These Peri Peri fries are fabulous. Crispy fries, sprinkled with an easy-to-make at-home peri peri seasoning. They are lightly spiced, slightly sweet, and a little salty, all in all, the perfect fry (or chip)!
Everyone loves fries (or hot chips as they are often called here!), so why not take them up a level. These peri-peri fries can be served with just about anything! Or make them as a movie night snack for the kids (be sure to save a portion for yourself!
You can use store-bought frozen fries for this or grab a few potatoes, and we'll talk about how to make your own. Either way, the key is the peri peri seasoning, which contains a few herbs and spices that you will probably have in your pantry, and if not, they are all readily available at the grocery store.
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What type of potatoes are best for french fries?
You want a dense potato that is high in starch. The starch will give you a nice fluffy interior. While picking a dense potato with very little moisture will make it easier to get a crispy exterior.Â
I would suggest:
- Russet potatoes (Idaho)
- King Edward potatoes
- Yukon Gold potatoes
- Desiree Potatoes
- Sebago Potatoes
- Red Delight Potatoes
Let's talk Peri Peri Seasoning
I have a whole post on making your own peri peri seasoning -you can check it out here.
But as a quick recap, you will need:
- Sugar
- Paprika
- Onion Powder
- Garlic Powder
- Ground Coriander
- Salt
- Dried Oregano
- Dried Parsley
- Ground Ginger
- Ground Cardamon
- Smoked Paprika
- Cayenne Pepper
I know that is a long list but they can all be found in the grocery store! And once you have your seasoning mixed up you'll be using it all the time! (full amounts can be found below)
You mix them all up, pop the seasoning in an airtight jar, and you are good to go. You can use it for these fries, plus make your own peri peri chicken. You'll find so many different ways to use this seasoning blend!
Just look at it on these hot chips!
Making Peri Peri Fries (Peri Peri Chips)
Fries are the ultimate side dish!
Like I said in the intro, you can serve them with nearly anything, plus the kids always love them. That is why there is always a packet of frozen fries in my freezer! They make an easy side dish, and when paired with salad or veg, I don't feel the slightest bit of guilt at serving them!!
For these Peri Peri fries, you can grab the bag of frozen fries/chips, or you can make your own. Both are delicious. One is easier for busy weeknights, and the other means you can change up the potato to suit your family. Peri Peri sweet potato fries anyone???
For really crispy yet fluffy homemade fries you want to soak the potatoes in cold water for at least 15 minutes. This helps to remove some of the starch and gives you a much fluffier inside! But be sure to dry the potatoes well before coating them in oil.
Once the potatoes have soaked, preheat your oven. This is key to getting crispy golden fries (whether you are making your own or using frozen)
Drain, rinse and dry the potatoes, coat in oil and lay out in a single layer on your baking sheets. Cook for 35-40 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through.
The key to making this delicious side is to coat the chips in the seasoning as soon as you remove them from the oven. This way, it absorbs into the oil and sticks to the chip/fry.
So you cook the potatoes in the oven until soft and fluffy within and crispy and golden on the outside. Toss them with the seasoning blend and serve. SIMPLE. DELICIOUS. A WINNER.
Can you cook fries in the air fryer?
You sure can!!! Whether you make your fries or use frozen fries, these can be cooking in the air fryer!
Heat the air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC and cook the fries in batches for 13-15 minutes until cooked through.
Keep each batch in the oven to keep warm while you finish the cooking.
Once cooked, toss with the seasoning blend in the same way.
Full air fryer details in the recipe card below
What to serve with Peri Peri Fries
The answer is just about anything that would go with regular fries!
But my favorite ideas are:
- Peri Peri Chicken
- Peri Peri Chicken Burgers
- Chicken Fried Chicken (these fries work so well with my white gravy as well!!)
- Peri Peri Chicken Traybake
- Seared Steak
- Proscuitto Maple Salmon
- Baked Chicken Schnitzel
Enjoy
x
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Get the Recipe
Peri Peri Fries
Ingredients
For Homemade fries
- 4 large potatoes - see notes 1&2
- ¼ cup oil - see note 3
If using Frozen Fries
- 1 lb frozen french fries - see note 2
Seasoning
- 3 tablespoon Peri-peri seasoning - Recipe below ALSO see note 4
Instructions
For homemade fries in oven/air fryer (See below for frozen fries)
- Cut the potatoes into thick slices and then cut into even-sized fries.4 large potatoes
- Transfer to a large bowl and cover with cold water. Leave to soak for at least 15 minutes, but you can leave them for a couple of hours.
