Description
This Fried Sweet Potatoes recipe offers crispy, golden-brown sweet potato slices seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and paprika. The sweet potatoes are soaked beforehand to reduce starch and enhance crispiness, then pan-fried in olive oil to perfection. A simple, flavorful side dish ready in under 30 minutes cooking time, ideal for a comforting snack or accompaniment.
Ingredients
Sweet Potatoes
- 2 medium sweet potatoes (approximately 297 grams peeled)
Seasoning & Oil
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (or preferred frying oil)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder (or granulated garlic)
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika (hot, sweet, regular or smoked)
Instructions
- Peel: Peel the sweet potatoes thoroughly to remove the skin.
- Slice: Slice the peeled sweet potatoes into rounds about 0.5 cm thick, ensuring slices are of even thickness for consistent cooking. Discard pointy end pieces if desired for uniformity.
- Soak: Soak the sweet potato slices in cold water for 2 to 12 hours. This step reduces excess starch and helps achieve a crispier exterior during frying. After soaking, rinse the slices, drain them well, and pat completely dry with paper towels.
- Prepare Seasoning: Mix salt, garlic powder, and paprika together in a small bowl.
- Heat Oil: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed pan over medium heat. Distribute oil evenly to prevent sticking.
- Arrange & Cook First Side: Arrange the sweet potato slices in a single layer in the pan without overcrowding. Reduce heat slightly to medium-low to medium (around 3.5 out of 8). Cook for about 7-8 minutes until the underside turns golden brown, occasionally checking to prevent overbrowning. Add more oil if spots start to dry out.
- Flip & Cook Second Side: Carefully flip each slice and cook for another 7-8 minutes. Adjust heat as needed to avoid burning and ensure the slices cook through and brown evenly.
- Drain Excess Oil: Once the slices are tender and golden brown, transfer them to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil.
- Season & Toss: Sprinkle the prepared seasoning evenly over the fried sweet potato slices and gently toss to coat all pieces well.
- Serve: If the slices appear too oily, gently pat them with paper towels to remove excess grease. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.
Notes
- Soaking the sweet potato slices for several hours significantly improves crispiness by removing excess starch.
- Maintaining moderate heat during frying prevents burning and allows the potatoes to cook through evenly.
- Using a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet helps distribute heat evenly for better frying results.
- You can adjust paprika type (hot, sweet, smoked) to customize flavor intensity.
- Adding oil during cooking as needed prevents hotspots and sticking.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes (plus 2-12 hours soaking time)
- Cook Time: 15-16 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American