Who does not like French fries? At a restaurant a meal feels incomplete without them, and hot fries served with fried chicken, burgers or fish fry vanish from the plate in moments.

If you want a slightly different taste, sweet potato French fries can be a great alternative, and this new form may make you keen to eat more sweet potato. Golden and crisp outside and soft inside, they taste quite different. They make a special treat for guests or an afternoon snack, and this street-style food is easy to make with ingredients from home.

• Sweet potatoes: 5–6 (medium)
• Salt: to taste
• Vinegar: 1 teaspoon
• Water: as needed
• Cooking oil: as needed

First peel the sweet potatoes and trim both ends slightly. Then cut them lengthwise like French fries. Do not throw away the trimmings; keep them aside to make chutney.

Boil water in a pan, add the sweet potato, salt and vinegar, and parboil for about 3 minutes, then lift them out. Do not overboil them, or they may break while frying.

Spread the boiled potatoes on a tray lined with a clean cloth and pat them gently to remove excess water. This helps them turn properly crisp when fried.

Heat oil in a karai. When it is well heated, slowly add the potatoes. Keep frying on a medium flame so that they stay soft inside and turn golden and crisp outside.

When the fries turn golden, lift them out and drain well. Serve hot with a hot, sour and sweet chutney and your favourite sauce.

Source: Jagonews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.