Air Fryer Sweet Potato Fries (Printer View)

Golden sweet potato fries air-fried to crispness, served with a creamy garlic aioli dip.

# What you'll need:

→ Sweet Potato Fries

01 - 2 large sweet potatoes, approximately 1.75 pounds
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
04 - 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 0.5 teaspoon fine sea salt
06 - 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
07 - 1 tablespoon cornstarch, optional for enhanced crispiness

→ Garlic Aioli

08 - 0.5 cup mayonnaise
09 - 1 clove garlic, finely minced
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
11 - 0.5 teaspoon Dijon mustard
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste

# Method:

01 - Peel sweet potatoes and cut into 0.25-inch thick fries using a sharp knife on a cutting board.
02 - Submerge cut fries in a bowl of cold water and soak for 20 minutes to remove excess starch, then drain thoroughly and pat completely dry with a clean kitchen towel.
03 - Transfer dried fries to a mixing bowl and toss with olive oil, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cornstarch if using until evenly coated.
04 - Preheat air fryer to 400°F for 3 minutes.
05 - Arrange seasoned fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket, working in batches if necessary. Air fry at 400°F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through cooking until fries achieve golden color and crispy texture.
06 - While fries cook, combine mayonnaise, minced garlic, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper in a small bowl. Adjust seasonings to personal preference.
07 - Transfer hot sweet potato fries to a serving vessel and serve immediately with garlic aioli in a separate bowl for dipping.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They're ready faster than you can order takeout, and somehow taste even better.
  • The garlic aioli is so creamy and tangy that you'll find yourself making extra just to have around.
  • You actually feel good eating them because the air fryer does the heavy lifting without all that oil.
02 -
  • Skipping the soak will give you fries that are soft instead of crispy, and once you taste soaked-and-fried fries, you'll never go back.
  • The air fryer basket needs space for hot air to circulate, so resist the urge to pack it full—patient batches beat one crowded pile every time.
  • Wet fries are the enemy of crispiness, so dry them like you mean it with a clean kitchen towel.
03 -
  • If your sweet potatoes have thick skin that's hard to peel, microwave them whole for two minutes first to soften them slightly.
  • Store any leftover fries in an airtight container and reheat them in the air fryer at 180°C (350°F) for 3-4 minutes to restore their crispiness—nuking them will turn them to mush.
  • Make the aioli up to two days ahead and keep it covered in the fridge so you can have crispy fries without the last-minute mixing.
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