Home-made Belgian Fries (Pommes Frites)!

 

Belgian Frites 

Traditional Belgian Fries (Belçika Usulü Patates Kızartması) Recipe!

Do you like French fries (Potatoes fries)? How often do you make French fries in your kitchen? 

We like French fries and we often make them in our kitchens. Especially our kids love them alot. We guess that they are the most popular food in the world. Everyone eats French fries and loves them alot. They are very versatile - you can eat them with so many things. You can even have a French fries sandwich. People put all sorts of on top of French fries. We and our kids love ketchup and mayonnaise on our fries - both together. 

Potatoes fries or French fries, are one of the most popular side dishes in the world. They find accompaniment in dips, mayonnaise, ketchup, and even vinegar. French fries are served as a common side dish to burgers, fried chicken, grilled steak and also fried fish. In Turkey, we call French fries as "Patates Kizartmasi" and everyone eats patates kizartmasi and loves them alot in Turkey.

Have you ever tried Belgian Fries? 

Belgian fries versus the French fries! We have tried Belgian Fries in our last holiday in Istanbul. Belgian Fries come in a white paper cones and they are fried twice and typically served with a dash of salt, a glob of mayonnaise, and a little plastic fork. It was sold out of vendor caravans, shacks, and cafes across the country. Belgian Fries are very popular throughout the Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Izmir cities. It was really amazing and we loved it alot. Believe it or not, despite being called French fries, these delicious potato fries, Belgian Fries, are really perfect. 

Homemade Belgian fries 

What is Belgian Fries!

Are Belgian fries different than McDonald's French Fries (or Burger King's French Fries)? Obsolutely yes! They are very different and unique. The term is now ubiquitous with potatoes fried anyway but over time refer to McDonald's (or Burger king's) style thin strips, likely frozen, fried and heavily salted and served with ketchup. For Belgian fries, there are serious specific rules namely they are never frozen, freshly cut thick and cooked immediately. They are actually fried twice!  

What makes Belgian fries so good? Belgium is so fries what England is to fried fish. Belgian fries have a distinctly unique strong potato taste. We know that you would think all fried potatoes would have this quality, but think about the last batch of French fries you had in the restaurant and ask yourself if they tasted like potatoes. The thicker cut means more potato and the fact that they are fresh preserves that potato flavor. Frying them twice (once to blanch and second for crispiness) gives you fries that are soft and moist on the inside with a delightful crispiness on the outside.  

Belgian Fries Versus the French Fries!

What makes Belgium Fries different than French Fries? Where did the term ‘French fries’ come from? We mostly assume that French fries originated in France given the term French fries. But this is not correct! In reality, the term is really an American one that originated in Belgium during World War I. Part of Belgium is French-speaking and American soldiers (GIs) who were introduced to fried potatoes nicknamed the French Fries.

Actually, Belgium is famous for its mouthwatering cuisine which features everything from moules frites and stoemp to chocolate and of course, famous Belgium waffles. However, there is one food in particular that causes quite the stir when it comes to politics – pomme frites. Potatoes Frites (pomme frites) have essentially become far more than just a snack in Belgium – and beyond. They are a national Belgian symbol and an essential part of the country’s rich culture and history. 

Belgian fries versus the French fries 

How to Make Home-made Belgian Fries!

In this post, we are going to share a very special and yummy recipe with you. It comes from Belgium cuisine. We are sure that when you try Belgian Fries in your kitchen, your house holds and you like them alot. Its preparation is not difficult and this recipe is really very simple. You just need potatoes, vegetable oil, salt and mayonnaise. That's it.

The Secret to Making the Perfect Belgian Fries!

Actually, the secret to making the perfect Belgian fries is very simple – Belgian fries are double-fried. First, they are cooked, then left to cool down, and finally, for a while later or just before serving, they are fried again to make them crispy and golden brown. The result is golden perfect Belgian fries that have a soft and fluffy inside and a crispy exterior. The Belgian tourism experts also recommends that the first fry should be at 150°C and the second one at 175°C.

Of course, the correct type of potatoes is also very important, as is the choice of frying oil. The best potatoes for making delocious Belgian fries are fresh and never frozen. They should have a medium-firm consistency that is not too firm nor too soft. In the best Belgian fries recipe, the frites are cut rectangular around 1-1,5 cm square. Belgian fries should always be fried in animal fat. Historically, people in Belgium used a mixture of horse and ox fat. However, these days, most shops use a mix of ox fat and vegetable oil. But, in this recipe, we use only vegetable oil. 

On the other hand, the size of the fries is a very personal matter! Some people like them very thin and crunchy. Others prefer them quite large so that they can be crispy on the outside and soft in the center. Experiment to find the size you like best. Very thinly cut potato sticks need a shorter frying time, and the thicker ones take a little longer. We use a normal deep saucepan for this recipe. But it is useful to use an electric deep fryed with a thermometer so the temperature is regulated, but if you dont have one deep saucepan wil be fine.

Which Sauce is the Best! Mayonnaise or Ketchup?

