The One And Only Truly Belgian Fries Recipes

FLEMISH FRITES - BELGIAN FRIES WITH ANDALOUSE SAUCE

Steps:

• Stir mayonnaise, tomato paste, red onion, green bell pepper, red bell pepper, lemon juice, and salt together in a bowl. Cover the Andalouse sauce with plastic wrap and refrigerate 8 hours to overnight.
• Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
• Submerge potato strips in a bowl of ice water; rinse potatoes in several changes of cold water until water in the bowl is clear. Drain potatoes and pat dry.
• Working in batches, fry potatoes in the hot oil until just cooked through but still white, about 5 minutes. Transfer fries to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Bring oil back to temperature between batches. Cool potatoes to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
• Increase oil temperature to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Working in batches, fry the potatoes again until deep golden, 5 to 10 minutes more. Transfer fries to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Season fries with salt and serve with Andalouse sauce.

BELGIAN FRENCH FRIES

Steps:

• First wash and peel the potatoes. Some people prefer them unpeeled, but I think they are better without the skins.
• Cut the potatoes lengthways to your preferred thickness. Maybe you want to use a French Fry Cutter for this? Generally the thicker they are the less crispy they may turn out in my experience. I tend to cut them about 10-12 mm thick (say ½ inch).
• Dry the potatoes on some absorbent kitchen towel.
• Heat the oil until it is bubbling. It is easier to use a fryer, but you can also do in a pan with a basket (which is what I did). Then fry the potatoes in batches for about 4 minutes at 125C. Do not let them brown. Then remove from the basket to a plate and let them cool for about 30 minutes. Line the plate with absorbent paper to clean off any oil.
• When you are ready to serve up, re-heat the oil and re-fry the potatoes at a higher heat (175C) than the first time (I used a bigger gas hob). Make sure the oil is at temperature before adding the potatoes. You should only need to fry for about a minute until they are just beginning to brown. Do not overcook.
• Drain on kitchen paper and lightly salt before serving.

AUTHENTIC BELGIAN FRIES ( FRENCH FRIES )

Steps:

• you will need an open (no lid) deep fryer , if you only have the kind with filters and lids , just don't close them, the steam has to be able to leave very fast else you loose crunchiness.
• Peel your potatoes , and cut them lengthwise into discs of about 1/4 inch thick (they can be a bit thicker if you like that) . Then slice the discs lengthwise into fries of the same thickness.
• Make sure your sink is clean , and wash your fries in cold water . Drain the water , and wash them again in new clean water. Repeat this a few times until no starch comes off the potatoes and the water stays clear. Dry your fries well , so there is no more moisture on their sides.
• First cooking . Put the thermostat for your oil to approximately 320°F or 160°C , not higher . Put a small to medium amount of fries in the cooking basket ( you will have to do this multiple times , if you put in too much fries at once you will loose your temperature and your fries will turn out horrible) . Make sure all fries are under by shaking the basket . During cooking you can shake the basket a few times so you know they're not sticking together. Important: To check if the first cooking is done lift your basket out and pinch a fry if you can pinch all the way through they are done (if you do it fast you will certainly not burn your fingers ), they should still look pale and white , stay with your cooking for this , timing is important.(repeat until they are all done , and let your fat heat up to the appropriate temperature each time).
• Take out the fries , shake them and put them in a big bowl to cool off , once they are cooled to room temperature they are ok to start the second cooking . you can keep these at room temperature for hours until you are ready to serve the meal , in fact leaving them a bit will only make them better , just put a towel over the bowl , no need to put them in the fridge(where condensationwould coat them).
• Second cooking. Put the thermostat of your oil at approximately 370°F-374°F or 185°C-190°C , this is usually the highest setting , or just below that . Put a _small_ amount of the precooked fries in your basket . fry them while shaking the basket in the oil a few times during cooking , you can even take the basket out a few times to throw them in the air (not really needed , but supposed to be good tor making bubbles appear on them :) . They are ready when they are a rich golden brown in color . I put them in a deep plate with a paper towel at the bottom , and use a paper towel to quickly rub the excess fat off them before i serve(paper towel on top hand on paper towel , make a circular movement , take out towel). add a bit of fine salt , and serve. best with a T bone steak or sirloin *grinn* but as you know , fries go with just about anything :).
• A bit of added history : The French will be the first to say that "les frites" come from Belgium. And it being true that Belgians have made and perfected the stuff for years and years, the origin of deep frying potatoes in oil comes from a monastery in Spain.
• Smakelijk (bon appétit).
• EDIT:.
• Recently I found out that Bintje potatoes have become commonly available in the United States . These are without a doubt the best potatoes to use.

BELGIAN FRITES

Steps:

• Soak potatoes in cold water and cover for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 24 hours. Drain, and pat dry.
• Heat 3 inches oil in a large stockpot to 275 degrees to 300 degrees. Line two baking sheets with paper towels. Blanch potatoes in small batches without crowding, turning occasionally, until completely cooked but barely colored, 3 to 4 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer potatoes to one of the prepared baking sheets to drain in a single layer.
• Increase oil temperature to 350 degrees to 360 degrees. Fry potatoes in small batches, turning occasionally, until crisp and golden brown. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Sprinkle with salt, and serve immediately.