Crispy Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries with Chaat Masala
Crispy air fryer sweet potato fries coated in a thin layer of cornstarch and oil, air fried until golden, then tossed hot with tangy chaat masala and amchur for an Indian-spiced finish.
Equipment
- Air fryer
Ingredients
For the fries
- 2 large sweet potatoes about 1.5 lbs / 700g, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch sticks
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1-2 tablespoons neutral oil avocado, sunflower, or peanut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the chaat masala finish
- 1 teaspoon chaat masala
- 1/4 teaspoon amchur (dry mango powder) optional if your chaat masala already contains it
- pinch red chilli powder optional, for heat
Instructions
Prep the sweet potatoes
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut them into even 1/4-inch sticks. Uniform size is what keeps every fry cooking at the same rate.
- Soak the cut fries in a bowl of cold water for 20 to 30 minutes. This pulls out excess surface starch and is the single biggest thing you can do to prevent soggy fries.
- Drain and pat the fries completely dry with a clean kitchen towel. Any leftover water will steam instead of crisp in the air fryer.
Coat and air fry
- In a large bowl, toss the dry fries with cornstarch until evenly and lightly coated.
- Add the oil, salt, and pepper, and toss again until every piece is glossy.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 3 minutes.
- Arrange the fries in a single layer in the basket, leaving space between pieces. Work in two batches if your basket is small. Crowding is the fastest way to end up with soft, pale fries instead of crisp ones.
- Air fry for 15 to 18 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes, until the fries are deeply golden and crisp at the edges.
Finish and serve
- Immediately transfer the hot fries to a bowl and sprinkle with chaat masala, amchur, and chilli powder if using. Toss well while they're still hot, the spices cling best to warm fries.
- Serve right away with mint coriander chutney, ketchup, or garlic mayo.
Notes
The cornstarch coating is what gives these fries their crackly edge. Don't skip it, even if you're short on time.
Cook times vary by air fryer wattage and basket size. Start checking at 14 minutes the first time you make these in your machine.
These are best eaten fresh. Leftovers keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, but they will soften.
To reheat, air fry at 375°F (190°C) for 3 to 4 minutes to re-crisp. Skip the microwave, it turns them soft.
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