Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (2024)

Alisa InfantiPublished:Updated:

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Turnip Fries – a healthier twist on a traditional french fry made with nutrient-rich and lower-carb turnips roasted in an air-fryer or convection oven. Plus, I have added a low-fat high protein chipotle dip to make it even tastier!

Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (1)

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I don’t know about you but I love french fries! I mean I really love them! But they aren’t exactly the best thing to be eating when you are trying to lose weight. And let’s face it fried food isn’t the best thing to be eating ever really.

Losing weight for me has never been easy so I have recently gone back to my roots and started tracking my calories. Not something I plan to do forever but every once in a while it is good to reset and see where I have fallen off track. When Culinary Tools asked me to partner with them to review their new Weight Loss Calculator I jumped at the chance. I found this tool to be full of great information.

Under the Nutrition Tab, is where you will find your calories per day suggestions by carbs, fat, and proteins. It then clearly breaks out how many calories and the macro split to eat per meal, not just per day which if find super helpful and you can adjust this by how many meals you plan to eat per day. I eat only 4 meals because I usually fast in the morning until about 11:00 so this feature is fantastic!

Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (2)

I learned to love turnip fries first by eating sweet potato fries but they are still quite high in carbohydrates. Then a friend told me that she had fallen in love with turnip fries. At first, I was like hell no. Turnips? To be honest, at the time I had no idea what a turnip tasted like. I just know that most people turn their noses up at them so I went right there. No way!

So What Do Turnips Taste like?

Turnips are actually very similar in my opinion to the flavor and texture of sweet potatoes. When air-fried or baked they become soft and sweet with crispy edges. They do have a slightly spicier taste to them than a sweet potato though which I really like.

When eaten raw they taste like a cross between a cabbage and a radish with a slightly bitter flavor and a texture much like a potato. Eaten this way you can add them to salads or as a crunchy veggie to munch on.

Are turnips lower-Carb than potatoes?

Turnips are much lower-carb than potatoes. One cup of cubed turnip is about 4.2 g of carbohydrates whereas the same size serving of russet potatoes is 13.5 g of carbs. That is about 1/3 less! Click here for a more in-depth comparison of turnips vs. potatoes.

Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (3)

Ingredients you will need for Turnip fries:

  • 2 lbs turnips
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Low-Fat Chipotle Salsa Dip ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup smooth cottage cheese
  • 1/4 cup salsa
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/4 tsp chipotle chilli powder

How To make French Fried Turnips

To make the chipotle salsa dip simply add all the ingredients to a small bowl and mix well until combined. Serve alongside the air-fried turnips.

Now I am not going to profess that this turnip fries recipe is as good as actual french fries straight out of a fryer. But as a low-carb substitute or healthy snack idea, they hit the spot. Turnips have higher water content and are much less starchy than an actual potato so they will never get as crispy but the sweet flavor and crispy edges when air-fried are really good.

Some of my other favorite healthy snacks with a twist are:

  • Air-Fryer Korean BBQ Cauliflower Wings
  • Snickerdoodle Dessert Hummus
  • Warm Cherry Greek Yogurt Parfait
Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (7)

Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (8)

Air Fryer Turnip Fries

Alisa Infanti | The Delicious Spoon

Turnip – Fries are a healthier twist on a traditional french fry made with nutrient-rich, low-carb turnips and roasted in an air fryer or convection oven.

4.45 from 34 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 25 minutes mins

Total Time 35 minutes mins

Course Appetizer, Side Dish, Snack

Cuisine 21 Day Fix, American

Servings 4 servings

Calories 192 kcal

Equipment

  • Air-Fryer or Convection Oven

  • Air-fryer basket and baking sheet

  • Large Bowl

  • Knife

  • Measuring Cups

  • Measuring Spoons

  • Small Bowl (2)

  • Spoon

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs turnips peeled and sliced to 1/2 inch sticks
  • 2 tbsp cornstarch
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp black pepper

Low-Fat Chipotle Salsa Dip

  • ½ cup smooth cottage cheese
  • ¼ cup salsa
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp chipotle chilli powder

Instructions

  • Preheat air-fryer or convection oven to 450F.

  • Peel and slice turnips to 1/2. Add them to a large bowl and toss with 2 tbsp of cornstarch to lightly coat.

  • In a small bowl add 2 tbsp olive oil, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp paprika, 1/2 tsp onion powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Mix to combine and pour over turnip sticks. Mix well to evenly coat the turnips.

  • Place the turnip pieces in the air-fryer basket and then on top of the baking sheet or likewise in the oven. Air-fry or bake for 20-25 minutes. Turn halfway through and continue cooking until turnip fries are softened and crispy on the edges. Remove from the air-fryer or oven.

  • While the turnip fries are cooking in a small bowl add 1/2 cup of smooth cottage cheese, 1/4 cup salsa, 1/2 tsp garlic powder and 1/4 tsp chipotle chilli powder. Mix well. Serve as a dip for turnip fries.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 18.2gProtein: 10.3gFat: 8.9gSaturated Fat: 1.6gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1.2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5.2gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 546mgPotassium: 598mgFiber: 7.8gSugar: 3.9gVitamin A: 19931IUVitamin C: 41.7mgCalcium: 322mgIron: 4.3mg

Notes

Tips:

  • If using a convection oven you may need to increase the cooking time by about another 5 minutes.
  • Can’t find smooth cottage cheese? Just add the dip ingredients to a small blender and blend until smooth.
  • Turnip fries should be consumed right away so they remain as crispy as possible and any unused dip can be stored in a tightly sealed container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

Please Note:

The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (9)
Air-Fryer Turnip Fries Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why didn t my fries get crispy in air fryer? ›

It's essential that you spread the potatoes in a single layer in the air fryer basket and that you leave a little space between each one. If they're too crowded, the potatoes will steam inside the air fryer, and they won't get crispy. In order to give them adequate space, you'll likely need to work in batches.

