Craving crispy fries but trying to stick to a low-carb lifestyle? Look no further than Keto Avocado Fries! This recipe transforms creamy avocado into a satisfying treat with a perfectly seasoned, crunchy coating. Whether you air fry or bake them, these fries are a fantastic appetizer, snack, or side dish that will quickly become a new favorite.
Why Avocado Fries?
These keto-friendly avocado fries offer a delightful combination of textures and flavors. The crispy breading gives way to a soft, warm, and creamy avocado center, making them irresistible. They're also a great way to incorporate healthy fats into your diet.
Ingredients You'll Need
- Avocado: Choose firm, ripe avocados. Smaller Hass avocados are recommended.
- Almond Flour: Finely ground almond flour is essential for the best results. Do not substitute with almond meal.
- Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated or pre-grated parmesan cheese from the refrigerator section works well.
- Eggs: Used for the egg wash.
- Lemon Juice: Helps prevent the avocado from browning and cuts down on bitterness.
- Garlic Powder: Adds a savory flavor.
- Sriracha (optional): For a spicy kick in the dipping sauce.
- Mayonnaise: Forms the base of the dipping sauce.
- Pork Panko (optional): For extra crispy fries, use pork panko crumbs.
- Cajun Seasoning (optional): Add some spice.
- Olive Oil or Avocado Oil Spray: To help crisp up the fries.
- Optional additions: Onion powder, salt.
Preparing the Avocado
- Slicing: Slice the avocado in half around the pit using a chef's knife. Remove the pit. Cut each half into ½-inch thick wedges. Gently peel the skin off each wedge. You should be able to get around 14 slices per avocado.
- Lemon Juice (Optional): To minimize bitterness, gently toss the avocado slices with lemon juice in a bowl to coat them evenly.
Keto Breading Options
There are a few ways to create the low-carb breading for these fries:
Option 1: Almond Flour and Parmesan Cheese
- In a shallow bowl, combine almond flour, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder.
Option 2: Almond Flour, Pork Panko, and Cajun Seasoning
- Prepare three dipping bowls.
- Bowl 1: Mix almond flour, cajun seasoning, and salt.
- Bowl 2: Whisk eggs and water.
- Bowl 3: If using pork rinds, add the pork rinds to a blender and pulse until a panko-style breadcrumb is formed.
Option 3: Food Processor Method
- Add almond flour and cheese to a food processor and pulse until evenly mixed and the parmesan cheese resembles coarse grains of sand. Pour into a medium bowl.
Breading the Avocado Fries
- Egg Wash: In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs and lemon juice together.
- Dredging:
- Carefully dip the avocado slices into the egg mixture, ensuring they are fully coated. Shake off any excess egg drippings back into the egg bowl before adding it to the breading. This prevents the breading from clumping.
- Transfer the egg-coated avocado to the almond flour mixture or pork rind mixture.
- Gently coat the avocado with the breading, pressing the coating onto the sides to help it adhere. An alternative method is to place the avocado slice onto a small mound of breading, applying a little pressure so those breading sticks to the bottom of the avocado. Then sprinkle breading over the surface of the avocado, until it is coated in crumbs. Use your fingers to gently press the breading onto the avocado so that it sticks. This method works better than rolling the avocado in breading.
- Arranging: Place the breaded avocado fries in a single layer in the air fryer basket or on a prepared baking sheet, making sure they do not overlap or touch.
Cooking Methods
Air Fryer
- Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.
- Prepare: Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Cook: Place the coated avocado fries in the air fryer basket. Spray the avocado with avocado oil or olive oil. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and crispy.
Oven
- Preheat: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Prepare: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Arrange: Transfer the coated avocado fries to the prepared baking sheet.
- Cook: Spray the avocado slices with cooking spray. Place the baking sheet in the oven and cook for 16 to 20 minutes, until golden brown and crispy.
Dipping Sauce
While the avocado fries are cooking, prepare the dipping sauce:
- Spicy Mayonnaise: In a small bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, Sriracha (or your favorite hot sauce), and garlic powder.
- Sour Cream and Lime: Mix a 1/2 cup of sour cream and juice from half a lime. You can also add paprika, chili powder, or hot sauce to the dip.
Tips for the Best Avocado Fries
- Avocado Ripeness: Use avocados that are firm but not rock hard. Slightly underripe avocados are easier to work with and will soften as they cook.
- Crispiness: Ensure the fries are not overcrowded in the air fryer or on the baking sheet to allow for even cooking and maximum crispiness. Spritzing the fries with oil during cooking also helps.
- Serving: Avocado fries are best served immediately while they are still crispy and warm.
- Breading: For an even coating, consider making the breading in a food processor. If you do not have a food processor, make sure to finely grate the parmesan cheese until they are the size of grains of sand.
- Don’t skip the step of flipping halfway through.
Serving Suggestions
Keto Avocado Fries make a fabulous appetizer, snack, or gluten-free side dish. They pair well with simple main dishes. Here are a few serving ideas:
Read also: Easy Low-Carb Cheese Crackers
- As an Appetizer: Serve with a variety of dipping sauces for guests to choose from.
- As a Side Dish: Complement grilled chicken, fish, or burgers.
- As a Snack: Enjoy them on their own for a satisfying and healthy snack.
- Bacon-Wrapped: Wrap slices of bacon around sliced wedges of fresh avocado and bake in the oven until the bacon is nice and crispy.
Reheating Leftovers
While best served fresh, you can reheat leftover avocado fries in the air fryer to regain some crispiness. Store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Variations and Substitutions
- Coconut Flour: Substitute almond flour with coconut flour, but adjust the quantity as coconut flour is more absorbent. Start with a quarter of the amount and increase as needed.
- Sunflower Seeds or Hemp Hearts: Use crushed sunflower seeds or hemp hearts as a substitute for pork rinds. Season them well to enhance the flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour and Panko Breadcrumbs: If you're not following a keto diet, use all-purpose flour and panko breadcrumbs instead of almond flour and pork rinds.
Are Avocados Low Carb?
Avocados are considered low carb. An entire cup of avocados only has about 8 and a half carbs in it.
Nutritional Information
These avocado fries are low in carbs and high in healthy fats, making them a great choice for those following a keto diet.
Note: The nutrition information provided is an estimate based on an online nutritional calculator and does not include cooking oil spray. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe.
Read also: Keto Calorie Counting: A Detailed Guide
Read also: Magnesium Supplements for Keto