Easy & Simple Sesame Nori Fries

Name: Easy & Simple Sesame Nori Fries
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Ingredients: 8 medium yukon gold potatoes (or yellow russet potatoes); 1 tbsp vegetable oil (or any neutral oil to season fries); 1 tsp garlic powder (not garlic salt!); 1 tsp onion powder; 3/4 tsp salt; 1.5 tsp sesame oil; 1 tsp sesame seeds; 6 sheets seaweed snack (cut into thin strips with scissors, or sub with 1/3 cup of Korean seasoned seaweed flakes); 1/2 cup Japanese mayo (or regular mayonnaise); 3/4 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed); 1 clove garlic (finely grated)

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Garlic and sesame seasoned fries with dry roasted seaweed served with a creamy garlic aioli sauce! These easy sesame nori fries are made with simple ingredients. Great as a snack, side dish or appetizer with an Asian twist!

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Ingredients & Substitutes
Expert Tips
Instructions
Storage
Pairing Suggestions
FAQ
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💬 Reviews

These Sesame Nori Fries feature potato-cut fries seasoned with salt, onion powder, garlic powder, roasted seaweed, sesame seeds, sesame oil, and served with a simple garlic aioli sauce.

It's a very simple potato recipe that comes together with minimal ingredients. The toasted sesame seeds and nori give the fries a nutty and umami flavor and the garlic mayo is the perfect dip!

You won't need many ingredients for this potato dish and I also share three ways to cook the fries: baking, air frying or deep frying!

I created this recipe because I love this root vegetable and dry roasted seaweed so much. The nori compliments the potatoes perfectly and that's how this recipe was born!

Ingredients & Substitutes

Please scroll down to below recipe card for exact measurements.

Yukon Gold Potatoes: or substitute with yellow russet potatoes because these are best for oven-baked fries as they contain low-medium starch. However, if you only have white potatoes, rinse them in cold water after slicing to the remove excess starch. Sweet potatoes will also work.
Neutral oil: like avocado oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, peanut oil, vegetable oil or canola oil with a high smoke point. Avoid olive oil that has a low smoke point.
Salt
Garlic Powder: not garlic salt!
Onion Powder
Seaweed Snack: this is seasoned dry roasted seaweed that comes in small rectangle plastic containers. Each sheet is about 2 x 3 inches. Or replace with Korean seasoned seaweed flakes or nori sheets thinly sliced.
Sesame Seeds
Sesame Oil
Japanese mayo (aka Kewpie Mayo): or substitute with regular mayonnaise
Fresh Garlic Cloves: to make the garlic aioli.
Fresh Lemon Juice: for the garlic aioli.

Note: Most Asian grocery stores will carry most of the Asian specific ingredients or check online stores, like Amazon.

Expert Tips

Use fresh Yukon Gold potatoes for best results! These create the best texture for oven baked fries as the interior is soft and fluffy.
Avoid using potatoes are that slightly green or with sprouts as these potatoes are no longer fresh and may contain a toxin called solanine.
Rinse off peeled potatoes with cold water to remove excess starch. The excess starch prevents the fries from becoming crispy.
Make sure to dry the potatoes well to remove any excess moisture.
Evenly slice the potatoes into equal sized fries for a consistent cooking time, otherwise some fries will be overcooked or undercooked.
Massage the seasoning into fries with clean hands to ensure they're well seasoned.
If you're baking the fries, use a large baking sheet so the fries have enough space around them to get crispy.
If you're baking or air frying, spread out the fries into a single layer without any overlap or the fries won't become crispy.
Finely mince or grate the garlic for the garlic aioli, so you don't taste chunks of mayo.

Instructions

Below are step-by-step instructions on how to make sesame nori fries:

Peel the potatoes and rinse them off with cold running water. Dry them each with clean paper towels to remove as much excess moisture.
Slice peeled potatoes into ½-inch thick x 2-inch long sticks. Transfer potato sticks to a large mixing bowl and season with vegetable oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and salt. Massage the seasoning into the potatoes with clean hands.
Choose ONE cooking method below:
- To Bake: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Spread the potato sticks into a single layer without any overlap on the lined baking sheet, giving each piece enough space. Bake on the middle rack for 35 minutes in total or golden brown and fork tender, flipping the fries over half way with a spatula.
- To Deep fry: Heat 3 cups of 750 ml of vegetable oil in a large pan on medium heat, around 350 F with a digital instant read thermometer. Fry seasoned potato sticks in small batches until golden brown, flipping over halfway. Remove fries with a slotted spoon and transfer to a wire rack or paper towel lined plate to drain off excess oil.
- To Air Fry: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F. Lightly spray the air fryer basket with vegetable oil. Place the seasoned fries in a single layer without any overlap so there's enough space between each fry. You will need to air fry in small batches. Air fry for 14-18 minutes, flipping over halfway, until they are crispy and golden brown. If they're not golden brown, air fry for another few minutes until they are.
Transfer fries to a large mixing bowl. Season the fries with sesame oil, sesame seeds, seaweed snack and toss until fries are evenly coated.
To make the garlic aioli: in a small bowl combine Japanese mayo, finely grated garlic, and lemon juice. Serve with fries and enjoy!

Storage

Leftovers will last up to 4 days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, air fry or re-bake in the oven at 350 degrees F for 5-8 minutes until hot.
Freezer-friendly? These fries can be frozen for up to 3 months. To freeze: let the cooked fries cool down completely. Place a freezer-safe bag on top of a baking sheet. Then place the fries into the bag in a single layer and freeze until solid. Then remove the baking sheet. To reheat from frozen, defrost them overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven or air fryer at 350 degrees until hot throughout.

Pairing Suggestions

Sesame nori fries serve well with:

onion rings, fried dumplings, deep fried cheese sticks
pickled daikon radish, kimchi, coleslaw, or Korean Cucumber salad
Korean corn cheese
Kimchi Fries
Korean fried chicken
Korean French Fry Corn Dog
Korean scallion pancake, kimchi pancake, or seafood pancake

FAQ

Can I make these in advance?

Sesame nori fries can be made up to 4 days in advance and stored in an airtight container in the fridge. To reheat, microwave the fries for a few minutes or reheat in the air fryer or oven at 350 F for 5-10 minutes until hot.

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