Guilt-free fries: yes - it's true - crispy, golden potatoes without all the fat

Vegetarian Times, Feb, 1998 by Kathy Farrell-Kingsley

For many, french fries are about as good as a potato gets. Sure, some baked potatoes can be delectable, and creamy mashed potatoes can elicit rave reviews. But do they really compare to the pure satisfaction of eating a long, slender, golden brown, crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside french fry? Let's face it--Americans love their fries. According to the National Restaurant Association, one quarter of all meals served in American restaurants come with fries on the side. McDonald's alone serves approximately I million pounds of french fries in the United States every day!

It's impossible, however, to ignore the down side of this beloved food. Deep-fried in vats of vegetable oil, lard or both, one large order of these tasty devils contains approximately 22 grams of fat and 450 calories--enough to give even fast-food fanatics pause. There's no longer any question that we should all be eating less fat. The American Heart Association recommends that total fat intake should be 30 percent or less of total calories, and cholesterol intake should be less than 300 milligrams per day. As many of us look for ways to reduce fat in our diets, the alluring french fry is usually the first food to go.

That's where we come in. We've devised an oven-baked version with only 2 grams of fat per serving. And it's every bit as tasty as its fried counterpart: Oven-baking results in a crispy, golden exterior and tender, moist interior that's irresistible. Plus, these fries are a cinch to make and our technique works wonderfully with, other tubers or root vegetables, such is carrots, sweet potatoes and parsnips.

So, if watching your fat grams means banishing french fries from your diet, don't despair-our tempting ovenbaked version fills the void quite nicely.

This recipe was developed by Chris Thayer, 14 years old, Rye Middle School, Rye, N.Y.

Baked French Fries

4 SERVINGS LACTO/VEGAN

Better than fast-food fries, this healthy homemade version has lots of flavor with a minimum of fat. As a welcome bonus, the skins can be left on the potatoes for extra crispness.

2 medium baking potatoes,
  scrubbed (leave peels on if
  preferred)
2 tsp. melted butter or olive oil
  Salt and freshly ground black pepper
  to taste