If you have a soft spot for fries (don’t we all) then this recipe will not only allow you to hit your cravings but also in a guilt-free manner. We recently purchased our very slimline air fryer and we couldn’t wait to start cooking up some tasty vegan treats. Of course, you can explore a lot further than fries. We thought we would start simple and we were extremely shocked how delicious our vegan fries tasted, even being cooked in an air fryer with limited use of oil and added seasonings.
The chips alone were crisp and a little sprinkle of salt made them that tad bit more tasty. If you love ranch (although the usual prepacked options don’t meet your vegan diet) then take a look at our homemade ranch seasoning that pairs perfectly with this recipe.
If you are cooking up a storm with the intent to serve your vegan potato fries to guests, you may like to add some mixed herb garnishings or serve the fries in a small basket.
Air Fryer
We recently purchased the Philips XXL air fryer to use for all our vegan frying needs. We have found while using our fryer that the size allows us to cook for four people at a time. The air frying basket is spacious and easy to clean while the unit is compact enough to sit on a kitchen counter. This air fryer is budget-friendly and easy to use following the guide that comes with it. We opted for the manual Philips air fryer although there is now a digital option on the market, which achieves the same results yet takes a more modern approach.
The Philips XXL air fryer has an easy to use turn dial to control the timer and another dial to control temperature. What we loved the most about the air fryer was the fact it does not need to be preheated. Once you set the temperature and turn the dial within seconds the fryer will reach the expected temperature. Using an air fryer is almost preparation free cooking!
If you are interested in taking a look at the manual air fryer we used to create these vegan french-fries, or you’d like to compare the price of the digital Philips air fryer, we have listed them both below.
Air Frying vs Oven Baking
Air frying is the newest craze in the cooking industry and there is no surprise why. This method of cooking allows you to achieve the same results without needing to use excessive amounts of oil. The hot air that circulates the inside of the fryer means that the cooking time is also cut down compared to oven baking. In comparison to using a deep fryer, using an air fryer is significantly healthier. There is no need to soak foods such as potato in oil to achieve that nice crunchy texture anymore. Air fryers are small enough to store on a countertop or pack away in the cupboard. Unlike the preheating you’ll need to complete when using the oven, the air fryer will meet the expected temperature within minutes of turning it on.
Should I Soak my Potato in Water Prior to Frying?
While many other recipes suggest soaking the potatoes in water prior to cooking, we found that either method works just fine when using our Philips air fryer. While soaking the potatoes and removing excess starch may allow you to achieve crispier chips, if you are time poor like us, there is no need to soak your potatoes as you will still achieve nice crisp fries.
Pair Your Potato Fries with Some Sauce
Whether you love tzatziki or ranch further takes your fancy, if you want to serve a sauce alongside your sweet potato fries (that is vegan-friendly), take a look at our simple animal product free sauces below:
Air Fryer Vegan French Fries
You’ll need to start by peeling your potatoes and washing them thoroughly. This recipe only involves a few simple steps that even a beginner cook will be able to undertake.
We used paprika and mixed herbs to season our chips. Added with some salt and pepper, our fries were flavorsome enough for us. You can use many other vegan seasonings if you find you need that extra spicey or salty flavor.
Cutting your potato into similar sized pieces is crucial in ensuring that your fries cook evenly when placed in the fryer. While you will not need to use a lot of oil, you will need to evenly cover your chips to achieve the crunchiness all fry lovers desire.
Ingredients Required for Vegan French Fries (Chips)
Utensils Required for Vegan French Fries (Chips)
Air Fryer Vegan French Fries
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Tongs
- Sharp Cutting Knife
- Chopping Board
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 3 Medium Washed Potatoes (Variety of Potato is Up to Your Discretion)
- 1 tbsp Vegetable Oil (Olive Oil Will Also do the Trick)
Seasonings
- 1 pinch Paprika
- 1 pinch Salt and Pepper
- 1 pinch Mixed Herbs
Instructions
- Peel your potatoes and place each on a chopping board. Ensure you wash your potatoes even if you have selected to purchase white washed potatoes from the supermarket.
- Using a sharp knife, slice each of your potatoes in half longways.
- Slice the potatoes longways into relatively even fries. Each potato fry should be about half an inch thick.
- Place your uncooked potato fries into a large bowl. Drizzle the oil on top of the potatoes and sprinkle in your seasonings.
- Using your hands, toss the fries to ensure the seasonings and the oil is evenly spread.
- Switch on your air fryer and set it to 360ºF (approximately 180ºC).
- Place the fries into the air fryer basket. The fries should not be stacked; they should all be at an even height. You will need to set the timer to 20 minutes.
- After 10 minutes of your potatoes being in the air fryer, pull out the basket and use your tongs to toss the fries. Push the basket back in.
- Cook the fries for a furth 5 or 10 minutes in the air fryer depending on the thickness of the fries. Once the fries are ready to come out they will be crisp and brown.
- Place the fries on a piece of paper towel to cool down slightly.
- Add further seasoning if required, or serve with one of our vegan sauces.
Recipe Notes
- While adding a sprinkle of salt will definitely add flavor to your fries, be mindful that a little salt goes a long way. Start with a small sprinkle and add more afterward if needed. Adding too much salt will ruin your fries and you’ll end up needing to start from scratch.
- Do not stack your potato fries. Stacking your fries will lead to the top and bottom ones burning while the fries caught in the middle being left undercooked. For the best results, spread out your potato in the air fryer basket.
- This recipe can be altered and changed as you please. All types of potatoes and other vegetables for that fact will work well. You can try a number of different vegan seasonings to create a packet of fries that’ll keep you coming back for more.
Did you create our vegan french fries at home? We’d love to know how they turned out or any recommendations you have!
