Purple Sweet Potato Fries are roasted and are an amazingly delicious and crispy. With the scent of lemon and a touch of spice. they're a great healthy snack or side dish.
A couple of years ago I was introduced to -- and proceeded to fall in love with -- the beautiful Okinawan Sweet Potato, which is a beautiful dark lavender color. And I was recently introduced to another outstanding purple sweet potato, only this one is more of a magenta color.
Meet the Stokes Purple Sweet Potato.
Purple sweet potato recipes are so much fun -- and absolutely delicious, to boot!
About Key Ingredients
- Purple sweet potatoes - A bit less sweet than orange sweet potatoes, in this recipe, they're especially tasty with the hint of fresh lemon and the subtle spice of the chili powder. The flesh is magenta and these pretty spuds are packed with antioxidants, by the way. The purple potatoes become a deep, rich burgundy-like color once cooked. You can learn more about them and where to get them here.
- chili powder - I use a mild chili powder in this recipe. You can use one with more heat if you prefer.
- lemon juice - Use Meyer lemons over regular lemons when given the option. Meyer lemons are a touch less tart and a touch sweeter. And with a thinner skin and fewer seeds, they are incredibly juicy.
How to Make Sweet Potato Fries
- In a small bowl, combine the oil, lemon juice, chili powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper.
- Wash the potatoes very well and rub them dry with a towel, OR, you can peel. (I leave the skin as it's thin, tender and full of vitamins.)
Cut the pointed ends off each of the potatoes and then cut them into approximately ¼ inch sticks. Add them to a baking sheet and spread them out.
Make sure the oil mixture is well blended and then drizzle it over the cut potatoes and use your hands to mix them. Move around the potatoes until they are in a single layer, and sprinkle with a bit of salt.
Place the baking sheet in a preheated 425°F oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes -- they should be sizzling and browning a bit on the bottoms. Use a metal flat-bottomed spatula and flip all of the potatoes over. Return the baking sheet to the oven and continue to roast until the bottoms are beginning to brown, about another 15 minutes.
Variations
- Use orange sweet potatoes for this recipe and it will turn out just as well. (Cooking times may vary.)
- You can also cut the potatoes into a dice to make a sweet potato breakfast hash.
Serving Suggestions
It's hard to go wrong with a side of fries to go with you burger. Below are a few delicious ideas.
Can you make them ahead?
As with most fries, you'll want to have these when they're as crispy as possible -- right out of the oven. You can however, make the chili-lemon mixture up to a day ahead, keeping it covered at room temperature.
More Must-Try Unique French Fry Recipes
Enjoy every last crispy, sweet, spicy, and tangy one of these Roasted Purple Sweet Potato Fries!
Purple Sweet Potato Fries Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- a few turns of freshly ground black pepper
- 2 pounds Purple Sweet Potatoes
Instructions
- Set oven. Preheat the oven to 425°F and adjust a rack to the center (or a bit above).
- Make chili-lemon mixture. In a small bowl, mix the oil with the lemon juice, chili powder, brown sugar, salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Prep potatoes. Wash the potatoes very well and rub them dry with a towel. (You can peel them instead if desired -- I leave the skin as it's thin, tender and full of vitamins.)Cut the pointed ends off each of the potatoes and then cut them into approximately ¼ inch sticks. Add them to a baking sheet and spread them out.
- Drizzle chili-lemon mixture over potatoes. Make sure the oil mixture is well blended and then drizzle it over the cut potatoes and use your hands to mix them, being sure they are all well coated. Move around the potatoes until they are in a single layer, and sprinkle with a bit of salt.
- Roast and cool. Place the baking sheet in the preheated 425°F oven and roast for 15 to 20 minutes -- they should be sizzling and browning a bit on the bottoms. Use a metal flat-bottomed spatula and flip all of the potatoes over. Return the baking sheet to the oven and continue to roast until the bottoms are beginning to brown, about another 15 minutes.Let them cool on the baking sheet and then serve as a side or snack.
NOTES
NUTRITION
lisaiscooking
That color is amazing! The fries sound delicious with the chile powder and lemon.
Sippitysup
It stayed purple! It stayed purple!! GREG
valentina
It did! 😉
David
I love purple sweet potatoes! The color is amazing, isn't it? Hard to believe it is almost Thanksgiving.... Where did 2014 go? xo
valentina
Seriously. Feels like we should still be in January! I do love the Thanksgiving cooking season, though. 🙂
Diana
Purple potatoes are beautiful! They're very hard to find where I live, but next time I see them I'll buy some to make these awesome roasted fries!
valentina
I hope you come across them, Diana. Thanks! 🙂 ~Valentina
Natalie
These sweet potato fries look and sound so delicious! I love the unique color ♥
valentina
Thanks so much, Natalie! 🙂 ~Valentina
Tisha
The color of these sweet potato fries look so appealing! So much flavor!
valentina
Hope you try them. Thank you! 🙂 ~Valentina
Claudia Canu
These would look so original at any table. I can't wait to try them out!
valentina
Yes! Thanks, Claudia. 🙂 ~Valentina
David
I don't think I've ever seen purple sweet potatoes...I will have to be on the lookout for them! Sounds like a tasty way to prepare.
valentina
Thanks, David. Hope you find them! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kavita Favelle
I too came to love the Okinawan purple sweet potato, during trips to Japan. Never thought to use it in fries like this, love them, they look fantastic!
valentina
Thank you, Kavita! Enjoy! 🙂 ~Valentina
Eha
I do not eat potatoes often and almost never as chips as we call fries in Australia. But I love sweet potatoes and the oven-baking is a big drawcard. Have never sighted purple sweet potatoes here . . . perhaps some homework will bear results ! The lemon and chilli flavours are a drawcard . . . shall definitely try even if I have to do so with the ordinary orange ones !
Jessica
Thank you for recipe! I only had lime and it actually worked perfectly! Great combination of spices! There's some different nutritionally about this purple sweet potatoes and I can taste it. Like a wholesome depth, maybe less sugar than regular orange sweet potatoes?
Valentina
Hi Jessica! Thanks for writing in. I'm so happy you liked this recipe and the lime sounds super tasty with the potatoes. I love it! I don't think their natural sugar content is lower, but they're full of antioxidants and have a lot of nutritional benefits. Here's an article about it. Thanks again! 🙂 ~Valentina