smoky sweet potato fries + homemade garlic mayo
Even thought it’s summer and this weekend hit a record high of 104 degrees, I still find myself craving more foods than just fresh salads, like baked sweet potatoes. I guess the ideal thing for summer would be to grate the sweet potatoes into a slaw, but my favorite thing about sweet potatoes is the sweet caramelized flavor that develops after baking. As you know, cravings can be very demanding so I’ve been baking these sweet babies, 100 degrees and all. In order to avoid a toasty kitchen, I’ve been using my little toaster oven. As long as the sweet potatoes are small (about 4-6 ounces) or cut up (like these fries), they cook up just the way I like them, keeping my kitchen cool and my sweet potatoes extra sweet, naturally.
These fries are smoky from this amazing new seasoning blend I found at Trader Joe’s. It’s a combination of smoked paprika flakes, sea salt and dried basil. It comes in a grinder and I’ve been putting it on everything, from shrimp, to roasted broccoli to sauteed greens. It’s like cooking everything in bacon sans the calories so I am pretty much addicted. If you see it at the store, be sure to stock up, you never know with these Trader Joe’s products.
I wasn’t going for a crispy fry this time, just some simple baked sticks, but if you want crispy, coat the sweet potatoes in a bit of flour after you’ve smothered them with oil. I love a savory dip for sweet potato fries so I just went with good ol’ mayo. It’s a cinch to make and tastes so much more special knowing you made it. I kept it simple with garlic but try adding different herbs like rosemary. Sweet potatoes love rosemary.
smoky sweet potatoes fries + homemade garlic mayo
serves 2
2 small sweet potatoes (about 10 ounces total), cut into uniform sticks or wedges
1 teaspoon olive oil
Trader Joe’s South African Smoke seasoning blend
Smoked sea salt
for the mayonnaise:
2 egg yolks
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 teaspoon smoked sea salt
1 cup vegetable oil
Preheat toaster oven to 400 degrees. In a bowl, combine sweet potatoes and olive oil; toss to coat. Line oven tray or rack with aluminum foil; spread sweet potatoes evenly so they are not touching. Season with seasoning blend and salt to taste. Bake until cooked through and starting to brown, about 35-40 minutes. Meanwhile, make the mayonnaise.
To make the mayonnaise: In food processor, place egg yolks, lemon juice, mustard, garlic and salt; begin to pulse. While pulsing, slowly add the oil in a steady stream. Continue whirling until emulsified.
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Hmmm… just what I fancy now!
I havent made sweet potato frys in a long time, Im going to have to soon and the garlic mayo looks delish!
Yummy! I wonder if this recipe would work well with Japanese sweet potatoes as this is what I have access to? Love your blog and your pictures!
Those look so delish! I love sweet potato fries!
yum! i just had lunch, but i still want some of that!
Wow your mayo recipe looks great, definitely better than Delia Smith’s death-by-whisking method…. Also for winter//summer foods, I like to add (still warm) chopped new potatoes to salads, a nice combination of seasons!
This looks crazy delicious!
look tasty, i will definitely give it a go!
err yum!? my list is ever expanding but these are definitely added!
Yummy.
Ohhh, these look just wonderful! Will put it on my “Definitely try” list!
They sound really good. One for me to think about adapting, for sure! I dont know if i can get that spice blend over here in the UK,though.
Yum..sounds really good! Thank you for the recipe
i made this once but without the dip it was awesome
looks delish! we are huge foodies. awesome blog!
Sounds delicious! Must try! Thanks!
YUMMMM, I Love sweet Potato
Sounds delicious, definately will try with the mayo
I was actually just craving for sweet potato fries with some aioli (garlic mayo) when I saw this page. I’m going to have to run out now to get some…
I’m on the biggest sweet potato jag at the moment! Definitely going to try this!
Also, I’ve heard putting a dash of bourbon in mashed sweet potatoes is meant to be delicious. Anyone able to confirm this?
Yes, love bourbon and sweet potatoes! Check out my chess pie with sweet potato and bourbon: http://topoftheapple.com/2011/03/28/chocolate-sweet-potato-chess-pie-with-graham-cracker-crust/
Yum, looks delicious. I can’t wait to try the garlic mayo….definitely going to be a fabulous combination!
LOVE sweet potatoes. I could live off them. I’ll have to try this delicious sounding garlic mayo…mmmm
Unlike the many times I see a recipe that I claim I’ll try to make, I really will do it this time. I mean it!
Sweet potato fries are amazing, but I’m must admit, I’m super excited to try your mayo! Seriously though, you had me at ‘garlic’.
