Spicy Rosemary Sweet Potato Fries

I love anything and everything sweet potato related. In addition to being such a bright, beautiful veggie, it’s chocked full of amazing nutrition. They’re an excellent source of vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin C, manganese, copper, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6. But wait! There’s more! They also provide potassium, dietary fiber, niacin, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, and phosphorus. Oh, and did I mention they taste so damn good? And they’re a mega versatile food? For real. Get off my plate and into my belly!

Since sweet potatoes are naturally sweet, their flavors play nicely with savory spices. A mix of sea salt, with a generous covering of Mexican, Indian, or Mediterranean seasoning completely changes the taste of the humble sweet potato and adds incredible dimension to the taste. Simply put, sweet potatoes make for amazing fries. And since these fries are roasted instead of fried, you can assuage your conscious and assure your waistline that this is a healthy side dish. Take note, metabolism! Don’t you dare try to start a mutiny! But I digress…

My amazing husband hails from Texas, so he loves Tex-Mex seasoning. The spicier, the better for him. For these fries, I used a fairly savory mix and cut fresh rosemary leaves from my herb garden. If possible, opt for fresh, because the aroma and additional flavors are totally worth it. I grow my own herbs for such a cause as this. Side note: when it comes to sweet potatoes, it’s worth getting organic. The skins are full of amazing nutrients, and since they grow and stay in the earth, you want a mineral rich soil; organically grown plants always have much more healthy soil as well as care of the plants.

SERVES: 4

PREP TIME: 5 minutes

COOKING TIME: about 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness of fries

Ingredients:

2 large, organic sweet potatoes
Bunch of fresh rosemary
Seasalt
Tex-Mex Spice
Coconut oil spray (less calories) or regular coconut oil

Ingredients for Tex-Mex Spice:

3tablespoons chili powder
2tablespoons cumin
1tablespoon pepper
1tablespoon salt
1tablespoon garlic powder
1 ¹⁄₂teaspoons red peppers

Directions:

Thoroughly wash sweet potatoes. Leave skin on for more nutrients, or peel according to personal taste.
Slice into fry-like shapes, maintaining approximate size to ensure all fries cook evenly.
In large mixing bowl, toss sweet potato slices in, spray lightly with coconut oil or drizzle straight coconut oil on them.
Generously season with salt and seasoning. Add in rosemary, stripping the leaves from the stalk.
Toss in bowl and make sure all pieces are evenly coated with seasoning.
Lay sweet potatoes on greased pan, and put in oven on 425-450. Roast for 10 minutes, take out and lightly shake pan to redistribute the pieces, then return to oven for additional 5 minutes. Let fries settle on the pan for a few moments after taking out of the oven.

Serve hot at a side dish or a great appetizer. Just be prepared for these healthy, tasty fries to disappear quickly! And don’t forget to experiment with various spices. There are tons of great options out there. I especially love my fries with a curry seasoning. Soooo good! Have a lovely week and good cooking 🙂