taste.
Home Fries vs French Fries
Whereas French fries are traditionally deep-fried, for home fries, we par-cook the potatoes before pan-frying or oven-roasting them. By doing this, you achieve tender potatoes that allow for quick cooking without running the risk of over-drying. Home fries don’t require using heaps of oil, so it’s a more popular choice among people who are watching their weight.
French fries are generally thinner batons of potato. Home fries can be bite-size cubes or wedges, which adds to the satisfaction you get from eating them!
How to Make Potatoes Crispy
Cooking potatoes to crispy perfection can be tricky, but a few tweaks here and there, and you’ll attain that desired crunch.
Firstly, consider the type of potatoes you are going to be using. We suggest Russet/Idaho, the thick-skinned potatoes. In addition to providing healthy fiber for digestion, their naturally fluffy texture effectively absorbs spices.
Cut the potatoes in small chunks before frying them. Microwave or boil them to slightly soften, keeping in mind that smaller pieces become more tender more quickly. Make sure the potatoes are dry before you start cooking them in the skillet.
If you choose to pan-fry your home fries, be sure that the pan you use is non-stick because that’s the best way to ensure that the potatoes turn out crunchy but not over-browned or crumbled. Otherwise, you’ll end up with a crusty pan filled with bits of fluffy potato— what a waste!
For oven-roasted potatoes, set the oven to a high temperature (preferably 450°F) to make sure they crisp up.
What to Serve with Home Fries
Home fries alone are rich enough to deliver a satisfying breakfast. But whether eaten on their own or paired with a dish, these roasted potatoes remain the star of any meal. Here are a couple of our favorites to pair with them:
Pepper Onion Sauce
Adding a thick onion sauce to these home fries introduces a smooth consistency and a layer of moisture to the fluffy potato texture. The natural combination of salt from the fries and pepper from the sauce works beautifully. This sauce is also made with ingredients that are usually readily available at home.
Creamy Scrambled Eggs
Crispy home fries served alongside creamy scrambled eggs are a simple and appealing pair. A creamy egg texture against the crunchy layer of potatoes sounds like a breakfast hard to pass up.
Are Fried Potatoes Considered Healthy?
Potatoes are, by and large, considered healthy. Different types provide various nutritional benefits. Russet potatoes are great for gut health, lowering the risks of abdominal bloating and digestive problems.
Compared to frying, roasting potato pieces will form less acrylamide content, reducing the risk of several types of cancer. Additionally, oven roasting compared to deep-frying results in lower oil absorption, thereby decreasing the total fat intake and caloric count for home fries.
While trying to keep the nutritional figures for every dish under control, we still recommend that you introduce this home fries recipe to your diet no more than twice a week. It is possible to have too much of a good thing!
Home Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 26 oz potatoes peeled and diced to ½ inch
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/3 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/4 tsp fresh rosemary
- 1 oz grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp scallions finely chopped
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Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
- Peel and dice potatoes to ½ inch cubes and transfer them into a microwave-safe bowl. Microwave for 7 minutes at medium-high temperature then leave them to cool for another 7 minutes.
- Add the olive oil to the bowl of potatoes and toss to evenly coat. Put the potatoes on the sheet pan in a single layer and roast them for 15 minutes. Flip the potato cubes over and continue roasting for another 10 minutes.
- While the potatoes are roasting, finely chop fresh scallions and place them into a small bowl.
- Remove the potatoes from the oven and immediately sprinkle with parmesan cheese and rosemary, making sure the cheese is on top of the potatoes. Put the potatoes back into the oven to roast for 3 minutes, then remove and transfer them into a bowl.
- Add paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and salt into a separate bowl and stir to mix well. Add the mixture to the potatoes and toss to evenly coat.
- Sprinkle with fresh scallions and serve hot.
Nutrition Info
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