I love French Fries.
There, I said it.
French fries were sent to this world by evil chefs who whose soul purpose is to dangle sticks of fried goodness in my face, knowing that if I indulge, I'll blow up faster than Violet in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
To combat this, I will sometimes try to make oven-baked french fries. I carefully chop a large Russet potato into perfect, uniform sticks, salt them generously, and send them off into the oven, imagining perfectly golden, crispy, lower fat french fries.
WRONG!
Somehow, I always end up with soggy, limp, white french fries. What is it that I am doing wrong?
Well, whatever I was doing wrong doesn't matter anymore because I found out how to do them right.
Toss these perfect matchsticks with a little rosemary, a little thyme, some kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil and toss it in an oven at 400 F for 25 - 30 minutes and you've got fries... frenchified.
Crispy. Golden. Salty. And enhanced with a touch of woodsy herbs.
Damn those evil chefs, I'll take my healthier fries any day.
Oven Baked Rosemary and Thyme French Fries
3 Russet Potatoes
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
2 teaspoons rosemary, minced
2 teaspoons thyme, minced
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Grease a baking sheet with 1 or 2 teaspoons of oil and set aside. Make sure you spread the oil around the whole pan (taking a paper town to spread the oil works well).
Skin and chop potatoes into 1/3" sticks. Toss with 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil and place in a single layer on baking sheet. Bake in the oven for 30-35 minutes, turning fries every so often, until the potatoes are uniformly golden brown.
Remove from the oven and immediately add salt, rosemary, and thyme. Serve immediately.
Oven fries are the best. Healthier too than the deep-fried. Though I still like the deep-fried version. But I'll take oven fried any day.
Looks delish!
Posted by: jenn | April 30, 2009 at 02:58 AM
Oven fries sound delicious with rosemary and thyme! Excellent!
Posted by: Natasha - 5 Star Foodie | April 30, 2009 at 09:24 AM
I love rosemary with potatoes. Your fries look great!
Posted by: lisaiscooking | April 30, 2009 at 09:40 AM
Those look really, really good. I make sweet potatoes in the oven like that but for some reason it's never occurred to me to use a regular potato. I'll have to try this, thanks!
Posted by: Jessica | April 30, 2009 at 10:00 AM
I tried to make oven fries this week, and they weren't pretty! I'll have to try your method out because I'm a fry addict too!
Posted by: Mindy | April 30, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Mmm these look delicious. I think if I tried to cut potatoes into fries I'd end up with every piece being a different size. I'm really bad at evenly cutting things!
Posted by: Ashley | April 30, 2009 at 10:18 AM
OMG I am a total french fry addict. Nice color on the fries! Just printed out the recipe (you really need to write a cookbook, I've printed out so many recipes from your site that I won't ever need another cookbook again!)
Posted by: phyllis (me HUNGRY!) | April 30, 2009 at 10:36 AM
YUM! The herbs totally make them.
Posted by: pinkstripes | April 30, 2009 at 12:52 PM
I've encountered the same problem with oven fries. I'll have to try your solution!
Posted by: Ali | April 30, 2009 at 01:07 PM
These look wonderful! I love baked fries - one of my favorites!
Posted by: Jen Schall @ My Kitchen Addiction | April 30, 2009 at 02:09 PM
Yum! Yours look great. I make oven baked fries all the time, they are soooo good and definitely satisfy my french fry craving. In fact, I am making some for dinner tonight.
Posted by: Sara | April 30, 2009 at 02:21 PM
Do these the same exact way with sweet taters, and you've got us!
Posted by: The Duo Dishes | April 30, 2009 at 02:36 PM
Rosemary & Thyme ... what a great combination! I have done the same combo with sweet potato fries - delectable!!
Jan ~ Founder, PantryConnection.com
Posted by: Jan @ Pantry Connection | April 30, 2009 at 04:06 PM
French fries are a serious weakness of mine too! Those look fabulous. I roast potatoes with rosemary quite a bit but I've never made fries. Will definitely have to give it a shot!
Posted by: Tracey | April 30, 2009 at 07:53 PM
That top picture is really pretty. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by: Hayley | April 30, 2009 at 08:23 PM
Those look delicious! I never would have thought to add the herbs. I usually make the Cooks Illustrated recipe for Oven Fries; they're fantastic.
Posted by: Di | April 30, 2009 at 09:45 PM
That's the only way I make fries - they're so much better this way, and healthier too. Rosemary is such a great herb - too bad I can't grow it here!
Posted by: Megan | May 01, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Great way to update a classic! And so much healthier too!
Posted by: Valary | May 01, 2009 at 11:19 AM
Ovenbaked fries are awesome . . so are McD's! My weakness! ARRGGHHHH!
Posted by: Sugar B | May 01, 2009 at 06:44 PM
My oven fries have always been hit or miss (with way more misses!) Seeing how beautifully these turned out, I'm totally willing to try again. I think my problem may have been too low of a heat setting. Can't be afraid to crank up the fire! 8-)
Posted by: Tangled Noodle | May 01, 2009 at 10:36 PM