Garlic Sweet Potato Fries

Hot and crispy on the outside, warm and soft on the inside – who doesn’t love the perfect French fry? But these garlic sweet potato fries knock regular fries right out of the competition. They have the perfect combination of sweet, salty and savory and will be a favorite for kids and adults.

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite Paleo-friendly foods. They curb my cravings for something starchy, but it’s not like I’m giving up anything in exchange.: I’d rather have a sweet potato than a regular potato any day! As most people know, sweet potatoes come with that extra bit of sweetness that makes them great in both savory and sweet dishes. So versatile! Plus, they’re high in fiber and an assortment of vitamins and nutrients.

And there’s a billion ways to prepare them…. mashed, baked, sliced, diced – you name it! For these garlic sweet potato fries you’ll want to cut them into long, quarter-inch square strips, just like you would with any potato. Although, if you prefer your fries in a different shape, why not get creative and try it out?

Keep in mind that the thickness will alter their cooking time and may change their texture a bit in the final product. Want a crispier fry? Make them a bit thinner! But be careful to not make them too thick – you want to make sure they cook all the way through without burning on the outside.

Now, onto the flavor profile of these fries. You can do so much with sweet potato fries! But today we’re talking about garlic. Mmmmmmm, garlic! While I could eat sweet potato fries with just a bit of olive oil and salt on them every day, the garlic really steals the show and takes the fry from everyday staple to something spectacular.

And here’s a few tips for mincing garlic… I used to hate how every time I would use garlic in a recipe my hands would smell like garlic for a day or so afterwards. So now I generally use a garlic press. They’re pretty cheap and keep your hands from soaking up the garlic smell.

But if you don’t have one and you’re chopping by hand, try washing your hands with hot soapy water immediately after finishing chopping. Then, douse your fingers with a bit of lemon juice – that should do the trick! And don’t worry – the garlic won’t linger on your breath, either, because we’re tossing these freshly cooked fries with parsley – a natural breath freshener!

And what do I love to pair with these fries? A bowl. And sitting on the couch. I’m not entirely kidding – I could gobble up a batch of these all on their own! But if you’re looking for a full meal, these go great with roasted chicken, pork loin, or even as part of a steak-and-frites meal. In other words, you can dress them up or dress them down, depending on what you pair them with.

And I’ll admit – oftentimes when I’m planning a salad for dinner, I’ll whip up a batch of garlic sweet potato fries to go on the side because, let’s face it, sometimes salads can leave you a little wanting – but garlic sweet potato fries will round it out for you!

So take your dinner (or lunch or snack or whatever!) to the next level and grab a few sweet potatoes and some garlic and get chopping!

(Make this next: Addictive Parsnip Paleo Fries)