OVEN COOKING
- Preheat the oven to 430ºF/220°C
- Drain and rinse the potatoes, then dry well on a clean tea towel.
- Place the potatoes in a dry bowl and pour over the oi
l.¼ cup oil - Turn the potatoes with your hands until they are all evenly coated.
- Place two baking sheets in the oven to heat up.
- Remove the trays from the oven and line them with cooking paper.
- Bake the potatoes in the middle to bottom of the oven for 35-40 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through, and crispy and golden on the outside. (Depending on your oven, you may need to switch the trays over halfway through cooking.)
- Remove the potatoes from the oven, tip into a bowl, and sprinkle with the peri peri seasoning mix while they are still hot.3 tablespoon Peri-peri seasoning
AIR FRYER COOKING
- Preheat your air fryer to 375ºF/190ºC and your oven to 200ºF/90ºC
- Drain and rinse the potatoes, then dry well on a clean tea towel.
- Place the potatoes in a dry bowl and pour over the oil.¼ cup oil
- Turn the potatoes with your hands until they are all evenly coated.
- Add the first batch of fries to the bottom of the air fryer basket, making sure not to stack them on top of each other.
- Cook for 15 minutes until crispy and golden brown.
- Place the cooked fries on a rack on a baking sheet.
- Place in the warm oven, and while you cook, the other batches of fries are cooking.
- Once you are done with all the potatoes, remove them from the oven, tip into a bowl, and sprinkle with the peri-peri seasoning mix while they are still hot.3 tablespoon Peri-peri seasoning
For Frozen French Fries (See above for homemade fries)
- Cook the fries as per the packet instructions.1 lb frozen french fries
- To make the most of your frozen fries, preheat your oven/air fryer and don't allow the fries to defrost beforehand.
- If you can, bake the frozen fries on an oven rack to ensures they cook evenly.
- Once cooked, sprinkle with the peri peri seasoning blend and serve.3 tablespoon Peri-peri seasoning
Notes
- Yukon Gold, Russet, Sebago, Red Delight, King Edward or Desiree potatoes are all good for making fries/hot chips.
- You can make your own fries using the instructions, or for a quicker alternative use frozen French fries
- I use peanut oil for making fries but you can sub with olive oil/canola oil/vegetable oil/sunflower oil/melted coconut oil.
- You can buy peri-peri seasoning in the grocery store, or make your own batch up using my recipe. You can see it below or read the full post here -Â homemade peri-peri seasoning recipe.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Get the Recipe
Homemade Peri Peri Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 tablespoon paprika
- 2 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 tablespoon garlic powder
- 2 tablespoon ground coriander
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoon ground ginger
- 2 teaspoon ground cardamon
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper - see note 1
Instructions
- Mix everything together well and store in an airtight jar.
Notes
- Depending on how spicy you like your food, you can change the level of cayenne pepper. As the recipe is written it is a mild seasoning. But you can increase the cayenne up to 1 tablespoon if you like it spicy.
Nutrition
Nutrition is per serving
Stew says
these were fantastic!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you 🙂
So happy you enjoyed them!
Cx
Stew says
🙂
wilhelmina says
This was my first time using peri peri and I think I am smitten! Thanks for showing me something new and delicious!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so glad you enjoyed it then! Try using the seasoning on some chicken breasts, it makes a great dinner idea!
Thank you for coming back to comment.
Cx
Allison says
These fries were delicious! My kids loved them!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so pleased you and the kids loved the fries.
My kids love them too!! We have them so often!
Cx
Rebecca Blackwell says
I had never heard of peri-peri seasoning, but I had all the spices on hand so decided to give this recipe a try for lunch today. Everyone loved it! Best fries ever! Thank you so much. This is the only way I'm making fries from now on.
Claire McEwen says
I am so pleased you loved them Rebecca!
They are my kids "best ever fries" too!!
Cx
NATALIA says
My hubby and I loved this recipe especially the peri peri seasoning! So tasty and so delicious! Those are more than simply fries. Definitely making this recipe again! Thanks for sharing!
Claire McEwen says
Oh this just makes me smile! So pleased you enjoyed it 🙂
Cx