On Friday night, I treat the boys to steak and fries.
It’s their favorite meal of the week, and for once I don’t have to negotiate with them (they should both be lawyers!). The steak is grass fed from Trader Joe’s, and while I’m there, I grab a bag of fries too.
Yes! The Clever Carrot doesn’t make her own fries!
You heard that right. In my defense, the correct way to make fries is to double fry the potatoes for a super crispy outside and fluffy middle. Tell me something: who in their right mind would double fry anything in raging hot oil at the end of the week?
I’d rather eat out.
Plus, I found an easier and healthier way to do it without the fat.
Phillips reached out asking if I’d like to try their new Airfryer.
Yes, please.
Interestingly enough, my dad told me about this Airfryer so I was somewhat familiar with the concept. He made Chinese spareribs and they were beyond delicious. Oprah even put the Airfryer on her Favorites Things List (2016). So, how could I not want to learn more?!
After watching this demo video, all I could think about were crispy fries for the rest of the day. I think my thighs got smaller.
So, here’s how it works:
Its unique shape allows hot air to circulate all around the food, for even cooking without the fat. All you need is 1 tablespoon of olive oil! Any residual oil drains away as it cooks so you’re not left with a soggy mess. The food is crispy on the outside and perfectly cooked on the inside.
You can use the Airfryer to cook all sorts of things too, including veggies, steak, desserts, even bread!
For the recipe, I created a medley of veggie fries.
The lineup included sweet potatoes, parsnips, and heirloom carrots. I tossed the veggies in olive oil, garlic powder, and rosemary, and dusted them with cornmeal for a crunchy texture on the finish.
Each vegetable takes a different amount of time to cook, so I air-fried everything in batches. The parsnips cooked the fastest, followed by the sweet potatoes and carrots. Because carrots don’t have as much starch as the other veggies, they didn’t fully crisp as per a typical french fry, but cooked nicely and had great flavor.
And guess what else?!
**GIVEAWAY NOW CLOSED! 12/27/16**
I have a FANTASTIC giveaway for YOU!
One lucky winner is going to receive the following, courtesy of Phillips:
- Philips Airfryer ($350-400 in value)
- Williams-Sonoma Airfryer Cookbook
- $100 AmEx gift card
- Gordon Ramsay’s Home Cooking cookbook
Plus, you get a 20% off coupon code for all purchases: OPRAH.
To enter: leave a comment below and tell me what YOU would like to make in the Airfryer! Contest open to US residents only. You are going to love this one! Good luck to all!
*This post was in partnership with Philips. All opinions are my own!
PrintVeggie Fries
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 4 large parsnips
- 4 carrots, assorted colors
- 1–2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1–2 tablespoons of chopped rosemary
- garlic powder, to taste
- cornmeal
- salt
* For best results, make sure to cut the vegetables roughly the same size, for even cooking.
Instructions
- Set your Airfryer to 350 F.
- Peel and trim all of the vegetables. Cut into 1/2-inch sticks. The best way to do this, is to cut the vegetables into slices first, lengthwise, and then across to create ‘fries’. Place the vegetables into 3 bowls, respectively.
- Drizzle the vegetables with olive oil, rosemary, garlic powder, and a sprinkle of cornmeal. Toss well to combine.
- To air-fry, place half of the sweet potatoes into the fry basket, making sure not to go over the max line. Cook for 6-9 minutes or until crispy. Transfer to a wire rack and sprinkle with salt while still hot.
- For the parsnips, cook for 3-4 minutes. For the carrots, cook for 10-15 minutes.
- Serve directly on the cooling rack, family-style, or on a large platter. Veggie fries are best enjoyed warm, fresh out of the Airfryer.
Comments
Jackie Seyler says
Stuffed avacados for me!!!! Ever tried them? Well, they are divine. Every bite includes an, “Mmmmm!”
Anne McFadden says
Can you picture beautiful carrots drizzled with honey ! My grand kids would love this…
Nicole says
These look AMAZING! I’m so curious to learn more about air frying! I would definitely try my hand at some classic buffalo wings or crispy fried brussels sprouts.
