Ancho Chile Fries Recipes

BAKED CHILI CHEESE FRIES

Steps:

• Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or aluminum foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a small bowl, whisk together cornstarch, chili powder, red pepper flakes, garlic powder, cumin and ancho chili powder. Set aside.
• Rinse potatoes and peel with a vegetable peeler. You can leave some skin bits on the potatoes if you want to go for a more rustic fry. Using a sharp knife, slice a 1/4-inch piece off the potato lengthwise. The flat edge will give you a stable base to slice on. Rest the potato, cut side down, and slice potato into 1/4 to 3/8-inch planks.
• Stack planks in piles 2 to 3 planks high, and slice lengthwise into 1/4 to 3/8-inch strips.
• In a medium bowl, toss the potato strips with olive oil, Worcestershire sauce and grill seasoning. Sprinkle the cornstarch mixture over the potato slices and use tongs or forks to toss together, making sure that every potato is coated with a bit of cornstarch and seasoning.
• Spread potatoes in a single layer across the prepared baking sheets. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, removing the potatoes from the oven 2 or 3 times during baking to toss them together. Cook until potatoes are cooked through and brought to your desired crispiness. Remove from the oven, top with cheese and return to the oven for just a few minutes to melt the cheese. Remove and place onto a platter. Sprinkle with green onions and serve immediately.

ANCHO CHILE CHIPS

Steps:

• Heat oil to 375 degrees F. Fry potatoes, in batches and drain on paper towels. Immediately toss with ancho powder and salt.

SEASONED GRILLED FRIES

Steps:

• Put the potatoes, unpeeled, into a large pot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil and simmer until almost tender, about 15-20 minutes. Do not overcook, or they will fall apart and you won't be able to cut them into fries.
• Drain and dry the potatoes and allow to cool enough to handle.
• Carefully cut each potato lengthwise into about 6 wedges. (Original recipe said 4 wedges, but those are too thick in my opinion.) You do have to be careful, since they are already cooked, that they could crumble or fall apart.
• Place the wedges on a baking sheet and brush both sides of the potatoes with oil.
• In a small bowl combine chili powder, salt and cumin. Sprinkle over the potatoes.
• Grill the potato wedges for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden brown.

SPICY HOME FRIES

Steps:

• Place the potatoes in a large saucepan, cover with cold water and add 1 tablespoon salt. Bring to a boil over high heat and cook until the potatoes fall apart when a fork is inserted, 20 to 25 minutes. Drain well.
• Heat the butter over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add the onion and jalapeno and cook until soft. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the ancho chile powder and stir until combined. Add the potatoes, salt and pepper and toss the mixture, slightly mashing the potatoes with a metal spatula. Press the potato mixture into one even layer and cook until golden brown on the bottom. Turn over and gently mash again into an even layer and cook until the bottom is golden brown. Stir in the cilantro and lime zest and transfer to a bowl.

SEARED RED AND BLACK PEPPER CRUSTED TUNA WITH PINEAPPLE-RED CHILE SAUCE AND SEASONED FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• Place pineapple juice in a medium saucepan over high heat and reduce to 3 cups. Heat olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and cook until soft. Add the ancho and chile de arbol powder and cook for 2 minutes. Add the reduced pineapple juice, bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to 2 cups. Place mixture in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain into a clean medium saucepan over medium heat, add the honey and cook for 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Mix together the spices in a medium bowl. Brush the tuna on each side with olive oil and season with salt. Dredge 1 side of each tuna in the spice mixture. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until almost smoking. Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sear the tuna spice-side down for 2 to 3 minutes, until a crust forms. Turn over and continue cooking for 1 to 2 minutes for rare doneness.
• Mix together the salt, ancho powder and cumin in a small bowl. Heat vegetable oil to 325 degrees F in a fryer. Fry the potatoes in batches until lightly browned. Drain on paper towels. Increase the temperature of the oil to 375 degrees, put the potatoes, in batches, back into the oil and fry until brown and crisp. Remove the fries from the oil with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with paper towels and immediately season with the spice mixture.

ANCHO CHILE FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut into 1/4-inch-thick slabs. Cut slabs lengthwise into strips, gently pat strips dry with paper toweling and place on a greased foil-lined baking sheet (you may need 2 baking sheets).
• In a small bowl, combine oil, chile powder, sugar, garlic, salt and pepper.
• Pour mixture over the potatoes, and gently toss to combine using your hands.
• Bake about 30 minutes until tender and golden brown, carefully turning once halfway through.