Description
This French Fry Appetizer Board features a variety of your favorite frozen fries, including tots, onion rings, crinkle fries, and seasoned fries, cooked to golden perfection and served with an array of delicious sauces and optional fresh herb garnishes. Perfect for entertaining, this easy-to-make board combines oven-baking and air frying methods for a fun and satisfying appetizer.
Ingredients
Fries
- Variety of your favorite frozen french fries (such as tots, onion rings, seasoned crinkle fries, straight cut fries)
- Sweet potato fries (optional, for air fryer cooking)
Garnishes (Optional)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Fresh cilantro leaves
- Fresh parsley leaves
Sauces
- A selection of sauces of your choice, such as ketchup, mayonnaise, aioli, barbecue sauce, or ranch dressing
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C), which is the ideal temperature for cooking a variety of frozen fries evenly.
- Prepare Baking Sheets: Use three baking sheets lined with aluminum foil. Divide each sheet into halves and arrange two kinds of fries on each half. Note that one sheet may be smaller and can accommodate one type of fry on both halves.
- Arrange Oven Racks: Position two oven racks evenly spaced within the oven—one near the top and one near the bottom to ensure even cooking.
- Bake Fries: Place the baking sheets on the racks and cook at 425°F for 10 minutes. Then, flip the fries and swap the sheets between the oven racks. Repeat this flipping and rack swapping again. Expect about 10 additional minutes of cooking time due to the volume of fries.
- Cook Sweet Potato Fries Separately: Since sweet potato fries cook differently, place them in an air fryer preheated to 400°F (204°C). Cook for 8 minutes, shake the basket to toss them, then cook for an additional 6 minutes until crispy and tender.
- Monitor and Remove Fries As Needed: Towards the end, keep an eye on each pan. Remove fries that finish cooking earlier to prevent burning and ensure each type is perfectly crisp.
- Arrange Sauces and Serve: While fries are cooking, prepare and place your choice of sauces on the serving board. Once fries are done, arrange them hot and ready alongside sauces for serving.
- Add Optional Garnishes: To add a fresh touch and enhance flavor, garnish rosemary fries with fresh rosemary sprigs, seasoned crinkle fries with cilantro leaves, and straight cut fries with parsley leaves.
Notes
- Adjust cooking times depending on the thickness and type of fries used.
- Using aluminum foil on baking sheets makes cleanup easier and helps prevent sticking.
- Flipping and switching baking sheets between racks promotes even cooking and crispiness.
- The air fryer helps achieve a crispy texture for sweet potato fries in less time than oven baking.
- Serve fries immediately after cooking for best texture and flavor.
- Feel free to customize your sauces and garnishes based on personal preference or dietary needs.
