Description
Deliciously crispy and flavorful baked butternut squash fries seasoned with garlic, paprika, and thyme. These healthy, oven-baked fries are an excellent alternative to traditional potato fries and make a perfect snack or side dish served with your favorite dipping sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Butternut Squash Fries
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cut into sticks (use only long neck part)
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Dipping Sauce
- Mayo & herbs for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even cooking.
- Prepare Squash Fries: Place the cut butternut squash sticks into a large bowl and pat them dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps in crisping the fries.
- Coat with Cornstarch: Sprinkle the cornstarch evenly over the squash sticks and use your hands to coat each piece completely. Transfer the coated squash to a colander and shake gently to remove any excess cornstarch for a light, crisp coating.
- Season and Toss: Return the squash fries to the bowl and add olive oil, garlic powder, paprika, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until all pieces are evenly coated with oil and spices.
- Arrange on Baking Sheets: Spread the fries out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheets, ensuring they are not overcrowded to allow for even baking and crisping.
- Bake the Fries: Place the trays in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, flipping the fries halfway through the cooking time to ensure all sides become golden and crisp.
- Cool and Serve: Once baked, remove the fries from the oven and let them cool for 5-10 minutes to firm up. Serve warm with mayo and herb dipping sauce for a delicious snack or side dish.
Notes
- Storage: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. To reheat and maintain crispness, warm them in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5 minutes or use a toaster oven.
- Substitutes: For variation, you can substitute cornstarch with flour if needed. Feel free to experiment with different dried herbs to customize the flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 160 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 1.3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 2 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
