There was a time when most households contained some sort of deep fat fryer. Do you remember when FryDaddy was a household word? Unfortunately, a common household word today is obesity. So how can we move from fried foods to healthy foods without giving up the taste? We’ve got two fried food alternatives that just might satisfy your craving for greasy goodness!
Try These Fried Foods Alternatives
Believe it or not, baked potato slices can be just as good as homemade potato chips. Begin by slicing your potatoes in to thin chips, either with a mandolin or by hand. Yukon Gold potatoes contain less moisture than baking potatoes, making them perfect for this recipe.
Spray a baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Place the potatoes in a single layer on the pan and coat with a little bit of olive oil. Sprinkle with sea salt and any other spice of your choice. Try garlic powder, chili powder, cumin, basil or rosemary. My family’s favorite is a simple mix of sea salt and fresh crushed garlic.
Bake at 375 degrees and check after 15 minutes. I like to turn my chips over during the baking process. From there, check the potatoes about every seven minutes until they are crispy. For a twist, try using parsnips along with the potatoes or use sweet potatoes for these wonderful fried potato chip alternatives.
When you think of fried food, doesn’t chicken come to mind? One of my favorite baked chicken recipes has fewer calories than fried chicken with just as much taste. You can use wings for this recipe or whole pieces of chicken, as well as skinless chicken breasts if desired.
Place a cup of flour in a large sealable plastic bag. Add ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and ½ teaspoon salt. You can also add cayenne pepper or other flavoring if desired. Put your chicken in the bag and shake to coat each piece. Take them out of the bag and allow to sit for ten minutes.
While they are resting, place two cups of panko bread crumbs in a different sealable bag. Meanwhile, crack and separate four eggs. Wisk the egg whites with 2 tbs. water for use with this recipe. Briefly dip the chicken in to the egg whites and shake in the bag of panko bread crumbs.
Bake at 400 degrees on a cookie sheet sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. I often add a bit of olive oil to the pan for both flavor and a bit of healthy fat. Bake for the same length of time you would normally bake the type of chicken you are using.
Are there any healthy fried food alternatives you enjoy in your own home? We would love to hear what you make!