I may never go back to regular old potato fries again. OK that’s a lie, because I love fries. But boy, was I pleased with the result of these carrot fries! My toddlers both gobbled them up (and kept asking for more sauce). They were perfect for an easy dinner with frozen veggie burgers the other night. Carrot fries are the perfect thing to make if you find yourself with heaps of carrots. I always love keeping a big bag of carrots in my fridge because they can last for months. And I had all the ingredients for the dipping sauce – mayo, hot sauce, and lime juice – all ready to go! Here’s how to make oven-baked carrot fries, sauce alternative suggestions, as well as some tips and tricks for pumping up the crispiness.
How to make carrot fries
It’s as easy as cutting up some carrots, coating them in spices and oil, and baking in a hot oven! Here are the details.
How to make the spicy mayo dipping sauce
I LOVE the carrot fries, but I really, REALLY love this dipping sauce. Just mix together some mayonnaise, fresh squeezed lime juice, and a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce in a bowl. Done! It’s so easy, and you can serve it with these fries, on sandwiches, etc. I used sriracha hot sauce, but you can use any kind you want. I almost grabbed the chipotle tabasco– my favorite hot sauce- I’ll try that next time. If you want to take it up a notch, this homemade spicy mayo has an East-Asian flair to it, adding chili garlic sauce, toasted sesame oil, and soy sauce to the mix. YUM. You can also use lemon juice if you don’t have lime, or even just a little bit of vinegar for a hint of acidity. This dipping sauce would also be DELICIOUS served with homemade potato chips.
Can I use something besides mayonnaise for the sauce?
Absolutely! You can use Greek yogurt or sour cream- both would be delicious, and a bit lighter, too. If you do this, be sure to season the sauce with salt. Mayo already has salt in it, so you don’t need any extra, but you’ll need it with substitutions. And if you’re making a vegan version, make sure you use a vegan mayo. Samesies with paleo/whole30- make sure to use a compliant mayonnaise. Finally- you can use any kind of dipping sauce you want! 5-Minute avocado sauce, Honey Mustard Sauce, Tzatziki sauce, Dill dip, regular old ketchup, honey mustard… whatever you have on hand is fine.
How do I make carrot fries crispy?
Carrots aren’t as starchy as potatoes, so they naturally won’t be as crispy. If you’re looking for REALLY crispy oven-fried carrots, I’m going to ask you to lower your expectations a bit. There are some things you can do to make them crispIER, though. Here’s what I suggest.
Cook them in the top part of your oven. It’s hotter there, so the carrots will get toastier on the outside. Bake for 30 minutes… or longer. Most carrot fry recipes I found only require about 15-20 minutes of baking- this is NOT enough time for crispy carrot fries! Unless your oven runs very hot, you will need longer. Just keep an eye on them so they don’t burn. Slice the carrots really thinly. The thinner they are, the crispier they will be. Coat the carrots in a starch, such as cornstarch, potato starch, or tapioca starch, along with the spices. Although this recipe doesn’t call for it, adding a starch can help absorb some of the moisture expelled from the carrots while baking, and develop a crispier coating. Leave the carrots in the oven while it cools. I use this method with making crispy oven-roasted chickpeas. Not only will this help keep the carrot fries warm until you are ready to serve them, but they will continue to dehydrate in the warm oven, making them a little crispier than just roasting at a high temperature. You can keep them in there for a half hour or so, if you have time.
And don’t worry- what these carrot fries lack in crispiness they more than make up for in flavor! It’s an even trade, in my opinion.
Other oven fry recipes
How to make crispy oven fries with white potatoes Chili Garlic Sweet Potato Fries with Lemon Garlic Mayo Crispy Baked Sweet Potato fries with Avocado Cilantro Sauce
What to serve with carrot fries
A simple cheeseburger Veggie Burgers Salmon patties Oven-Fried Catfish Oven-Fried Chicken Tenders
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