Do you love French fries? Indian chefs tell you to add cheese, truffle, and even give a healthy twist to it

The beauty about potatoes is that you can do so much with them and it doesn't even have to be complicated. The classic French fries are the best example of how potatoes can be enjoyed simply. The slender crisp potato chips are irresistible and can be the best snack especially if you can't decide what to eat. Every one of us can admit that they you can never just eat one of them when they are just salted or eaten with tomato ketchup. Made popular by many restaurants and cafes in the city who usually serve it with their burgers as ‘Burgers and Fries' or even ‘Fish and Chips', the French Fries have gone through an evolution.

If you love French fries and food, then you should know that French fries trace their origins to Belgium, where it has been eaten since the 1600s, according to several reports. Such is the country's love for the dish that is now popular all over the world that they also opened the first fries museum in the world called The Frietmuseum in Bruges in 2008. It is dedicated to French fries and the history of Belgian fries. Over the years, it has been made popular by the USA, which has even dedicated National French Fries Day in July 13.

Over the last decade, the classic French fries have evolved from being just a side on the plate or people opting for salted options to becoming a dish of its own. It can be seen in the fact that many restaurants now have a variety of ‘Loaded Fries' on their menus that not only have vegetarian versions that are loaded with cheese but also non-vegetarian varieties that are loaded with bacon and peri-peri that turn it into a star dish. In this time, the dish has become popular among Gen-Z who love making it during any time of the day, and especially for snacks.

With the never-ending search for the perfect innovation with French fries among Gen-Z and Millennials too, mid-day.com spoke chefs in India from different parts of India to share their recipes to make unique dishes. They not only experiment with cheese and barbecue chicken but also want you make the fries from scratch with foxtail millet to eat them like you have never done before.

Truffle Parmesan Fries
Fries and cheese go hand-in-hand or at least if you love them both. Nikhil Kedar, chef at Goregaon-based restaurant Baliboo, says you can definitely add cheese to your fries, but if you want to take a step further then you can also add truffle to make a cheesy Truffle Parmesan Fries. He explains, "The creation of Truffle Parmesan Fries was born out of a desire to elevate a classic comfort food into a luxurious culinary experience. By infusing the earthy essence of truffle oil and the sharp richness of Parmesan cheese, these fries transcend the ordinary, offering a harmonious balance of flavours that excite the palate."

Ingredients:
Potatoes, large 4 nos
Truffle oil 2 tbsp
Parmesan cheese, grated 1/4 cup
Salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley, chopped for garnish (optional)

Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit (220 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminium foil and set aside.
2. Wash the potatoes thoroughly under cold water to remove any dirt. Peel the potatoes if desired, otherwise, scrub them well to remove any debris.
3. Cut the potatoes into thin strips or wedges, about 1/4 inch thick, to resemble French fries. Try to make them as uniform in size as possible for even cooking.
4. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl and cover them with cold water. Allow them to soak for about 30 minutes. This helps remove excess starch and makes the fries crispier.
5. After soaking, drain the potatoes and pat them dry with paper towels or a clean kitchen towel.
6. Transfer the dried potatoes to a clean and dry bowl. Drizzle the truffle oil over the potatoes and toss them gently to coat evenly.
7. Spread the coated potatoes in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet, making sure they are not overcrowded. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
8. Bake in the preheated oven for about 25-30 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through the cooking time, until they are golden brown and crispy.
9. Once the fries are done, remove them from the oven and immediately sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the hot fries while they are still on the baking sheet. The residual heat will help melt the cheese slightly.
10. Transfer the fries to a serving dish and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious truffle Parmesan fries.
Note: Adjust the amount of truffle oil and Parmesan cheese according to your taste preferences. You can also add other seasonings such as garlic powder, onion powder, or paprika for additional flavour.

Truffle Air-fried French Fries
Looking to eat fries but also want to eat healthy? Then Sunil Singh, chef at The Bluebop Cafe in Khar says you can simply make a Truffle Air-fried French Fries. He shares, "Truffle Air-fried French fries are a healthier alternative to traditional deep-fried ones. They become crispy with less oil, and you can experiment with seasoning like garlic powder, paprika, or truffle salt for added flavour."

