06 December 2023 , 13:00
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Sweet potatoes are delicious but it can be hard to get them to properly crisp up, as a normal roast potato does. But one woman has discovered a way to get them perfectly crunchy - and it's so simple.
Sweet potatoes have seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Not only are they incredibly tasty but they are hailed as a healthier choice over normal spuds, given that they are lower in calories and carbohydrates.
Perhaps the most popular form is sweet potato fries. But it can be hard to get the skin to really crisp up in the oven. But food blogger Michelle Miller has the perfect solution which utilises the power of an air fryer instead.
Sharing the recipe on her blog, Sunkissed Kitchen, Michelle said: "Follow this method to perfectly cook your fries, so they are soft and sweet on the inside, with a crunchy, browned exterior. Homemade sweet potato fries are perfect with burgers and sandwiches, or as an appetiser."
Ingredients
Serves two:
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450g sweet potato cut into the shape of fries
Half a tablespoon of olive oil
Half a teaspoon of tapioca or cornstarch
Half a teaspoon of sea salt
One-quarter of a teaspoon of garlic powder
One-quarter of a teaspoon of onion powder
One-quarter of a teaspoon of paprika
Method
In a small bowl, combine the cornstarch or tapioca with the spices, then add half of the sliced sweet potatoes to a parchment-lined baking tray. Drizzle the fries with olive oil and use your hands to rub the oil evenly into the potatoes.
Sprinkle the sweet potatoes with the spice mixture, then rub the spice mixture into the oil, evenly coating the spuds. Preheat the air fryer to 185C for five minutes before arranging the fries in the empty basket.
Leave space in between each one as according to Michelle, "this is what crisps them up". She said: "If the sweet potatoes are crowded, they will steam instead of dry out and crisp up around the edges. You will most likely need to cook the fries in two batches."
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Air fry the sweet potatoes for 10-12 minutes. Shake the basket in the middle of the cooking time to ensure even browning. Repeat with remaining sweet potato fries then serve hot from the fryer.
Dr Johanna Ward previously spoke about the benefits of sweet potato in her book, Superfoods To Superhealth, hailing them as a "nutrient-packed superfoods".
She wrote: "Loaded with fibre, antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals – great for combating renegade free radicals that could damage your DNA."
Will you be giving the recipe a go? Let us know in the comments.