sweet taters + beer
July 14, 2011 After last week’s post on Beer Baked Fries, I had numerous questions asking if you can sub sweet potato fries.
You ask, I answer.
I figured you could, but why not test it out. First you will need 2 ginormous sweet potatoes. This spud literally weights 1.5lbs!
With their odd shape, they are a bit trickier to cut. Here’s how I go about it…
1. Cut in half.
2. Cut in half again, lengthwise. So now you have 4 quarters. Turn 1 quarter on it’s side and make 3 lengthwise cuts. Repeat 3 more times.
4. Lay the quarters flat. Then make fry sized cuts, perpendicular to the original slices.
Not too bad right? And they definitely do not have to be perfect!
I wanted to use a heavier beer, with a lot of flavor. I chose Moose Drool brown ale, as browns are one of my favorite types of beer. I thought this would add a nice malty, sweetness to the fries.
Time for a beer bath!
For this version, I used garlic, salt, pepper, sunflower oil and also threw on some fresh chopped rosemary. Rosemary + garlic are a fabulous pair, as are rosemary + sweet potatoes. I figured, I couldn’t go wrong.
Definitely been on quite the garlic kick lately!
The fries were the center of attention for this meal. No veggie burgers, no beer grilled tofu, just eaten alongside a huge salad.
- local romaine
- carrots
- cucumber
- roasted red pepper
- black beans
- garden herb dressing
Now, how did I enjoy this dinner? Or, whom did I enjoy it with?
Chris was out climbing, and Eric is out of town, so I called Kelsey and invited her over for beer fries + salad.
Classy.
She came running, er…biking, right over!
Meal of the week!
Sweet Potato Beer Fries [serves 4-6]
- 3lbs sweet potatoes
- 1 bottle of brown ale beer
- 3T sunflower oil [or olive, etc..]
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 sprig fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1t salt
- black pepper
- Preheat oven to 425*
- Scrub potatoes, and cut per instructions above. leave the skins on.
- In a large bowl, soak the cut fries, in 1 bottle of beer.
- Let soak for 15min, tossing 1-2x.
- Drain beer and toss with olive oil, garlic, rosemary, salt + pepper, until well coated.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment [optional, but nice for quick clean up!] and spread the fries, in a single layer on the pan. Use two pans, if needed. You don’t want them stacked.
- Bake for 45min – 1hr, depending on how done you like them, tossing 3-4 times. [Mine were in for about an hour]
- Add more salt + pepper to your liking.
Unlike the russet beer baked fries, with these you could actually taste the beer! It wasn’t overpowering at all, but a nice hint of brown ale in the background. The exterior of the fries crisped well, but as typical with sweet tater fries, they had a creamy interior. If you’re not looking to taste the beer as much, make sure to drain as much as possible and try using a lighter ale.
Definite success!
Time to do that whole sleep thang.
Night!
Ashley
Reader Comments (62)
wow what a fabulous recipe. I love that you found a way to make fries by cutting out the oil and fat. FABULOUS! :) Plus sweet potato fries are my fav. I made some nutmeg cinnamon sweet potato fries last week that were to die for. Going to try this beer version for SURE. thanks so much!
These look incredible! (Well, duh, you're Ashley.) Beer fries? Genius! And sweet potato just completes the experience. I wonder if you could do this with butternut squash. Maybe I should try it on my blog and let you know? Thanks for sharing!
YUM. I could eat sweet potato fries every day. I wish I could contain myself and let them legit cook, but I get so excited and always end up taking them out too early. Yours look like perfection!
"The exterior of the fries crisped well, but as typical with sweet tater fries, they had a creamy interior. "--That sounds...amazing!
I had the BEST sweet potatoes of MY LIFE in mexico city last weekend...they were doused with sweetened condensed milk, and others with sort of a maple/simple syrup. To die for.
And now, these beer taters, im all about it!
NEED these!! Amazing.
I love your tips for cutting fries. Mine never come out right but I think I need to try this method of cutting. And this method of cooking!! They look insane!
Wow those look delicious. Does the beer bring out the sweetness of the fries or do you find they are just savoury?
In western Pennsylvania, we enjoy fries ON our salads! haha give it a try sometime! how bout with a beer salad dressing?
oh yum! i was going to make your other version - but i'm excited about being able to taste the beer in these! maybe i'll have to try both...! :)
yum! we do love our beer around here...and with sweet potato fries? yes please!
