Today is Chinese New Year, and officially the start of the year of the Rat! During this upcoming year of the rat, every Chinese zodiac sign is supposed to be prosperous – which is a great fortune for everyone.
My Chinese zodiac sign is a Fire Tiger. If you don’t know what your sign is you can easily look up your Chinese zodiac sign here. Growing up my mom was into astrology and read my horoscope to me almost daily. She was also into Chinese astrology, which we looked at as well but less frequently as predictions are yearly. In traditional Western astrology I am a Pisces and relate to my sign very much, but I don’t always relate to my daily horoscope. But, when I read my predictions for Fire Tiger – every year, I can relate to them. And I do believe that is what horoscopes are all about – believing is really most of it.
So, Chinese five spice has never been a foreign ingredient to me. If you don’t know what it is, it is a blend of five spices: cinnamon, fennel, cloves, star anise, and white pepper. It makes an amazing blend that can lend well to both sweet and savory dishes. I have a couple other recipes on the blog with this spice, including my Spiced Cranberry Carrot Bread and also my Christmas Sandwich Cookies.
I like to celebrate Chinese New Year whenever I can. Growing up, my mom always made a Chinese five spice shrimp stir fry. This versatile spice can be used in sweet or savory and it’s amazing in both! But I usually prefer to bake with Chinese five spice and have a Chinese Five Spice Snickerdoodle recipe I make frequently, which I should add to the blog (maybe next year). But, lately I’ve been out of my comfort zone and cooking more than usual (which you’ll find out why in a few months). So this year I decided to make Chinese Five Spice Garlic French Fries. Get the recipe below.
Why go organic?
You may be wondering why I push organic ingredients for everything, even savory and healthy dishes. Organic ingredients go beyond just health and wellness, and contribute so much to the taste and flavor of a recipe. So, if you think that you’re making something healthy and buying fruits, veggies, or meats so maybe you don’t need to spend the extra to go organic here – let me sway your thinking.
Organic ingredients are made in a more pure way, therefore using no additives, no GMOs, and minimal ingredients. This really allows the true ingredients to shine – and because of that their flavor shines through. Therefore, organic ingredients are more flavorful than their non organic counterparts. So, just because it’s already a healthy recipe, or you’re already buying good for you ingredients – it doesn’t mean you can skip organic! Trust me here, and make the switch. Your body and your taste buds will thank you!
So, I highly recommend that you buy the best organic ingredients for this recipe! You can also shop my Amazon Storefront for all my favorite organic ingredients here. Tip – hover over each ingredient to see the name. And if you want to learn more about organic foods and the difference, read my post here on Food Labels and What They Mean.
Spice up the new year with these Chinese Five Spice Garlic French Fries. This unique and interesting combination will have you wanting more!
Ingredients
454 grams (1 pound) organic Russet potatoes
28 grams (2 tablespoons) organic coconut oil, melted
14 grams (2 tablespoons) organic cornstarch
1 teaspoon organic Chinese five spice (like Frontier Co-Op)
2 organic garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon fine sea salt
Directions
- Cut potatoes into ¼-inch wide long strips. Place cut potatoes in a bowl of cold water. Soak for 20 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the melted coconut oil, cornstarch, Chinese five spice, and garlic.
- Rinse and pat the potatoes dry. Add them to the bowl with the coconut oil and spices and coat them completely. Lay potato strips out evenly on the parchment paper, do not overlap.
- Bake for 20 minutes. Flip each fry over and cook for another 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with sea salt. Allow to cool on the baking sheets for at least 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- High Altitude – Bake at 425°F for 15 minutes. Flip each fry over and cook for another 10 minutes, or until lightly golden brown.
Did you make this recipe?Â
Make sure to tag @mimibakescookies and @mimibakesphotos on Instagram!
Did you like this post?
Make sure to check out my Maple Cranberry Scones recipe, which I’m sure you’ll love too! And, share it with someone who you think may also like it!
