Sumac fries is a Middle Eastern twist to your regular French fries, cooked in an air fryer until golden and crispy. These Sumac dusted fries consist of only 5 ingredients including salt and make a great side dish, party appetizer or even a quick snack.
You can devour these fries all by itself or with your favorite condiment. Sumac fries really pair well with Lebanese garlic sauce and Tzatziki, or serve them for your next party as an appetizer along with Afghani Chicken Kebab, Crispy Thai Thread chicken or Cevapi sliders.
Jump to:
What is Sumac?
Sumac is a flavorful spice derived from berries of certain sumac shrubs like Rhus genus, that are dried and ground into a coarse powder. It has a sand like texture and ranges from dark red to purple-red color.
The spice has a tart and citrus flavor similar to lemons, but not too acidic. It is commonly used in Middle Eastern and Mediterranean dishes like salads, kebabs, grilled meats, rice and dips. It is also used as a garnish for its vibrant color and tangy taste.
Upgrade your regular French Fries
Elevate your regular salted fries with a twist of fresh and tangy flavor. All begins with a starchy potato like russet as they are best for baking, mashing or making fries. You can also choose from alternatives like Yukon Gold or sweet potatoes for a different texture.
Cut the potatoes into matchsticks or potato wedges as per your preference. Remember to adjust the cooking time based on the thickness of the cuts. Lightly coat the fries in olive oil before air frying to achieve that restaurant-style fries.
Toss these crispy fries in the sumac seasoning and fresh parsley before serving them immediately with a yogurt based sauce or Toum.
Ingredients
- Russet potatoes: starchy potatoes like russets are great as they tend to yield crispier fries.
- Olive oil: it helps prevent the fries from sticking to each other and also helps gain that deep fryer texture in an air fryer.
- Sumac powder: adds a tangy and citrusy flavor to the fries.
- Salt: some like the fries salty. Season as required.
- Fresh parsley: adds a burst of freshness and complements the sumac flavor.
See recipe card for quantities.
Walk through the Recipe
Let’s begin preparing our French fries with sumac.
We start off by peeling and cutting two large russet potatoes into uniform matchsticks.
We then soak the cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water for 5 to 10 minutes and wash it twice to remove any excess starch.
As the cut potatoes are soaking in water, we preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. We now drain the water and pat the potato matchsticks dry with a kitchen towel.
We move the potato matchsticks to a large bowl and toss it in olive oil to coat all pieces of potatoes.
We transfer the potato sticks in the air fryer basket and air fry for 15 to 20 minutes.
At the halfway mark, we shake the basket and toss the fries to ensure they are not sticking and cook it for the remaining time until golden brown and crispy.
Once cooked, remove the fries from the basket and transfer it to a large bowl. Sprinkle over salt and sumac powder and toss to coat all the fries in the sumac seasoning.
Your Sumac Fries are now ready. Serve them hot with your favorite condiment and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.
Substitutions
- Russet potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes, sweet potatoes or any readily available potato.
- Parsley: Cilantro (optional)
- Additional ingredients: Paprika if you want it spicy.
Tips
- Soak the potatoes: Soaking the potatoes for 10 to 15 minutes will remove excess starch. It will also prevent the fries from sticking to each other and help in getting a crispy exterior.
- Even slicing: Cut the potatoes into uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and each fry reaches that optimum level of crispiness.
- Preheat air fryer: Preheating the air fryer keeps the basket warm which prevents the fries from sticking to the basket and also gives a head start with the cooking process.
- Adding oil: Adding oil to the potato sticks adds a deep fry feeling to the fries once cooked. Also, the air frying process releases some oil which collects in the air fryer drawer.
- Shake and flip during cooking: Remember to shake the basket and toss the fries half way through to ensure all fries get exposed to the heat and get evenly crisp.
- Avoid overcrowding: Cook in separate batches if you are making for a large gathering as overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking or undercooked fries.
FAQs
Sumac powder is available in most middle eastern markets or online. Always look for a high-quality sumac without any added fillers.
Yes, you can bake sumac fries in an oven instead of an air fryer. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C) and cook for 20 to 25 minutes. Remember to flip the fries halfway through.
Dry the potatoes thoroughly as excess moisture can hinder the crispy texture and turn the fries soggy. Also, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket to allow sufficient space for air circulation during the air frying process.
Recipe
Sumac Fries
Ingredients
- 2 large russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sumac powder
- Salt to taste
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 5 minutes. Peel and cut the potatoes into uniform matchsticks. Soak the potatoes in a bowl of cold water for 5 to 10 minutes and wash twice. Drain and pat them dry with a kitchen towel.
- In a large bowl, toss the potato matchsticks with olive oil and air fry for 15 to 20 minutes. Shake the basket and flip the fries halfway through and cook until golden brown and crispy.
- Once done, remove from the air fry basket and transfer the fries to a large bowl. Sprinkle over salt and sumac powder and give it a toss to coat all the fries.
- Serve the sumac fries hot, with your favorite condiment and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.
Video
Related Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
- Prawns Koliwada (Mumbai-style spicy fried shrimps)
- Jerk Chicken Quesadilla
- Crispy Brussels Sprouts Recipe (Indian style)
- Spicy Stir Fry Squid (Chinese style)
Fusion Recipes
Try out some of our specialty recipes:
Comments
No Comments