Most places in Belgium serve their fries with mayonnaise. Also here in Turkey, in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir, Antalya cities, Belgian fries are served with mayonnaise too. But feel free to use whatever your preference is. Our kids and we mostly prefer them with both mayonnaise and ketchup.

Once your frites are cooked to golden perfection, all you have to do is choose your favorite sauce for topping, or one of the specialty frites sauces in Belgium or here in Turkey, and tuck in. Here are some of the popular options on offer;

• Mayonnaise, curry ketchup, curry mayonnaise, 
• Samurai sauce : mayonnaise with Tunisian chili/Turkish chili, spices, tomatoes, and red bell peppers, 
• Andalouse sauce : a mix of hot peppers, mayonnaise, tomato paste, and pickles, 
• Sauce Americaine : mayonnaise with tomato, French parsley (Chervil), onions, capers, seafood stock, and celery, 
• Pickel sauce : a yellow, vinegar-based sauce with turmeric, mustard, and chunks of crunchy vegetable, 
• Sauce riche : a pink, tartar-based sauce, 
• Also you can try Belgian fries with Turkish style spicy tomato dip (Turkish Salsa) and Turkish Yogurt dip. We are sure that you like these combinations with Belgian fries too.

Recipe for Home-made Belgian Fries!

We are sure that when you try it. You like this yummy fries alot.

Here it is Home-made Belgian Fries recipe;

Very good family favourite;

Serve: 3-4 servings, Preparation Time: 15-20 minutes, Cooking Time: 15 minutes, Cuisine: Belgium Cuisines,

Ingredients : 6-7 Normal size potatoes, 

Ingridients :1 or 1,5 litres sunflower oil,
if you want you can use cow grease,

Ingredients : a pinch of salt to taste, 

Ingredients: 1/4 cup good quality mayonnaise,
and if you want, you can also use 1/4 cup of ketchup,

Ingredients: a pinch of flour,

Utensils: 3 Colored or white paper cones or bowls,

Firstly, peel the potatoes, then cut them into sticks
1/2 inch wide and 2,5 inches long
 (1,5 cm wide, 6,5 cm long),

Then, rinse all potatoes in several changes
of cold water in bowl until water is clear, 

Then, drain in a colander and spread potatoes out
in one layer on several layers of paper towels to drain, 

Pat dry and sprinkle abit flour over them, 

Then, preheat the oil in a deep fryed or
large départ saucepan to 150 ° C ( 302°F),

Then, very carefully drop the dried chips in the hot oil
and cook for 5 minutes,

Blanch potatoes in small batches without crowding,
turning occasionally, until completely cooked
 but barely colored, 

When done, they should be still pale in colour.
Remove with a should spoon or wire basket and
set aside for about 10 minutes, 

Then, increase the temperature of the oil to
180-190°C (374°F) and gently drop the potatoes
back into the oil and cook for about
4-5 minutes or until golden and crisp, 

Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with salt, 

Serve them immediately with mayonnaise on the side
or Ketchup or both,

You can also serve them with your favourite sauces
such as spicy tomato dip, yogurt dip etc.

Generally, Belgian Fries come in a white paper cones
but if you want, you can get them in plastic bowls,

Ingredients:

• 6-7 Normal size potatoes, (1 kilogram of potatoes), 
• 1 or 1,5 litres Vegetable oil / Sunflower oil, (if you want you can use commercial Cow grease, if it is available), 
• Salt to taste, 
• 1/4 cup good quality mayonnaise, (nearly 60 gr.), 
• 1/4 cup good quality ketchup, (nearly 60 gr.), (optional), 
• A pinch of flour, 

Utensils;

• 3 Colored / white paper cones or bowls, 

Preparation:

1. First of all, put your all ingredients on the work table. Secondly, peel the potatoes and trim them a little to obtain rectangles with almost straight edges. Then cut the potatoes into sticks 1/2 inch wide and 2,5 to 3 inches long (nearly 1,5 cm wide and 6,5 cm long). Then, rinse all potatoes in several changes of cold water in bowl until water is clear. Drain in a colander and spread potatoes out in one layer on several layers of paper towels to drain, then pat dry and sprinkle abit flour over them. 
2. Then, preheat the oil in a deep fryed or large départ saucepan to 150°C (nearly 302°F). When the oil has reached the desired temperature, Very carefully drop the dried chips in the hot oil and cook for 5 minutes (Blanch potatoes in small batches without crowding, turning occasionally, until completely cooked but barely colored). When done, they should be stil pale in colour. Remove with a should spoon or wire basket and set aside for about 10 minutes. 
3. Then, increase the temperature of the oil to 180-190°C (nearly 374°F) and gently drop the potatoes back into the oil and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until golden and crisp. Drain on paper towel and sprinkle with salt. 
4. Serve them immediately with mayonnaise on the side or if you want, you can serve them with ketchup too. 

Please let us know how this "Home-made Belgian Fries (Belçika Usulü Patates Kızartması) Recipe" turns out for you in the comments. We are always so eager to hear from you.

Enjoy!

Home made Belgian fries recipe 

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