Ingredients:
Potatoes 2 nos (russet or your preferred variety)
Truffle oil 2 tbsp
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Salt 1 tbsp
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Method:
1. Wash and peel the potatoes if desired. Cut them into even-sized matchsticks or wedges.
2. Soak the cut potatoes in cold water for about 30 minutes to remove excess starch. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
3. Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius).
4. In a bowl, toss the dried potatoes with a mixture of olive oil and truffle oil until evenly coated.
5. Season the potatoes with salt, and optionally add grated Parmesan cheese for extra flavour.
6. Place the seasoned potatoes in the air fryer basket in a single layer, ensuring they are not overcrowded.
7. Air fry for about 15-20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through, until the fries are golden brown and crispy.
9. Once done, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the fries for a finishing touch.
10. Serve immediately and savour the truffle-infused goodness. Adjust the truffle oil quantity to your preference for a delightful truffle aroma and taste.

Foxtail Millet Peri-Peri French Fries
Celebrating millets of every kind, Niriksha Reddy, sous chef at ITC Grand Central in Parel says to truly enjoy French fries, you can give it a twist by making them from scratch. She shares, "French fries are my all-time go to snack to binge on and I just love handcrafting them or cooking them. Often, I like experimenting with my fries by using different spices or tweaking the recipe with new ingredients that blends well." It is this very need to experiment with the classic snack that makes her suggest that you should try making Foxtail Millet Peri-Peri French Fries. All you have to do is use foxtail millet idli rawa, grated potatoes, chat masala and some peri-peri dusting to make turn your fries into something totally new.

Ingredients:
Foxtail millet idli rawa 250 gm
Grated potato 150 gm
Chat masala 5 gm
Peri-peri dusting 5 gm
Salt 5 gm
Water 350 ml

Method:
1. Boil foxtail idli rawa for 4 minutes.
2. Strain it and add grated potato along with chaat masala and salt.
3. Make equal portions of dough roll out into rectangular strips and cut the strips.
4. Freeze the millet strips and fry frozen at 180 degrees Celsius for 5-7 minutes until they are brown in colour.
5. Dust the French fries with peri-peri powder dusting along with salt.
6. Serve hot along with cocktail sauce or other sauce of any kind.

BBQ Chicken Waffle Fries
If you want to innovate with your fries, then chef Tushar Malkani from The Yellow House in Goa's Anjuna says you can do a lot with them by making BBQ Chicken Waffle Fries. With a total preparation time of 35 minutes, Malkani says you can bake the fries, then top it with barbecued chicken, cheese and onion, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and banana peppers.

Ingredients:
Frozen waffle-cut fries 1 package (22 ounces)
Refrigerated shredded barbecued chicken 1 1/2 cups (12 ounces)
Shredded Colby-Monterey Jack cheese 1 cup
Chopped red onion 1/4 cup
Shredded lettuce 1/2 cup
Tomato, medium, chopped 1 no
Dill pickle, chopped 1/4 cup
Pickled banana peppers

Method:
1. Bake fries according to package directions.
2. Transfer to a 10-inches cast-iron or other ovenproof skillet.
3. Top with chicken, cheese and onion.
4. Bake 5 minutes longer or until cheese is melted.
5. Top with lettuce, tomato and pickle; serve with peppers.

Sweet potato curry fries
Why only use regular potatoes when you can add to the flavour with sweet potatoes? Chef Supriya Bhattacharya at Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa in Goa says you should try making her version of potato fries called Sweet Potato Curry Fries. With a delicious mix of garlic powder, paprika, sea salt, olive oil, chat masala, onions and even curry leaves, she wants you to indulge in an Indian version of the dish.

Ingredients:
Sweet potatoes 500 gm
Cornstarch 2 tbsp
Water 2 tbsp
Garlic powder 10 gm
Paprika 1/2 tsp
Sea salt 1/2 tsp
Olive oil as required
Curry leaves 5-6 nos
Onion 100 gm
Chat masala 5-10 gm

Method:
1. Wash the sweet potato and peel the skin.
2. Thick slice the potato in to wedges and soak it into water, this will help to starch from the potato comes out.
3. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. In a small bowl, stir together the corn-starch and water until the cornstarch is dissolved.
5. Add the sweet potatoes along with garlic powder, paprika, salt and mix it well.
6. Toss to coat and make sure the spices are evenly distributed.
7. Evenly arrange the sweet potato wedges on the prepared baking sheets and drizzle olive oil over it.
8. Bake for 15 minutes, bake for another 7 to 12 minutes, until the fries are browned and crisp.
9. Take a separate pan, sauté some onion and curry leaves.
10. Add the baked fries into it.
11. Toss well and check the seasoning.
12. Serve hot with chat masala.