Potatoes coated in lemon zest and lavender, sprayed with olive oil, and cooked until they’re the perfect combination of crispy and soft. These Lemon Lavender French Fries are great for a side dish or snack!
Air Fryers
Earlier this year I was looking into getting a new toaster oven that could double as a small oven when needed. I had seen a couple toaster ovens that also worked as air fryers, and found the combination intriguing. One Sunday afternoon while checking them out online, the stars aligned. The toaster oven I wanted was on sale at Kohl’s, I had a bunch of Kohl’s cash, and a gift card. I ended up paying around $10 for this awesome Cuisinart air fryer toaster oven.
If you have an air fryer, you know that it takes some time to understand how to use them. My first few attempts at cooking on air fry mode were less than successful. Quickly though, I learned. And also quickly, I fell in love with making air fried french fries.
Air Fryer Recipes
If you’re interested in more air fryer recipes, here are a few of my favorites:
Jamaican Fried Chicken
Lemon Dill Fried Chicken
Air Fried Cauliflower Poppers
Air Fried French Fries
Homemade french fries are a frequent side dish in my house. I have made them about 18,000 times, so I have plenty of tips for you:
Tips for Air Frying French Fries
Cutting the Potatoes
Cut the potatoes into about 1/3″ wide/high strips at your desired length. If you cut them unevenly, they will probably also cook unevenly.
Soak and Dry the Potatoes
Soak the cut potatoes in salt water for an hour. Then, place paper towels on top of baking racks, and spread the potatoes in a single layer. Let the potatoes dry for 30 to 60 minutes.
The salt water pulls out excess moisture in the potato which yields a crispier fry.
Cook in a Single Layer
I have been in a hurry before and have piled potatoes on top of each other for cooking. Does it work? Yes. Does it turn out well? Not really. If you layer the potatoes the ones on top will crisp, and the ones on the bottom will be mushy. For the best results, cook them in a single layer.
Flip Halfway
I know that many air fryer manufacturers’ instructions say that flipping your food while frying is unnecessary. I disagree. Air fryers are not perfect and there is likely going to be a hot spot or two in yours. Flip the potatoes half way through the cooking time, being sure to spread the potatoes back out in an even layer.
Lemon Lavender French Fries
Over the last few months, I have experimented with many types of french fries, and these Lemon Lavender French Fries are one of my favorites. They have a delicious flavor that works for an appetizer, snack, or just a side dish for your burger.
I have served these friends with honey butter, frosting, and ketchup. They all work well! If you’re looking for a sweeter appetizer, go for the honey butter or frosting, but if you want a side dish, they taste great with ketchup.
Lemon Lavender French Fries
Ingredients
- 3-4 large russet potatoes
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon zest
- 1 tbsp fresh lavender chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ~1 teaspoon kosher salt if desired
Instructions
- Scrub and wash potatoes. Cut potatoes into long, thin slices that are about 1/3″ thick. Transfer cut potatoes to a large bowl of salted water (use about 1 tbsp of salt per gallon of water). Let potatoes soak for 30 minutes.
- While potatoes are soaking, cover two baking racks with paper towels. After potatoes have soaked, remove them from the water and place them on prepared racks to dry for 45-60 minutes.
- Preheat air fryer to 370 degrees.
- Toss potatoes in a large bowl with olive oil and lemon juice.
- In a small bowl, stir together lemon zest, lavender, thyme, black pepper, and sea salt. Toss with potatoes.
- Place coated potatoes in air fryer in a single layer. If desired, sprinkle a bit of kosher salt over the potatoes. Cook for 8 minutes, then toss, ensuring potatoes are still in a single layer before returning to air fryer. Cook for another 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: All nutritional information provided on this website is an estimate only and is not guaranteed.
If you enjoyed these Lemon Lavender French Fries, you should check out these other SugarSpicesLife recipes:
Lemon Thyme Chicken Casserole
Sheet Pan Lemon Chicken with Vegetables
Air Fried Cauliflower Poppers
Baked Macaroni and Cheese
Links to items used to make this recipe:
Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
Microplane Zester
OXO Knive Set
Cool! I was looking up recipes with Lavender and wondered if I could make fries. I’m going to make this and hopefully be back to let you know how mine worked.
Also, thought you might want to know that in your title “coated” is mentioned twice. It’s not a big deal, just a minor typo.
Thanks for this!
That’s great I hope they turn out well! And thank you for catching that, I appreciate it!!!