I love how you cut the fries -- when I make fries they are definitely not even close to being uniform in size!
All of your recipes look so delicious! I peeled my sweet potato first, but I'm starting to notice that you never peel yours so I might do the same now :-D
I finally caved and bought a pair of Vibrams on Citysports.com! They're ready for pickup already so I'm going to go get them this Saturday :) I'm soo excited to see how they turn out! Have a wonderful Thursday<3
I do love me some s.p.f! :) Those look great. Do you actually taste a little beer in them?
Thanks for the cutting tip! The sweet potatoes I find are always GINORMOUS and awkward. I've never been able to get the texture quite right on sweet potato fries, they never really crisp up, but I definitely want to give these babies a try!!
Thank you for that cutting tutorial! I have always wondered how to cut them "restaurant style."
hmm! I usually just used olive oil and vinegar with my sweet potato! this is so interesting :)
MOOSE!!! So jealous!!
AhhhhhhhhhhhhhiIIIIIILOoooovvvveeeeIIiiittt! Plus, I think I can eat it . . . I need more beer in my life.
I have 2 sweet potatoes & a lager in the fridge. destiny!
Sweet potatoes soaked in beer? Sign. me. up.
I love fries with a creamy interior! I've been on such a yam kick lately. A couple of nights ago made yam fries with 1 yam, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tbsp coconut oil, 1 tsp each of: basil, oregano, sage, parsley flakes, and pinch of Himalayan rock salt and baked at 425 for 25 minutes = Lemon herb fries! mmmmmm
I love sweet potatoes. And I love beer. How could anyone go wrong? LOVE IT!!
Genious! Beer fries look awesome! I see why they're the star of the meal. Very sweet to share with your friend :)
While those donuts look pretty amazing, I have to say that these fries look like my Dream Come True :D I mean seriously, garlic, beer, and sweet taters all in one dish? um . . . THANK YOU!
Beer vs. oil. Like I needed another excuse to eat fries :)
Between your taters and Mama Peas taters... I think we're all set to eat a different kind of fry for the rest of summer! LOVE!
I just saw her recipe!!! Too funny!
Woohoo!! You're welcome!
Lager should work great!! Let me know how they turn out!
I will send you some in the mail, along with a donut. ;)
Thought of your as I cracked open the bottle!
Glad it was helpful!
You're welcome!! They're pretty tricky!
Yes! With the sweet potato fries you do, because they stay soft on the inside. It's not overwhelming at all and really went well with all the flavors!
I think leaving the skins on will help them crisp up! Hope you like your Vibrams!! Slow + steady...takes a LONG time to rebuild your feet muscles!!
Chris doesn't like sweet taters too much but loved these. Garlic, salt + beer can make a person enjoy almost anything! haha
I've seen fries on sandwiches too!! I definitely enjoyed a few bites together as it was all in a big mess on my plate!
They definitely have the sweet/savory thing going for sure. The beer does add some sweetness + flavor to the fries, but the salt + garlic balance it all out.
I will overnight some to you!
Hope the cutting method works for you!
Wow, milky sweet tater fries?? Yum!!!
Aw, you are so sweet!!! Thank you!!! I bet butternut squash would work for sure!! They might be even a bit creamier, but if you cut them thin enough, I'm sure the exterior will crisp up. Let me know!
You're welcome. Let me know what you think!
Mmmmm this looks delicious!!! I like sweet potatoes in almost any form. Ohhh! oh man~you've gotta try it the korean way!! It's kind of very sweet, but still good. It's caramelized and baked really hot, then you dunk it in ice water and when you bite into it, it's divine. Like, a hot and cold crunchy goodness. :)
You are awesome! I made your beer fries this week and my husband said "best fries I've ever had". He keeps asking when we can have them again and now I have something else to try! Huge fan of the beer recipes. I'm thinking an Ellie's Brown w/ sweet potatoes.
That makes me so excited to hear! Thanks for letting me know! :) The sweet tater fries were so good with a brown ale!!
Whoa, that sounds awesome!
Thanks for the idea - it combines two of my favorite things!
These look amazing! French fries + sweet potato + beer? Yes please! Thanks for sharing this : ) Love your blog!
You're welcome!! Thank YOU!