Golden and savory, these irresistible baked za'atar fries are generously seasoned with herbaceous za'atar, garlic and fresh herbs and served alongside creamy tahini sauce for dipping.
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About This Recipe
I could put za'atar on just about anything and I do! I love adding a garnish of za'atar on top of creamy avocado hummus or as a finishing touch to Mediterranean nachos, za'atar on anything is always a winner! For a lemony bright dipping sauce, try my Lemon Herb Tahini Sauce, they might be the most flavorful fries ever. Ultimate Mediterranean Diet Shopping List.
Now if you're looking for a simple snack, appetizer or side dish, you will love these easy baked za'atar fries that are full of bold flavors! The potatoes are seasoned with a blend of za'atar, garlic, and fresh herbs and baked to golden perfection. And I highly recommend baking a batch and serving alongside fried chickpea falafel!
Here, the za'atar fries are served with garlic tahini sauce or you can dip the baked fries into creamy tzatziki!
Recipe Highlights
- Full of bold Mediterranean flavors!
- A healthy snack option as the fries are not fried!
- Soaking the potatoes helps create crispier baked fries!
- Za'atar fries are gluten free, dairy free and vegan.
📋 Ingredients
- Potatoes: Yukon gold potatoes are used for their creamy texture but use any potatoes for za'atar fries! Other options are russet potatoes and fingerlings.
- Za'atar: Za'atar is an herbaceous blend of spices and herbs that is used all throughout the Mediterranean. There are different versions with slightly different ingredients, but basically the blend includes tangy sumac, sesame seeds, dried oregano and/or dried thyme. You can often find za'atar in Mediterranean stores and online.
- Garlic: Look for garlic bulbs with tight cloves and no green sprouts.
- Fresh Herbs: Fresh thyme and oregano mimic the flavors of the dried herbs in za'atar and offer a fresh herbaceous flavor.
- Olive Oil: Baked potatoes can handle a good drizzle of olive oil, so don't be shy and make sure all of the potatoes are lightly coated.
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
🌿 What is Za'atar?
Za'atar is a captivating Middle Eastern spice blend consisting of dried thyme, sumac, sesame seeds, and sometimes dried oregano.
Za'atar is earthy and tangy and is a fantastic addition to grilled chicken marinades or Mediterranean roasted vegetables or as a final garnish on top of pita bread.
🍋 Substitutions and Variations
- Instead of Yukon Gold potatoes, use Russet potatoes, fingerlings or red potatoes.
- Add a fresh grating of lemon zest to the seasoning for a pop of brightness.
⏲️ Instructions
Step 1: Peel and cut potatoes into ½ inch wide sticks that are about 3-4 inches long. It's ok if there is still some peel on the potatoes.
Step 2: Place the potato sticks into a bowl of cold water and soak for 20 minutes.
Step 3: Drain the water and pat the potatoes dry very well with paper towels. Transfer potatoes to a baking sheet and season with za'atar, fresh herbs, salt, pepper and olive oil and toss to combine.
Step 4: Roast the za'atar fries at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 25-28 minutes, tossing halfway through, until the fries are crisp and golden brown.
📍 Recipe Tips
- Take the time to soak the potatoes to remove some of the starch, which will make the potatoes even crispier!
- Don't season wet potatoes, pat the sticks very well with paper towels so the seasonings and oil can stick easily.
- Keep an eye on the za'atar fries as they bake and remove from the oven if they are getting too brown too quickly.
Recipe FAQs
Soak the cut potatoes in water to release some of the starch and bake the fries at a high temperature until golden brown and crisp.
Bake the oven fries ahead of time until they are about 10 minutes away from being done. Then when ready to bake, finish the baked fries in the oven for the final 10 minutes until they are hot and crispy.
More Za'atar Recipes
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Baked Za'atar Fries
LittleFerraroKitchen.com
Ingredients
- 4-5 Yukon Gold potatoes
- 2 garlic cloves finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons za'atar
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 sprigs fresh oregano leaves removed and chopped
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme leaves removed + more for garnish
- ¼ cup olive oil
- Tahini sauce for serving
Instructions
- Cut the potatoes into ½ inch thick sticks and place th4em in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Drain the potatoes and pat them dry with a paper towel, then transfer to a baking sheet.
- Season the potatoes with zaatar, salt, pepper, fresh herbs and olive oil.
- Give the potatoes a good toss so all of the seasonings and olive oil evenly coats all of the potatoes and spread the potatoes out in a single layer.
- Bake the za'atar fries for 25-28 minutes, tossing halfway through until the fries are golden brown.
- Once done, remove from the oven and garnish with fresh thyme. Serve with creamy tahini sauce for dipping.
Notes
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- Take the time to soak the potatoes to remove some of the starch, which will make the potatoes even crispier!
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- Don't season wet potatoes, pat the sticks very well with paper towels so the seasonings and oil can stick easily.
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- Keep an eye on the za'atar fries as they bake and remove from the oven if they are getting too brown too quickly.
- A printable list of Mediterranean Spices for your Pantry.
In the Kitchen with Dinah says
We did a Family recipe test of these potatoes. Big success. I am in charge of making a huge batch on game days.
KitchenComfort says
Great recipe. next time I need to make a double batch as they were gone really fast. The kids thought I bought them at some fancy restaurant.
Blake says
Baked Za'atar Fries simple but so good. That Za'atar spice is our new favorite spice. The crispy edges are the BEST!
New2Cooking says
WOW, the easiest most flavorful "FRIES", Ever. The Za'atar is just a wonderful spice. Crispy Baked and the family loves this recipe.