Yaritza S. says
Zucchini and eggplant fries! I can never get them nice and cripsy baking them in the oven.
Michael J. Caboose says
Bacon, fish, and croutons.
Bacon because, come on, bacon. Fish because steamed is good, but fried is great. Croutons because a small handful of big, chunky, flavor-filled, toasty pieces of bread single-handedly make a $7 salad a $13 salad.
Karen D says
I would make phyllo pockets, omelets, and (of course) all types of fries!!
cheryl larimer says
I would love to make shrimp and vegetable tempura. I only eat them out where they are deep fried but if I could make them healthier, I would make them at home.
PL says
Hello! So nice of you to offer this. I would make sweet little noodle Birdsnests in which to put homemade (white & speckled) chocolate truffles to give as holiday gifts…. Yes, please!
Constance Mullin says
From falafels to churros the texture frying gives food is truly the best!!
Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist says
YUM! I am so excited by this. I would make allll the veggie fries! But I am super intrigued by your Dad’s spareribs.
Gail says
Egg rolls and some Chinese chicken that requires deep frying. Also fries.
ElizabethWelles says
my husband just learned the one stick of butter+ 4 slices 0f white bread torn and mashed and turned to breadcrumbs on the stove. with constant stirring for around 10 minutes in a small saucepot until medium brown. my mothers recipe. storebought breadcrumbs are so dry and sawdusty!
with the air fryer, i would not fret about all that butter or grease. i believe it would be wonderful to use my mandoline to shave slices of potatoes and create little millefeuille without all the calories and fat. also, individual apple pies and stratas (potatoes or green squash or spinach, etc. with cheese and a pastry crust. i enjoy serving a lovely plate where every friend has their own individual serving.
i would prolly make small cherry pies, tool
Carol says
Hmmm, I remember having some deep fried pickles at our Minnesota State Fair and they were so good! I would love to try and recreate them along with a killer sauce to dip them in. Maybe a sour cream Chipotle or a creamy mustard ranch. Mmmm.
Vickie says
I bet kale chips would be great too.
Everything!
Vickie says
Your fries look delicious. One of my favorite things. I do double fry with Michael Symons recipe. Actually baked then fried…so good!
But, my Christmas wish list is an air fryer because we eat healthier than my southern roots and I miss frying.
First up for me would my fave a captains platter of fresh fried fish, shrimp, lobster, scallops and oysters..onion hush puppies too..oh my heaven in my mouth!
This entire giveaway is me me me..haha.
I’m a huge Gordon fan!
Thanks.
Pam R says
I would like to make several things, Tempura, Honduran pastalitos, lumpia, chicken
JoeyfromSC says
These look very delicious! Wow!
&
Haha@ what you said about double frying..I know right! Too much work lol
By the way, your photography is beautiful!
Thanks for the chance to win this awesome prize pack!
JoeyfromSC says
Oops I forgot to answer the question.. I would love to try to make the veggie fries!! And maybe some mozzarella sticks haha
Lina Bahri says
I would finally make my mom’s Lebanese sambousek recipe! It would be more healthy and much less scary than a frying pan full of hot oil (which is totally why I haven’t made them yet)
http://foodandtravel.com/food/recipes/sambousek-two-ways
Deb says
Fish and chips…oh yeah!!
Amelia Wong says
Ginger soy fried chicken wings! Topped with some crunchy green onions :)
Sinei says
As a new mama with a husband who works days at a time as a firefighter, I usually don’t get to eat breakfast until around noon and often skip dinner altogether as I’m too exhausted to put things together. I found a recipe for a roticerie chicken that cooks and in an hour! I would probably make that! So many different things you can make with one roasted chicken! On a day when the husband is home and there is more time, I would robably make some of his once a year indulgent favorites, – pecan pie and biscuits and maybe Emeril’s bacon and corn pudding, because yum! All served with a non air fried salad. Haha. Also saw yummy Indian recipes and veggie recipes and even cakes!
