Oil Free Air Fryer Fries

By Jennifer Provenza at Good Food From The Heart

Whole food plant based, oil free, sugar free, gluten free, nut free, soy free

These oil free air fryer fries are crispy on the outside and warm and creamy on the inside, yet contain no oil! Perfect with your favorite veggie burger.

Summer’s At An End

As summer draws to a close and the kids go back to school, we are taking advantage of these last sunny days to have a few more barbeque dinners outside. I have to confess that I’m getting excited for fall and all the delicious autumn recipes I love to make. The kids have started school, which is so exciting because it is their first time back full time in person since March of 2020. I’m also back teaching in person! I’m so excited to actually be in a room with my students and they are having so much fun getting to actually act together. (I’m teaching Beginning Acting to college students). I’ve already enjoyed my first homemade pumpkin spice latte of the season and I can’t wait to start in on baked apples and all of those spiced recipes I can’t get enough of over the fall and winter. Still, I’m not going to turn down a plate of fries! Especially when they are oil free, yet crisp and yummy. M, age 9, is obsessed with potatoes. She likes them mashed, baked and, especially, fried. But who wants to serve their kid all that oil? This version makes us all happy. (Well, except C, who hates potatoes….)

Q and A

Do I have to use Idaho potatoes? No, you don’t. I tested this recipe with Idaho potatoes, so using a different potato might cause you to need to adjust the cooking time slightly. Also, a different potato (such as red or white potatoes) will give you a creamier and less crispy fry.

Do I have to use an air fryer? Of course not! This recipe is specific to the air fryer, but you can definitely bake these in the oven. They will take longer, however. In my experience it takes about an hour in a 425 degree oven.

What kind of herbs should I use? Almost any fresh herb would taste great on these fries. I used thyme, but rosemary would also be delicious. Feel free to skip the herbs as well.

How else can I top these fries? Nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt…. any of those options would taste great!

What should I dip these fries in? Totally up to you, of course! I used a sugar free ketchup, but hummus or baba ghanoush would make a great option too.

Do I have to peel the potatoes? No, not at all! The skin has lots of nutrients, so feel free to leave it on. My kids prefer it off, though.

Do I have to boil the potatoes first? Boiling the potatoes is really key to having a creamy and soft interior. If you put the fries directly in the air fryer I have found that they end up burned on the outside by the time the inside is fully cooked. However, if you make them in the oven you could skip the boiling step. Honestly, though, I find it reduces the cooking time and improves the final result either way. You also could start by microwaving them if you prefer instead.

How To Make These Oil Free Air Fryer Fries

Luckily, these fries are super easy to make. Start by peeling and chopping the potatoes. (You can leave the peel on if you prefer). Chop into thin wedges. The thinner they are, the crispier they will be.

Next, place all the chopped potatoes into a large pot and cover with a few inches of water. Bring to a boil and boil for eight minutes. At this point, remove from the heat and carefully drain the potatoes into a colander.

Finally, add to the basket of an air fryer. Make sure you only have one layer of potatoes. If you have too much potato, air fry in two batches. Optionally, you might spritz with nonstick spray. Salt the potatoes to taste. Then, air fry at 370 degrees for 15 minutes.

I like to top these air fryer fries with chopped herbs, such as thyme, and dip in sugar free ketchup.

These fries would go perfectly with my Oil Free Vegan Burgers and my Sugar Free Lemonade.

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