Easy Za’atar Fries with Sweet Potatoes
By: Merritt Allen
Baked until perfectly crispy, and seasoned with the aromatic flavors of garlic and zaatar, these sweet potatoes are sure to please literally every single time. Crispy baked sweet potatoes are one of my favorite healthy sides that are very easy to make and pair well with so many dishes!
This makes them great for your weekly meal prep or eating them over a lazy weekend. I wanted a potato seasoned with Mediterranean spice Za’atar because the flavors are earthy, a little fruity, and very bright, which why it goes so well with so many different foods. Za’atar is a combination of different spices like oregano, wild thyme, cumin, and sumac to name a few, which when paired with the natural sugars of sweet potatoes is delicious.
Notes and Tips for Cooking your Za’atar Fries:
Za’atar seasoning is widely available in most grocery stores. Check the spice isle and if you can not find it, order it online!
Some other great seasonings for these potatoes are garlic salt, rosemary and thyme, and butter to name a few. If you come up with a great combination, comment below on what you used!
A delicious dinner idea is my lemon dill chicken with a hearty side of these Zaatar Potatoes! Give it a try!
This seasoning works great with regular potatoes also! Give it a try if you want a more savory side dish that still tastes great.
I use baking sheets baking the sweet potatoes. This helps spread them out so that they can more evenly cook. Another good cooking method is using a cast iron skillet. Be sure to preheat the skillet in the oven if that is your method of choice!
Try these dipped in my basil pesto sauce mixed with a little mayonnaise! This makes an aioli sauce that adds so much flavor.
Common Questions For Baking Sweet Potatoes:
How Long To Bake Potatoes At 350F?
This is a tricky question since it depends on your oven and how crispy you like your potatoes. If you have a convect function on your oven I recommend using this. It is similar to an air fryer and helps get your potatoes even crispier. I recommend using convection at 325F and make sure to watch the potatoes as they can cook much faster on this setting.
How Long To Bake Potatoes At 375 F?
If you want to bake your potatoes at a higher temperature, you can bake your potatoes at 375 for about 25 or 30 minutes. I recommend either pre-boiling your sweet potatoes if you go this route or leaving the potato as bigger chunks. Higher temperatures can quickly cook the outside of the potatoes and a thinner potato may burn while trying to cook the inside.
Why Are My Roasted Za’atar Fries Not Crispy?
A soggy potato is usually the result of baking the potatoes at too low of a temperature. Make sure you are baking your potatoes at 350F minimum, and up to to 400F.
The shape of your potato slices can affect how crispy they get in the oven. If the potatoes are too thick, they will start to burn prior to cooking on the inside. Make sure you slice your potatoes as thin as possible.
Do not overcrowd the pan. If your potatoes do not have enough space to spread out and cook, they will steam and remain soggy.
Do Sweet Potatoes Take Longer to Cook than Regular Potatoes?
The short answer is no. Sweet potatoes, which contain more sugar, actually should cook faster than regular potatoes.
Cooking time will depend on shape, cooking sheet, and oven temperature.
Can I Cook Sweet Potatoes In The Air Fryer?
You can definitely cook the sweet potatoes in the air fryer! If you are making a smaller batch or looking to decrease the oil in your food, you can cook sweet potatoes at 375 in the air fryer until they reach desired crispiness.
Ingredients You Will Need For Za’atar Fries with Sweet Potatoes:
Sweet Potatoes: You can use red or white sweet potatoes. Bother taste great with Za’atar.
Za’atar seasoning: This seasoning is so flavorful. With notes of sumac, sesame seeds, and oregano. These flavors compliment the sweetness of the sweet potatoes so well!
Salt and Oil: Oil is used to roast the potatoes while the salt brings out more flavor from the seasoning and the potatoes. I highly recommend adding flaky salt at the end as seen in the picture above.
Parsley: This is an optional herb to add on top at the end. It adds flavor and herbiness.
Steps and Detailed Directions For Za’atar Fries Sweet Potatoes:
Prepare the Sweet Potatoes:
Preheat the oven to 350 F. If using the convect function, use 325 F
Peel your sweet potatoes. I also remove any brown spots that may be present.
Chop your potatoes into coins, or strips. Begin by chopping the ends off the potatoes and then cut the potato in half. Using the flat side of the potato you just cut, split each half lengthwise. You should have 4 sections that are easily chopped.
Place your potatoes on a cookie sheet and spread out evenly.
Peel and lightly mince your garlic cloves.
In a small bowl add the seasonings, garlic and oil, mix well. This helps eliminate clumps.
Toss the mixed seasoning and oil over your potatoes and mix to ensure they are all coated.
Bake the Potatoes:
Bake until the potatoes are the desired crispiness, about 30 minutes
Remove to cool, about 5 minutes
Top with flaky salt and chopped parsley and enjoy!
Baked Sweet Potatoes with Zaatar Seasoning
Ingredients
- 2 medium to large sweet potatoes
- 4 Tbs olive oil or melted butter
- 2 Tbs Zaatar seasoning
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
- Parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 F. If using the convect function, use 325 F
- Peel your sweet potatoes. I also remove any brown spots that may be present.
- Chop your potatoes into coins, or strips. Begin by chopping the ends off the potatoes and then cut the potato in half. Using the flat side of the potato you just cut, split each half lengthwise. You should have 4 sections that are easily chopped.
- Place your potatoes on a cookie sheet and spread out evenly.
- Peel and lightly mince your garlic cloves.
- In a small bowl add the seasonings, garlic and oil, mix well. This helps eliminate clumps.
- Toss the mixed seasoning and oil over your potatoes and mix to ensure they are all coated.
- Bake until the potatoes are the desired crispiness, about 30 minutes
- Remove to cool, about 5 minutes
- Top with flaky salt and chopped parsley and enjoy!