We LOVE to roast sweet potatoes to make fries!!! We eat them all fall and winter. I’ve never thought to put smoked paprika and basil on them along with the salt. (Alas, no Trader Joes here! grrrrr) We will certainly be giving that a try!
A world without sweet potatoes is not a world I want to live in!
I love sweet potato fries! I used to hate sweet potatoes, but I grew to like them. Thanks for sharing how to make them, as well as the garlic mayonnaise! Hope the heat lessens soon so you’re not forced to use your mini toaster oven if you don’t want to. Congrats on making Freshly Pressed.
I’ve been actually craving for sweet potato fries
.
I am really excited to learn about that TJs smoke seasoning. Great idea to make smoky sweet potato fries!
i absolutely love sweet potato fries – yum yum yum these look great
-grace
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So glad I found this site!!
I could write for days about my love for sweet potato fries… But I won’t. I’ll have to try this recipe.
lovely — simply lovely —-sometimes things are so simple….love picture, recipe and your blog….
thank you!
great post! . licitatii anunturi
These sound delicious! A great idea for party food, too. Where did you find smoked sea salt?
Trader Joe’s has smoked sea salt in a grinder too, but if you don’t have a TJ’s in your town, you could find it in specialty food shops. I actually got mine at TJ Maxx in the food department – what a great find!
Thanks for the info. I’ll have to stop at Trader Joe’s this week!
These sound absolutely delicious. I am currently scouring the blogosphere for new and healthy eats and this seems to be right up there. I’m on a journey of weight loss, better dietary habits and adventure. Thanks for posting. I’ll let you know how mine turn out!
please do, i am sure you will love them!
It looks so delicious!!!!! Yummm Thanks for Sharing
i’ve had this several times in eastern european kitchens–dunno if your intention was to get all ethnic. the sauce (mushdei) is, quite easily, my favorite thing in the world, but even though the recipe is simple, i never learned how to make it. it was more frequently served to me with russett potatoes, however the sweet potatoes sound like they would be AMAZING. thanks for the recipe!
I love sweet potato fries all year round as well! And I love mixing them in a chili powder and smoked paprika seasoning…the best way to enjoy them is smoky style. I have never seen this seasoning at TJ’s but it is definitely on my next grocery list! Thanks for sharing.
This sounds delicious!
it sounds delicious!!
That looks mouthwatering. I first tried sweet potato fries at Amazon grill and have been a fan ever since. Mayo isn’t really my thing, but I would definitely try this kind. Cheers : )
Those look really good! mmmm….
I tried my first sweet potato fries about a month ago. I was happily surprised. My daughter is trying to eat all veggies. I’ll give this recipe to her. :O)
Yums!!
I’m making this 2nite!!!!
Does TJ’s SA Smoke actually have ground bacon in it? Or is it just the seasonings that you mention? Because that looks mighty yummy.
No bacon, it just tastes like it because of the smoked paprika. I love putting it on my eggs – no bacon necessary!
I love homemade mayo! Dying to try your recipe.
aaaah my mouth is watering!
I love sweet potato fries. It makes me feel good knowing that it’s healthier than normal fries.
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looks delicious can’t wait to try it out when it’s my turn to cook!
These sound de-lish! I am going to try them with my hubby. And they have to be healthy…EVOO, sea slat, no deep frying, baked!!! Yummy!!!
This looks amazing. Sweet potatoes are my favorite and sweet potato fries are better. Add the garlic mayo? Yum. Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing!
Wonderfully easy. I gotta try it. Thanks so much. Connie
http://7thandvine.wordpress.com/
Yum! I love sweet potato fries
I love sweet potatoes – any way you slice them (or not). I’ll be trying these.
will be making these soon! Thank you will follow…
yum, this is one of my favorite things to eat!
This looks amazing! I’ll have to try it this weekend
I’m definitely NOT going to get my boyfriend to go for the garlic mayo — as anything with the word “mayonaise” in it is DEAD to him!
However — these look incredible. Thanks for sharing the recipe. Maybe I’ll trick him and call it “whipped garlic.”
Two things: 1) Thanks for the heads up on the Trader Joe’s new seasoning. Its already on the list. 2) I had never heard of tossing the fries in oil then flour for the crispy factor. I will definitely try that on my butternut squash fries. Thanks for the excellent tips!
I love sweet potato fries! Now I’m gonna have to satisfy my craving too!
Looks reallly,really good!!!!!!!!!!!! I love sweet potato fries and chips.Congratrs on making FP.
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We make sweet potato fries all the time, but have never tried the garlic mayo… my husband would love it, since he eats mayo with everything
Thanks for the great new recipe!