Shoestring Fries Recipes

SHOESTRING "FRIES"

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 475°F
• Spray a non-stick baking sheet with cooking spray, set aside.
• Scrub potatoes, pat dry.
• Cut into lengthwise strips about 3/8in thick.
• Place in a large bowl and add oil, salt and pepper, toss to coat.
• Place potato strips in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake until undersides are browned, about 10 minutes.
• Using a spatula, turn potatoes and bake until golden brown, about 10 mins more.

SHOESTRING CARROT FRIES

Steps:

• Put the oil in a medium pot and heat over medium-high heat until a deep-frying thermometer registers 325 degrees F. Line a plate with paper towels and put it next to the pot. Add the vinegar to a 3-ounce travel spray bottle and set aside.
• Line another plate with paper towels, put the carrots on the plate and pat with additional paper towels to dry thoroughly. This will prevent the oil from splattering when the carrots are added.
• Working in batches, fry the carrots until light brown and crispy, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate.
• Season the carrot fries with salt, sprinkle over the mint and orange zest and spray with a couple of spritzes of cider vinegar.

SHOESTRING FRIES WITH TRUFFLE AIOLI

Steps:

• Heat 2 to 3 inches of oil in a heavy-bottomed pot to 350 degrees F.
• Carefully cut the potatoes into shoestrings (or matchsticks) using a mandolin fitted with the narrowest julienne blade (about 1/8-inch wide). Rinse the cut potatoes thoroughly in a bowl of cold water to remove the surface starch. Keep the potatoes in water until you're ready to fry.
• For the aioli: Whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, truffle oil, garlic, lemon zest and salt and pepper to taste in a bowl. Refrigerate or set aside until ready to use.
• Transfer the potatoes to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and pat them dry, as dry as you can get them. I like to use a kitchen towel for this too; whatever gets them the driest.
• Fry the shoestrings in batches until the potatoes are crisp and turn a nice golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per batch. As each batch of fries comes out, transfer to a large mixing bowl and toss with some of the chopped herbs, a drizzle of the truffle oil and salt to taste. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet. Serve with the truffle aioli.

SHOESTRING ZUCCHINI FRIES

Steps:

• Halve zucchini crosswise, then cut each half lengthwise into 1/8-inch-wide slices and cut slices lengthwise into 1/8-inch-thick strips. Toss with salt in a large medium-mesh sieve set over a bowl and drain 30 minutes. Squeeze handfuls of zucchini to remove moisture, then roll up in a triple layer of paper towels and squeeze to remove remaining moisture.
• Cook garlic in oil in a 7- to 8-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Discard garlic.
• While garlic is cooking, toss zucchini with flour in a small bowl, then add to oil and fry, turning occasionally with a slotted spoon, until zucchini is golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer zucchini to paper towels to drain. Serve immediately.

OVEN-BAKED SHOESTRING FRIES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Coat 2 baking sheets with cooking spray; set aside. Toss together potatoes, oil, and 1 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Arrange potatoes in a single layer on prepared baking sheets.
• Bake, turning potatoes with a metal spatula 2 or 3 times and rotating sheets halfway through, until potatoes are crisp and edges turn golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Arrange potatoes on a large piece of parchment paper; let cool 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Bake, turning potatoes with a metal spatula a few times and rotating sheets halfway through, until crisp and golden brown, 18 to 20 minutes. Transfer potatoes to a large piece of parchment paper; let cool 5 minutes, then season with salt and pepper, and serve.

ROSEMARY SHOESTRING FRIES

Steps:

• Peel potatoes and slice lengthwise into 1/8-inch planks, then cut lengthwise into 1/8-inch juliennes (or use a Japanese mandoline fitted with the julienne blade). Immediately submerge in a bowl of cool water; let stand 10 minutes. Drain; lightly press potatoes between paper towels or clean kitchen towels to dry completely.
• Fill a heavy pot with about 1 1/2 inches oil (it should come no more than a third of the way up sides of pot). Heat over medium-high until a deep-fry thermometer reaches 365 degrees.
• Carefully add rosemary sprigs to oil and immediately cover pot with a splatter screen or lid for a few seconds to prevent splattering; remove screen when popping sounds subside. Fry until darkened slightly and bubbles surrounding sprigs begin to subside, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a paper towel-lined tray; season with salt.
• Return oil to 365 degrees and fry potatoes, a handful at a time, until crisp and just beginning to turn golden, about 2 minutes per batch (returning oil to 365 degrees between each batch). Transfer to paper towels; season with salt. Toss fries with rosemary to combine; serve.

VENISON STEAKS WITH STROGANOFF SAUCE & SHOESTRING FRIES

Steps:

• To make the sauce, heat 1 tbsp of the butter in a large frying pan, tip in the onion and cook over a low heat for about 10 mins until soft. Add the garlic and mushrooms, increase the heat and fry until all the liquid has evaporated.
• Meanwhile, heat enough oil to come 4-5in up the sides of a large saucepan. When hot, add the chips and cook, in batches, for 3-5 mins until golden. Remove and drain on kitchen paper, but keep the oil hot.
• Add the paprika, tomato purée and flour to the mushrooms, cook for 1 min then add the brandy, if using, and leave to bubble away for a further 1-2 mins. Be careful as the brandy may set alight. Pour in the beef stock and set over a high heat to reduce by half. Stir in the soured cream and parsley, then season. Keep the sauce warm while you cook the venison.
• Heat the remaining butter in a frying pan over a medium-high heat. Season the venison and cook for 3 mins on each side for medium-rare, depending on the thickness of the meat. Remove from the pan and leave to rest, loosely covered with foil.
• Tip the fries back into the hot oil and cook for a further 2-3 mins to crisp up. Drain and season with salt. Serve the steaks with the sauce poured over and a pile of fries on the side.