The Best Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries with Orange Salt

These oven roasted sweet potato fries are simple to make and bake up crisp at the edges with a soft centre. The orange salt adds a bright citrus lift that works beautifully with the natural sweetness of the potatoes. Serve them as a snack or alongside your favourite mains for an easy side dish.

I fell in love with orange sweet potatoes, or yams as they are called in America, while travelling across the USA with my sister many years ago. We were young, driving the southern route, staying in campsites and youth hostels, and cooking most of our meals.

My sister is vegetarian, so everything we made was plant-based. A roasted yam was always a highlight. We would wrap them in foil and cook them over a fire, then top them with butter, grated Cheddar and a simple salad. It is still my favourite way to eat them. At the time, you could only find the pink-skinned, white-fleshed sweet potato in South Africa, which I never enjoyed as much.

On subsequent trips to the USA I would sneak a few yams into my luggage to bring home, and two years ago I brought home purple sweet potatoes and made these shoestring fries with garlic and rosemary). I was thrilled when we started seeing them on shelves here a few years ago. Initially quite sporadically but now they are regularly available. I absolutely adore orange with them and made this recipe with spiralised sweet potatoes and chorizo, which was delicious.

FAQs For Sweet Potato Fries

Why are my sweet potato fries not crispy?

Sweet potatoes contain more moisture than regular potatoes, so they soften easily. High heat, spacing the fries out, and using only a light coating of oil all help them crisp up.

Should I soak sweet potatoes before baking?

Soaking is not necessary for sweet potato fries. They do not behave like regular potatoes, and soaking does not make a noticeable difference.

Do I need to peel the sweet potatoes?

No. You can leave the skin on for extra texture and nutrients. Peeling is a personal choice.

Why do my sweet potato fries go soggy?

They can become soggy if the tray is overcrowded, too much oil is used, or the oven temperature is not hot enough. Spread them out to allow steam to escape.

Can I make sweet potato fries without oil?

Yes. They will be less crispy but still roast well. Use baking paper to prevent sticking.

How do I make sweet potato fries crispier?

Use a high temperature, leave space between the fries, and toss them in only a small amount of oil. You can also place them on a wire rack set over a baking tray for the final 10 to 20 minutes.

Can I use an air fryer?

Yes. Air fry at 200 C for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through.

Which seasoning works best for sweet potato fries?

Salt, paprika, garlic powder, cinnamon, chilli flakes and thyme all pair well. Orange salt adds a bright citrus lift.

Oven Roasted Sweet Potato Fries with Orange Salt

Easy oven roasted sweet potato fries with bright orange salt. Crisp edges, soft centres and a fresh citrus lift. 

Print Recipe

Prep Time:10 minutes mins

Cook Time:35 minutes mins

Ingredients

Ingredients

For the sweet potato fries:

• 2 to 3 large orange sweet potatoes
• 1 to 2 Tbsp olive oil
• A few sprigs of fresh thyme optional
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the orange salt:

• 3 parts sea salt flakes such as Maldon
• 1 part finely grated orange zest
• A few thyme leaves optional

Instructions

To make the sweet potato fries

• Preheat the oven to 220 C or 425 F. A fan oven works best, but a conventional oven is fine.
• Peel the sweet potatoes if you prefer, then slice them into fries.
• Place the fries in a bowl and toss lightly with olive oil. Use only enough to coat them without pooling.
• Spread the fries out on a large baking sheet. Do not overcrowd the tray. Space helps them brown and reduces steam.
• Add a few sprigs of thyme if you like.
• Roast for 30 to 35 minutes until golden. You can flip them once, but they usually colour well without turning.
• If the fries feel a little soft after roasting, place them on a wire cooling rack set over a baking tray and return them to the oven on a very low heat for 10 to 20 minutes to dry out.

To make the orange salt

• Add the sea salt flakes to a pestle and mortar.
• Grate in the orange zest using a ratio of three parts salt to one part zest.
• Grind lightly until the salt turns pale yellow and the zest is evenly distributed.
• Add a few thyme leaves if you want a herby note.
• Sprinkle the orange salt over the hot fries before serving.

Notes

Storage instructions

Store leftover sweet potato fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

Reheat them in a hot oven at 200 C until warmed through and crisp at the edges. A fan oven works best. You can also reheat them in an air fryer.

Avoid microwaving, as this makes them soft.

Orange salt can be stored in a sealed jar at room temperature for up to one week. Keep it in a cool, dry place.

Other sweet potato recipes I love

sweet potato shoestring fries with garlic and rosemary

Roasted Sweet Potato With Parsley & Walnut Pesto

Sweet Potato Gnocchi With Creamy Mushrooms

Viral High-Protein Beef Taco Bowls With Sweet Potato Recipe

sweet potato ‘noodles’ with chorizo and orange

Roasted sweet potato with pecan and maple syrup

Baked sweet potato with harissa and cumin

Roast sweet potato wedges with coriander dressing and spicy lime yoghurt

Butternut & sweet potato mash with crispy sage leaves

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