Oven Baked Fries

Recipe from Emeril Lagasse’s book There’s a Chef in My Soup! 

The recipe can also be found at www.emerils.com.

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• 4 large Idaho potatoes (2.5-3 lbs)
• 3 tablespoons oil
• 2 tablespoons “Baby Bam” seasoning

BABY BAM SEASONING
3 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons dried parsley
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon celery salt

• Place oven rack in the lowest position and preheat the oven to 450?F. 
• Scrub the potatoes under running water with a vegetable brush. Pat dry. Cut it in half lengthwise. Place one potato half, flat side down, on the cutting board and cut each half into 6-8 slices.
• Place the potatoes in a large mixing bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients. 
• Arrange the potatoes in one layer on the baking sheets. 
• Place the sheets in the oven and bake for 30 minutes, flipping after 15 minutes.

Alternate recipe:

America’s Test Kitchen Oven-Roasted Fries

• vegetable oil spray
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, unpeeled
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Salt

1. Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat oven to 425°F. Generously spray rimmed baking sheet with vegetable oil spray. Pour oil into prepared sheet and tilt until surface is evenly coated with oil.
2. Halve potatoes lengthwise and turn halves cut sides down on cutting board. Trim a thin slice from both long sides of each potato half; discard trimmings. Slice potatoes lengthwise into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick planks.
3. Combine 1/3 cup water and cornstarch in large bowl, making sure no lumps of cornstarch remain on bottom of bowl. Microwave, stirring every 20 seconds, until mixture begins to thicken, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from microwave and continue to stir until mixture thickens to pudding-like consistency. (If necessary, add up to 1 tablespoon water to achieve correct consistency.)
4. Transfer potatoes to bowl with cornstarch mixture and toss until each plank is evenly coated. Arrange planks on prepared sheet, leaving small gaps between planks. (Some cornstarch mixture will remain in bowl.) Cover sheet tightly with lightly greased aluminum foil and bake for 12 minutes.
5. Remove foil from sheet and bake until bottom of each fry is golden brown, 7 to 15 minutes. Remove sheet from oven and, using thin metal spatula, carefully flip each fry. Return sheet to oven and continue to bake until second sides are golden brown, 7 to 15 minutes longer.
6. Sprinkle fries with 1/2 teaspoon table salt. Using spatula, carefully toss fries to distribute salt.
7. Transfer to paper towel-lined plate and season with salt to taste. Serve.