Our home fries recipe may help you incorporate a moderate amount of carbohydrates through a savory potato dish. There are so many things you could do with potatoes, and this is one of the most convenient.
Read on to learn the health benefits of home fries and how to prepare them. But starting at the top, let’s uncover what exactly they are.
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 prepare, 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.
Home Fries vs Hash Browns
Two cooking methods, one vegetable we all love; do we really need a showdown? If we must, it’s worth considering their similarities first.
Let’s start with the end-product for both hash browns and home fries: a fluffy center under a crispy golden exterior. The reason we love both options for a fun-textured breakfast.
They also share a similar cooking method whereby we sometimes par-cook or boil before pan-frying or roasting them.
That leaves the differences. Whereas hash browns are from shredded potatoes, home fries are generally made from bite-size cubes or wedges potatoes, which adds to the satisfaction you get from eating them.
Are Home Fries Healthy?
Potatoes are, by and large, considered healthy. Different types provide various nutritional benefits.
They’re great for gut health since they contain resistant starch (RS). RS is food for beneficial gut bacteria that turn it into short-chain fatty acids that may promote colon health.
It may also be worth noting that oven roasting, compared to deep-frying, results in lower oil absorption. It thereby decreases 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!
Best Potatoes for Home Fries
1. Russet Potato
The Russet potato is the most ideal for baking, frying, or mashing. It’s a thick-skinned variety that’s high in starch, giving it a fluffy center and a neat, uniform color when fried.
That and its low moisture content allow it a crispy golden finish you cannot otherwise achieve with waxy potatoes. It’s also another reason why fast-food restaurants like Mcdonalds religiously use it to achieve an even-colored presentation.
2. White Potato
The white potato has a coat that is so thin it’s almost transparent. And though it has slightly less starch than Russets, it’s still considered a multi-purpose potato.
It’s great for frying, baking, mashing, boiling, or roasting. Yukon Golds are medium-starch content potatoes that you can readily substitute for Russets, even in our home fries recipe.
And if you prefer the taste of Russets, you can somewhat make up for white potato flavor with added seasoning.
3. Seasoning
One reason the potato is a beloved vegetable is because of its versatility and taste. You can just add salt and achieve the best fried potato you’d ever taste.
Likewise, you can add a host of seasonings to enrich its pleasant taste. Our favorite combination is salt, pepper, and garlic.
These are just enough to complement its mild taste by adding a mellow pungency that doesn’t dominate the flavor.
We further added cayenne pepper for a spicy kick and onion powder to enhance that savory flavor. They are also great for adding depths of flavor but can be omitted if you don’t like a spicy dish.
Fresh thyme and parmesan are for a herby, savory essence that effortlessly elevates any dish. With that said, let’s show you how we incorporated all these flavors into our home fries.
How to Make Home Fries
Cooking potatoes to crispy perfection can be tricky. With a few tweaks here and there, you can attain that desired crunch.
Cut the potatoes into small chunks before frying them. Microwave or boil them to slightly soften, and leave them to cool before adding olive oil and tossing.
Next, layer them onto a sheet pan and roast in the oven, flipping them halfway through. Remove them from the oven and sprinkle parmesan and cheese before putting them back in for a final cook.
When time is up, remove them from the oven and toss with the remaining seasoning. Then sprinkle with fresh scallions and immediately serve.
Air Fryer Home Fries
Using an air fryer takes the labor out of frying. It’s so convenient; after peeling and seasoning your potatoes, you transfer them straight into the fryer.
Make sure the fryer has had time to heat up at 400°F before putting the potatoes. Also, mix in all ingredients, save for rosemary, parmesan, and scallions.
Then cook for 20 minutes, and check them after the first 10 minutes to shake and evenly distribute the potatoes. This is also a good time to add the remaining ingredients.
At the end of the cook, the potatoes should be brown and crispy. But if not, pop them back in for a further 5 minutes, then remove and serve.
What Goes Good With Fried Potatoes?
Here are a few of our favorite options to pair with fried potatoes:
1. Onions
The rustic look of onions with potatoes doesn’t serve enough justice to the pair’s taste. Together, they are the ultimate comfort food that keeps you thoughtlessly coming back for more.
Besides onions being easy to prepare, the combination of salt from the fries and sweetness from onions also works beautifully.
2. Peppers
Potatoes and peppers are always a hit. This savory duo is easy and quick to put together.
But what we cherish most is the sweet, subtle flavor that peppers release when fried. They take potatoes from simple to stylish.
Add some salt and pepper, and there you have it; a mouth-watering potato dish.
3. Eggs
You can’t go wrong with eggs either; either you love them, or you don’t.
You can bake, fry, or scramble them and enjoy their buttery flavor. Crispy home fries served alongside creamy scrambled eggs are a simple and appealing pair.
Plus, a creamy egg texture against the potatoes’ crunchy layer sounds like breakfast hard to pass up.
4. Sausage
Sausages and potatoes is one of the best food combos. The meaty texture of sausages pairs well with potatoes’ fluffy center, giving you a satisfying chew.
Sausages also seamlessly add spicy flavor to a one-skillet dish with potatoes. You can take advantage of their saltiness and fry them together with home fries to serve a full-flavored brunch.
Home Fries Recipe
Ingredients
- 26 oz russet 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
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FAQ
1. How Many Calories Are in Home Fries?
A serving of our home fries contains roughly 250 calories per serving. It takes up a sizeable chunk of your calories— almost 13% on a 2000-calorie diet and provides essential nutrients.
These are in the form of carbs, proteins, and fats to give you energy and keep you feeling full.
You can have home fries plain as an appetizer of filler. Like our other healthy side dishes, they are versatile and appropriate at both the lunch and dinner tables.
If one serving is too much, just wrap up the remains and store them in the refrigerator for later snacking.
2. How Long Do Home Fries Last?
Home fries can last for up to 3 or 4 days in the refrigerator. To preserve their fresh flavor, use a Ziploc bag or an airtight container that minimizes air exposure.
However, if you want to store them for longer than 4 days, it’s best to keep them in the freezer.
3. Can I Freeze Fried Potatoes?
Yes, you can freeze fried potatoes, including these. The Ziploc bag is perfect for transferring into a freezer, that, or any freezer-safe jar.
They will store well for up to 3 months, and when ready to use, simply defrost them.
However, they most likely will lose their crunch. So use an oven to roast them again and reintroduce that crispy home fries texture we all love.
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