🍠 Oven-baked squash fries (20 min): crispy & light – Neary
Quick answer: To make delicious and crispy baked squash fries, cut your squash (butternut or pumpkin) into sticks, coat them with a little olive oil and spices, and bake in a hot oven. Turn halfway through cooking for a perfect golden brown. Ready in 20 minutes! 🔥
How to make easy and crispy baked squash fries?
Dreaming of light but ultra-delicious fries? Baked pumpkin fries are THE solution to treat your family or friends, while staying healthy 🥗. Here's the simple method to make them a success every time:
- Choose your squash: butternut squash (mild flavor, firm flesh) or pumpkin (nutty flavor, melt-in-the-mouth texture). Other varieties work too!
- Wash, peel (or not) and cut the squash into large, regular fries. Keep the skin of the pumpkin if you want more fiber 😉.
- Dry the sticks well with a clean cloth for a nice golden texture.
- Season : In a salad bowl, mix the fries with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil, paprika, cumin, a little salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Vary according to your taste!
- Place on a baking sheet lined with baking paper, without overlapping (that's the secret to keeping it from getting soggy! 👨🍳).
- Bake in a preheated oven at 220°C (fan-assisted) for about 20 minutes. Turn halfway through cooking for a crispy effect on all sides 🔄.
- Serve immediately with a lemon yogurt sauce, light mayo, or plain. It's also delicious in a veggie bowl or with grilled meat!
Tip: for an even faster version, you can try the Air Fryer : express cooking, super crispy results and no frying!
My tips for golden brown baked squash fries 🔥
- Regular cut: For even cooking, try to have fries of similar size.
- Avoid excess oil : Too much oil = soggy fries. 1 to 2 tbsp is more than enough.
- High heat : A very hot oven will sear the squash and make it golden. If necessary, finish under the grill for 2 minutes.
- Don't overload the baking sheet : if you pile it up, it will become soggy. Spread it out evenly, even if you have to bake in two batches.
- Add a hint of starch (corn, potato) for an extra crispy crust.
Which squash should you choose for delicious oven fries? 🎃
What to serve your squash fries with? 🥙
- Light sauces : Greek yogurt, lemon, parsley, wholegrain mustard.
- Gourmet version : grated cheese, Mexican spices, touch of parmesan at the end of cooking.
- In a veggie bowl : quinoa, chickpeas, avocado, pomegranate, fresh herbs 🌿.
- As a side dish : roast chicken, grilled fish, vegetable steak… anything goes!
Looking for some inspiration? Check out this recipe for baked butternut fries for a change!
Can you make the squash fries in advance? ⏳
Absolutely! Cut the squash into fries the day before and store them in a sealed bag. Coat them in oil and spices just before baking to keep them crispy.
Can you freeze squash fries? ❄️
Yes, but they're better fresh! If necessary, blanch the fries for 3 minutes, dry them well, then freeze them flat. All you have to do is put them in the oven while they're still frozen (allow a few more minutes).
How to prevent them from being soft? 😬
- Dry the squash well after cutting.
- Do not over-oil.
- Oven very hot and plate not overloaded.
- Turn halfway through cooking and serve straight from the oven!
Is the skin edible? 🤔
Yes, for pumpkin (organic preferably), it becomes very tender when cooked. For butternut squash, you can remove the skin if you prefer a very soft texture.
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