Sep 04 2026

Patatine Fritte Recipe

Time1h
Serves4

Skinny French fries

Was this page helpful?

Help improve this recipe for others.

Send this recipe to your inbox.

We'll email it straight to you - plus weekly cooking inspiration.

Ingredients

Some product links may be affiliates. If you buy through them, you're supporting the site and Pekin may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Potatoes

Method

Prepare potatoes

  1. 1

    Wash and peel

    Scrub the potatoes under cold running water. Peel them with a vegetable peeler if you prefer skinless fries (for extra crispness you can leave the skins on).

  2. 2

    Cut into skinny fries

    Slice each potato lengthwise into 1/4-inch (6 mm) thick planks. Stack a few planks and cut again lengthwise into 1/4-inch sticks so all fries are uniform in thickness for even cooking.

  3. 3

    Rinse starch

    Place the cut fries in a large bowl and cover with the cold water specified. Swirl and drain the water 2–3 times until the water runs less cloudy to remove excess surface starch.

  4. 4

    Soak

    After the initial rinse, fill the bowl with the remaining cold water and add the ice cubes. Soak for 30 minutes (or up to 2 hours refrigerated). This firms the potatoes and helps achieve a crisp exterior.

Drying & seasoning

  1. 5

    Drain and dry

    Drain the potatoes in a colander and spread them on clean kitchen towels or paper towels. Pat thoroughly dry — removing surface moisture is essential for crisp fries. Let them air-dry for 10 minutes if needed.

  2. 6

    Toss with oil and seasonings

    Transfer the dried fries to a large bowl. Add the extra-virgin olive oil, sea salt, black pepper, and, if using, garlic powder and paprika. Toss gently and evenly to coat each fry lightly with oil and seasonings.

Cook (oven method - healthier)

  1. 7

    Preheat

    Preheat the oven to 230°C (450°F). Place two large rimmed baking sheets in the oven while it heats to make the surface hot; this helps the fries crisp quickly.

  2. 8

    Arrange fries

    Working in a single layer, spread the oiled fries across the hot baking sheets, leaving space between pieces. Do not overcrowd — use both sheets if necessary.

  3. 9

    Bake and turn

    Bake for 12 minutes, then remove the sheet and flip each fry using a spatula or tongs. Return to oven and bake another 8–12 minutes until golden and crisp (total 20–24 minutes, depending on thickness and oven). If needed, switch racks for even browning.

  4. 10

    Final crisp (optional)

    For extra crispness, broil on high for 1–2 minutes while watching closely to avoid burning.

Serve

  1. 11

    Remove fries from the oven and transfer to a serving bowl or platter. Taste and season with a little more sea salt if needed. Serve immediately while hot and crisp. Suggested accompaniments: ketchup, aioli, or your favorite dipping sauce.