# Replacements for potatoes in fries? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 16, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894 "2019-01-16T20:24:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/1 "2019-01-16T20:24:51Z")
One of the things my doctor included when she read me the Blood Sugar Riot Act was to stay away from potatoes. (Don’t laugh - between potatoes, pasta, flour, and pretty much all desserts, I’ve dropped 25 pounds in six weeks.) I have been trying various vegetables in place of potatoes for french fries, although I don’t fry them (I coat them in olive oil and then either air-bake them or microwave them), and can’t seem to find one where I can get them to the right combination of warm and solid. I tried microwaving sliced turnips, but they came out flaccid and tasteless. Anybody out there have any suggestions? Note that “coat them in bread crumbs” is not an option. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/2 "2019-01-16T20:34:15Z")
Sweet potatoes are the only thing I know you can do the same as potatoes and they come out great. We cut them into sticks, toss them with oil and salt and bake them on cookie sheets. ---
**Author:** ![adhemar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@adhemar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adhemar)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/3 "2019-01-16T20:51:15Z")
> [@That\_Don\_Guy](#): > > One of the things my doctor included when she read me the Blood Sugar Riot Act was to stay away from potatoes. (Don’t laugh - between potatoes, pasta, flour, and pretty much all desserts, I’ve dropped 25 pounds in six weeks.) I have been trying various vegetables in place of potatoes for french fries, although I don’t fry them (I coat them in olive oil and then either air-bake them or microwave them), and can’t seem to find one where I can get them to the right combination of warm and solid. I tried microwaving sliced turnips, but they came out flaccid and tasteless. > > Anybody out there have any suggestions? Note that “coat them in bread crumbs” is not an option. nothing is going to replace potatoes in fries that is not fried. you can substitute things like cauliflower in potato salad or cauliflower for rice but I don’t see anything to replace the bland inside fluffy interior and crispy exterior if it isn’t fried. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/4 "2019-01-16T21:19:58Z")
I’ve never tried this recipe, but on **Good Eats** once, he made [chips out of parsnips](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/parsnip-crisps-recipe-1948146). Seems worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/5 "2019-01-16T21:25:18Z")
If you’re tending to the keto diet, I believe root vegetables like turnips and parsnips may also be on your banned list - check with your doctor. Have you tried mushrooms? Or simply have a steak large enough that you don’t need vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/6 "2019-01-16T22:47:22Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > If you’re tending to the keto diet, I believe root vegetables like turnips and parsnips may also be on your banned list - check with your doctor. True, though celeriac is relatively low carb for a root vegetable. I found a few recipes for celery root fries. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/7 "2019-01-16T22:48:33Z")
> [@Ulfreida](#): > > Sweet potatoes are the only thing I know you can do the same as potatoes and they come out great. We cut them into sticks, toss them with oil and salt and bake them on cookie sheets. Sweet potatoes are likely going to have the same problems, vis-a-vis blood sugar, as potatoes. Any vegetable cut very thin, coated in oil and salt, and roasted at high heat for a brief time might help satisfy the hot-crunchy-salty-oily cravings. My whole family loves baby kale, broccoli, and cauliflower cooked this way. It’s just crispy salty yumminess. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/8 "2019-01-16T22:52:36Z")
Yuca is lower on the glycemic index than potato. Not sure if they would also get the ‘blood sugar riot act.’ > **[Crispy Baked Yuca Fries](https://www.thehealthymaven.com/crispy-baked-yuca-fries/)** > > Change up your typical potato side with these Crispy Baked Yuca Fries! They're crispy on the outside, soft on the inside with a kick of spice. Click for the recipe. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/9 "2019-01-16T22:55:08Z")
Green beans is the first thing I thought of, but that was in their deep-fried form. It’s definitely a no-go as far as microwaving goes (it’s just gonna be a soggy, limp bean), but perhaps air frying would work. And I’m not generally a fan of green beans. But green bean fries, I’ll take any day. ETA: [Here’s an example recipe I dug up](https://www.tasteaholics.com/recipes/sides/green-bean-fries/) for at least oven roasted beans in the style of crispy french fries. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/10 "2019-01-16T23:13:44Z")
Try [asparagus](https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/214931/oven-roasted-asparagus/). ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/11 "2019-01-16T23:42:45Z")
Jerusalem artichokes aka sunchokes have a lower glycemic index than potatoes, and can be used in place of them in a lot of recipes. Don’t know how well they’d air fry, though, and they can be hard to find. If you want to try growing them, they’re prolific and invasive. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/12 "2019-01-16T23:48:48Z")
[ul] [li]potato chips[/li][li]sweet potatoes[/li][li]yucca root[/li][li]broccoli[/li][li]pancake batter[/li][li]crickets[/li][li]starch-based glue[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![mikecurtis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikecurtis/32/3284_2.png) [@mikecurtis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mikecurtis)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/13 "2019-01-17T00:19:13Z")
[Pickles](https://www.seductioninthekitchen.com/dill-pickle-fries/) ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/14 "2019-01-17T00:48:56Z")
Chicken wings ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/15 "2019-01-17T01:28:44Z")
What about making [chickpea flour fries?](https://food52.com/recipes/9642-chickpea-fries-with-yogurt-dipping-sauce) ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/16 "2019-01-17T03:37:08Z")
What about rutabaga? They aren’t pretty on the outside, but the flesh is yellow-orange and I personally like it. They do seem to be more “watery” than potatoes. If people can make fries with parsnips, they probably could with these. ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/17 "2019-01-17T14:58:38Z")
Daikon comes in at 4.1g/100.0g of carbs, and make absolutely fabulous fries. They’re a great substitute for potatoes in lots of other great ways, too. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/18 "2019-01-17T15:16:23Z")
Try roasting chick peas until they are crunchy. Use your favorite chex-mix coating, or any commercial tahini or teriyaki sauce. Chickpea is high in protein and fiber, but it scratches the same itch for sure. Or [consider Chakri](https://nuts.com/snacks/indian/chakri.html), which has a small amount of wheat flour but is mostly gram. The spiciness will keep you from eating too much, and the protein is very satisfying. ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/19 "2019-01-17T16:32:30Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Yuca is lower on the glycemic index than potato. Not sure if they would also get the ‘blood sugar riot act.’ > > [Crispy Baked Yuca Fries - The Healthy Maven](https://www.thehealthymaven.com/crispy-baked-yuca-fries/) Yuca was going to be my suggestion too- it’s a whole lot like potato. To the point, where you might just think it’s a different variety or something, if you didn’t know it was yuca ahead of time. ---
**Author:** ![xizor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xizor/32/102_2.png) [@xizor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xizor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2019, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894/20 "2019-01-17T17:04:19Z")
I always come across recipes for fried eggplant. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/replacements-for-potatoes-in-fries/827894.md?page=2)