Dana says
I’d want to make these fries! I’ve made a “fried” turkey like this, in an oil-less fryer. French fries and chips are often what I crave the most when I’m in that “mood”
Nicole Lampe says
I would airfry spiralizeded everything: sweet potatoes, butternut squash, zucchini, you name it! Also harissa and honey glazed carrots, and naked broccoli and cauliflower. Yum!
colleen lee says
Kale chips might turn out as light as dandelion blossoms if done this way. I would love to find ways to get my kids to consume acres of leafy greens, all the the guise of crunchy snacking.
Jenn mangeri says
I love sweet potato fries but I would love to try to fry a hard boiled egg like the Irish do. I am not found of some of the spices they add (Irish restaurant we like to go) but with some creative spice blends I know I could create a mouth-watering deep fries hard boiled egg. Cheers!
Lydia Ruddy says
I would make anything French fried (sweet potato, potato, carrots etc),and fried cheese sticks. I’ve also heard that toasted ravioli are great in air fryers!
Judith says
Sweet potato fries
Tiffany Lee says
i would love to make all kinds of fries!
Jennifer says
French fries, sweet potato fries and wings would be up there on my list!
Francine Ravnikar says
Wooohooo – I’m in heaven! I would love to make some sweet potato fries. Fried pickles have caught my attention too! I can’t wait to try crispy veggie fries!!❤️
Traci Badenhausen says
I’ve lost over 100lbs in the last year, so as you can imagine, fried foods of any sort have become a thing of my past, but I must admit that I sure do miss a good french fry! That would be the first item that I would make with this healthy kitchen appliance.
Christy S. says
I sooooo have been wanting an air fryer. I would make falafel first. Then fries and tempura.
Lisa M says
Fried avocado. Not sure if it will work in the air fryer, but if it does, then I can have them more often and not feel guilty. :-)
Benn Glazier says
Sun chokes and zucchini fries would be right up there. Or maybe some romanesco covered in pancetta. Otherwise, I love sweet potato fries, covered in any plethora of herbs and spices. Sumac is great for that…. lovely zingy citrus kick and give it a further north African feel with some chilli flakes and cumin.
Carla says
Oh, my gosh! Fried okra, please!
Heidi says
Your fries look amazing and easy. My next choice would be home made Chinese egg rolls, family recipe. Lots of work but worth all the effort. Always invite friends or family to share in the experience. Making me hungry…
Thank you
Leslie Dushensky says
I would love to use it to make healthy chicken and veggie dishes when I am home from school next month!
Sarah says
I would make fries, lots of fries for my allergy ridden kids. And gluten free egg less egg rolls.
J. Frazier says
I would make chicken and fries!
Anne says
This would be great to make beet chips or kohlrabi fries. Maybe sunchoke chips? Could you make kale chips in there? So many options…
Jen Ridge says
I would try donuts!! Who doesn’t love a nice fried donut:)
Celine says
I would make fried chicken and pair it with waffles!
Kim Henrichs says
OH my gosh – LOADS of sweet potato fries!!
Keri says
I’d love to Matthew some sweet potato fries or parsnip. The possibilities are endless!
Keri says
Make, not Matthew! Omg autocorrect!
Rebecca says
I think I’d play with some rainbow carrots! Or zucchini fries!! Spiralized zucchinj fries! Oh my
Aretha DeSpain says
Goodness. The first and foremost potato fries!
This summer battered zucchini, onions, mushrooms.
What a fabulous invention.
Carla says
I am in love with sweet potato fries! We do very little frying and they are not crisp when baked. This appliance sounds like the solution. I would also like to try other vegs in one. Has anyone tried frying squash or green beans? ….the possibilities are making my mind whirl. I could have fun with this. And, MERRY CHRISTMAS to you and your family.
Charlene says
I would totally make fries. Fries fries fries!
Amy says
I’m a dietitian & I would LOVE to try any & everything!! I’ve seen the air fryers but always hesitate in buying another appliance…but if one were gifted to me, how could I say no?!
Shoshana Rose says
What a fabulous giveaway! I would love to try making sweet potato fries!