Rutabaga Fries

A healthier alternative to French fries is to have rutabaga fries. In this article we are going to discuss how to make these fries at home.

Rutabaga is a root vegetable which is also known as yellow turnip. It is a cross between a cabbage and a turnip and it has a fleshy root which is quite dense. This root vegetable can be cooked in a number of ways and the most popular way to have it is by making rutabaga fries. As they have less calories than regular French fries and sweet potato fries, they are a lot healthier. These fries have a very crunchy and crisp texture and you can make them by either deep-frying or oven baking. They make an easy and tasty side dish with batter-fried fish fillets, cheese balls and salads. Try out a rutabaga fries recipe and you will love its crunchy and crispy taste.

Classic Rutabaga Fries

Ingredients

• 1 rutabaga
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
• ½ liter canola oil
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Method
Pour the canola oil into the deep fryer and heat it up. Peel the rutabaga and cut it into ¼” thick strips. Place the rutabaga strips in a platter and sprinkle with salt, pepper and chopped thyme and garlic. Mix them well so that each strip is well coated with salt and pepper. When the deep fryer reaches a temperature of 180 ºC, drop the rutabaga strips in the fryer and deep-fry them for about 5 – 6 minutes. The rutabaga fries should be cooked through with a golden brown exterior. Remove the fries from the deep fryer and place them in a clean paper napkin so that it soaks up the excess oil. Serve fries with batter fried fish or garlic aioli.

Baked Rutabaga

Ingredients

• 1 rutabaga
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 teaspoon parsley, chopped

Method
Peel the rutabaga and cut it into ¼” thick strips. Meanwhile preheat the oven to 375 ºC. In a large bowl place the rutabaga strips and sprinkle with sea salt, cayenne pepper, chopped parsley and garlic powder. Add the olive oil and then toss to coat the strips well. Place these strips of rutabaga in a single layer on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 12 – 15 minutes, until they are golden brown in color. To check if the fries are cooked through, poke it with the tip of a kitchen knife. If it goes in without any difficulty, then the fries are cooked. Remove from the oven and serve with mayonnaise or ketchup.

Oriental Rutabaga Fries

Ingredients

• 1 rutabaga
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon Chinese five spice powder
• 1” ginger piece, grated
• ½ teaspoon sea salt

Method
Peel the rutabaga and cut it into ¼” thick strips. Place the rutabaga strips in a large bowl and pour the hoisin sauce and sesame oil over it. Next add sea salt, grated ginger and Chinese five spice powder. Mix all the ingredients together with a spoon, making sure that each strip is well coated with sauce and other spices. Now place these strips of rutabaga in a single layer on a baking tray which has been lined with parchment paper. Bake this in an oven for 10 – 12 minutes, until they are cooked through. Remove fries from the oven and serve them along with a dipping sauce.

Rutabaga fries are a good fast food option and they are a lot tastier and crunchier than homemade French fries. Rutabagas have more sugar content than potatoes, so they caramelize very quickly. Therefore, it is better to check the oven continuously while cooking them, so that the fries don’t burn. Now that you know how to cook rutabaga, enjoy its delicious taste.

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