What happens if you don t soak potatoes before air frying? ›

While it may seem like a pain, soaking the potatoes in hot water for 10 minutes prior to cooking them in the air fryer is essential. The water removes excess starch, allowing the fries to be their crispiest. Instead of soaking them in large bowl of cold water, I like to use hot water to cook the potatoes slightly.

How to make crispy in air fryer? ›

A drizzle or a quick oil spray is all you need for restaurant-quality fries and golden brown fried chicken, while other foods don't need any oil, like pizza or leftovers you might reheat. Some advocate for spraying the drawer or rack inside the air fryer, and while it doesn't hurt, it's unnecessary.

Why are my fries soggy after air frying? ›

There are a few reasons why your French fries may have ended up soggy when cooking them in the air fryer.
  • Too much oil will cause fries to become soggy when air frying. Just use enough to lightly coat them.
  • They were overcrowded. Make sure to add them in a single layer.
  • They weren't tossed halfway through.
Mar 13, 2023

Why are my vegetables not crispy from the air fryer? ›

Don't overcrowd your insert, or else the air fried veggies will turn out mushy. Go light on the oil. Too much, and the vegetables will become oversaturated and not crisp up.

Why are my homemade fries never crispy? ›

If they are still not crispy you might have skipped a step or you might not have let them cool down sufficiently. Make sure to cool them in a single even layer and also make sure that the oil has the right temperature. Or maybe you've used the wrong potatoes to make them.

Can you put raw potato in the air fryer? ›

Uses less oil than deep-frying: Cooking raw potatoes in an air fryer uses a fraction of the oil as deep frying, but they come out tasting amazing! Easy to make: Simply wash and cut your potatoes, toss them with oil and spices, and add them to your air fryer. They cook up fast and easy!

Do I add oil to fries in air fryer? ›

Put the potatoes into a dry bowl and add oil, salt, and any other seasonings you like. Stir well until they are coated. Air fry in batches. Preheat the air fryer and “fry” those fries until they are golden brown.

Why are my potatoes still hard in air fryer? ›

Not preheating the air fryer

Air fryers might not serve quite the same function as a traditional oven, but they have a fair amount of crossover in how they operate. For instance, preheating your air fryer much the same way you'd preheat your oven might be the secret to ensuring a crispy, savory potato.

What cannot be cooked in air fryer? ›

7 Foods You Should Never Cook In Your Air Fryer
  1. Wet Batters. Those beer-battered onion rings, fries, fish cutlets, plus tempura veggies and more are not well suited for a crisp in the air fryer. ...
  2. Cheesy Items. ...
  3. Large, Bone-In Meat Cuts. ...
  4. Baked Goods. ...
  5. Greens. ...
  6. Raw Rice and Other Grains. ...
  7. Too Much of Anything.
Apr 14, 2023

Where do you put oil in an air fryer? ›

Only add oil to the ingredients and not directly in the pan of your airfryer. Pre-fried food such as frozen French fries, chicken nuggets, spring rolls, etc. do not need extra oil. Please do not use cold-pressed oil since it would burn at high temperatures.

Do you preheat air fryer for fries? ›

Method
  1. Soak the potatoes: Scrub the potatoes clean and slice them long ways, 1/4 to 1/2-inch thick. ...
  2. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 390°F for about 15 minutes.
  3. Dry and season potatoes: Remove the potatoes from the bowl and lay them out on a paper towel or clean kitchen towel. ...
  4. Air fry the potatoes: ...
  5. Serve:

Should you salt fries before or after air frying? ›

You'll get a chance to add more salt and pepper after your fries have cooked in the air fryer. While it's nice to have the salt and pepper flavor 'cook in' to your fries, if you oversalt at the beginning, then you're stuck with it when it comes time to plate. Now, stick your fries into the air fryer and cook!

How full can you fill an air fryer? ›

Don't fill it up too full

Tempting as it may be to fill the basket with an economy-size bag of sweet potato fries, don't fill it more than halfway full. This, plus periodically shaking the basket, will help air circulate around the food and reach every piece, giving you the absolute best results.

Why aren t my potatoes crispy in the air fryer? ›

👩‍🍳PRO TIP Use a shallow tray insert, so the potatoes are in contact with the oil (instead of the oil draining through the air fryer basket holes) – this will result in crispier potatoes.

Why aren t my air fried potatoes crispy? ›

Tips For The Best Air Fryer Potatoes

Don't crowd the air fryer basket. Air should be able to circulate around the potatoes to make them crisp. Overcrowding the potatoes in the basket will cause uneven cooking. Make them in batches if you need to.

Why are my air fryer potatoes not crispy? ›

Why are my air fryer potatoes not crispy? You may have left some moisture on the potatoes before air frying. Be sure to dry the potatoes really well before adding oil and seasoning. Also, potatoes differ from one another.

Why won t my french fries get crispy? ›

Soggy fries have usually either been cooked in oil that isn't hot enough, or were cooked in too large a batch, overcrowding the pan and reducing the heat. The secret to getting tasty French fries that are crisp on the outside and nice and fluffy on the inside is to fry them twice.

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