I have always had a passion for French fries, and therefore, I could never pass potato wedges those golden arches without stopping in to buy some. These days, we are trying to eat a lot healthier, so it was a very sad day when I had to give up my French fries.
But I found with some research, that you don’t really have to give up what you love. These oven-baked fries are simple to make and full of flavor. They get crisp in the oven. The spices and oil almost form a crust.
Parmesan and garlic really give these fries a kick of flavor. Perfect as a snack or side dish. 30 minutes then pat dry with paper towels. OVEN: Heat oven to 450 degrees. No need to turn the fries!
MAKING OVEN FRIES: Spray a foil-lined baking sheet with cooking spray if you are using a regular cookie sheet. I use an Aire Gourmet baking sheet, and if you like these fries, it is worth the investment of buying one. Because olive oil does not smoke at high temperatures when using this baking sheet, and the fries are a gorgeous golden brown. Soak the cut potatoes in ice water for at least 30 minutes. Don’t skip this step as it makes them crisp.
Blot cut potatoes on a clean tea towel to remove moisture. Combine all dry ingredients in a plastic bag. Add potatoes tossing and kneading lightly to coat. Drizzle with one tablespoon of olive oil. Tossing and kneading again to coat. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on the baking sheet.
Bake for 35 minutes or until golden brown. No need to turn potatoes during cooking. Be sure to check them often to see how they are doing. Remove any potatoes into a paper towel-lined bowl that get done early so they don’t get overdone. I also like to use parchment paper for easy cleanup! MAKING POTATO WEDGES: Prepare your potatoes as you would for oven fries, except cut your potatoes into wedges and, follow the rest of the steps in the recipe.
When it comes time to bake the wedges, put them on parchment paper to bake and allow a few minutes extra to make sure they are done. No need to turn during baking. Cook’s Tip: Don’t throw out the leftover fries, or wedges! Wrap them in tinfoil and refrigerate. Leftover fries and wedges make great tasting eggs!