Greek Fries (Patates Tiganites With Feta)

These Greek Fries are made with golden potatoes and seasoned with Mediterranean flavors like olive oil, oregano, and feta cheese, these fries are the perfect snack or side dish. Plus, they’re easy to make and packed with flavor. Keep reading for the full recipe and step-by-step instructions.

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If you love fries, this Greek fries recipe is a healthier twist to classic French fries. While classic fries are fried in oil (or in your air fryer), Greek fries are baked in the oven. It uses way less oil than fried fries but they still come out very crispy on the outside and tender inside, as fries should be.

Greek fries are called Patates Tiganites (or patates tinganita), which translates to fried potatoes. It’s typically served with fresh or dried herbs and tzatziki sauce. Plus, they are roasted with the healthier, high-smoke point avocado oil to boost your healthy fat intake.

Ingredients and Substitutions

All you need to make a batch of these tasty appetizer, or sides are:

• Yukon Gold Potatoes – You can also use russet potatoes or roasting potatoes. You can peel them off or keep the skin on for extra fiber and texture, as seen in my pictures below.
• Avocado Oil – This is the best oil to roast vegetables at high temperatures. Avocado oil has a high smoke point which means it’s stable at high temperatures. It won’t smoke or turn into unhealthy fats. However, if you prefer, you can also roast potato fries with extra virgin olive oil.
• Salt – Go easy on salt especially if your feta cheese is high in sodium.
• Garlic Powder – or fresh crushed garlic.
• Dried Oregano – or rosemary.

To top the warm crispy fries you will need:

• Feta Cheese – Make sure you use feta cheese that is low sodium to avoid an overpowering salty flavor in any dish calling for feta. A good range is 400mg to 500mg of sodium per 100 grams. Any feta cheese with more is too salty to cook with, or decreases the salt in the recipe in advance to prevent too much salty flavors in the recipe.
• Freshly Chopped Red Onion
• Freshly Chopped Parsley
• Cherry Tomatoes chopped finely

How To Make Baked Greek Fries

Greek fries, also called feta fries, are delicious oven-baked fries topped with feta cheese and a bunch of other Mediterranean flavors.

1. First, wash the potato, and rub off any dirt or dust. Dry them with a clean kitchen towel then place them on a chopping board and slice them into thin slices lengthwise.
2. Next, cut each slice into fries of the same size. Feel free to make small or larger fries based on your liking. The most important thing here is to cut the fries into the same size so they all roast at the same rate.
3. Place the fries in a large bowl, cover with cold water, and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes. This step extracts the surface starches from potatoes, it’s optional, and you can skip it if you don’t have time.
4. Now, place the fries in a sieve over the sink to drain the water. Next, place a large clean kitchen towel on the benchtop, place a small batch of fries, and rub to dry them completely. Watch out. If you don’t dry the fries well, they won’t get crispy! So take the extra time for this step.
5. Return the fries to a large bowl, adding avocado oil and spices. Stir to coat all the fries with the oil mixture.
6. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Line the fries into a single layer onto each baking sheet pan.
7. Bake for 20 minutes at 395°F (200°C), switching the tray half way through baking.
8. Next, increase the temperature to 420°F (220°C) and keep baking the fries for an extra 15 to 20 minutes or until golden and crispy. The cooking time can vary slightly depending on how well calibrated your oven is.
9. If you prefer to air fry the fries, preheat the air fryer to 395°F (200°C). Fill the basket up to half of its level, not more. Then, air fry for 35-40 minutes, shaking the basket every 5 minutes after 20 minutes. Stop air frying when they are golden brown and crispy. If working in batches (for small air fryer baskets), set aside the air-fried crispy fries on a baking sheet and keep them warm in an oven preheated to 210°F (100°C). Meanwhile, air fry the remaining batch.

Serving Greek Fries

Place the crispy baked fries on a large plate. Now, it’s time to load the fries. What makes Greek fries unique is the little squeeze of fresh lemon juice on top of them. Don’t overdo it, or the fries will get soggy. It’s all about drizzling a few teaspoons.

Next, in a small bowl, stir crumbled feta cheese with some extra virgin olive oil and dried rosemary. Finally, sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese, fresh parsley, chopped tomatoes, and chopped red onions all over the fries.

Eat immediately plain or with some creamy dipping sauce like some of the suggestions below.

Carine’s Tips For The Best Greek Fries

You can make this recipe perfectly every time by following these 5 simple tips.

• Use waxy potatoes, like Yukon gold, for a smoother texture and sweeter flavor.
• Soak the potatoes in hot water for 30 minutes before baking to remove excess starch and help them become crispy on the outside.
• Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on an oiled sheet pan to ensure even cooking.
• Flavor the Greek fries immediately while they’re hot with toppings such as feta cheese, red onion, and fresh parsley.
• Serve immediately while they’re still hot and crispy.

Sauce For Greek Fries

There’s an infinity of sauces you can serve with loaded fries. But, the best combinations of Mediterranean flavors are:

• Vegan Tzatziki
• Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip

Other ideas to drizzle on top, that are not conventional and authentic but so good are:

• Homemade Ketchup
• Hot Sauce
• Chili Flakes
• Sea Salt – Use only if the feta is not salty enough.
• Ground Pepper

Best Dish Pairing

These fries are great appetizers but also a nice side dish to any egg or meat-based meal. Below are some recipe ideas to serve with feta fries.

• Greek Chicken Breast – using my Greek chicken marinade
• Cast-Iron Chicken Breast
• Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders
• Turkish Eggs

Allergy Swaps

Below I listed some options to make these homemade baked fries even if you have food allergies.

• Dairy-Free – You can use dairy-free feta cheese but watch out! They are often higher in sodium. As a result, I recommend skipping the salt in the oil mixture to avoid too much salt in your dish.
• Low-Carb – Use a low-carb potato variety or rutabagas. The latter won’t crisp as much.
• Lemon Swap – You can try lime juice or skip if you have a citrus allergy.
• Parsley can be replaced with mint, dill, or a combination of the three.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are my answers to your most common questions about Greek Fries.

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