Top Tasty Fries Around the World

fries

Fries can be topped heavily or exotically too. For instance, while adding a layer of melted cheese or a spicy chilli is common, garlic crab French fries using top quality succulent crab meat are gaining popularity. Who knows, maybe someday soon we will eat fries covered in caviar too. As these humble potatoes transform into a dish that so many of us love dearly, Caroline Statile criss-crossed the globe to find out how fries are being prepared and eaten.

Today, we will share with you the top pasty fries around the world.

Poutine, Canada

Poutine, Canada

Hailing from the province of Quebec, these thick-cut fries are served hot and topped with cheese curds, a Canadian food staple made from the solid part of curdled milk. For the final touch, a savoury brown gravy is drizzled on top. Other variations include adding sausage, chicken, bacon, or Montreal-style smoked meat. Tasty and comforting, Poutine is so popular that you can even buy them at McDonald’s across Canada.

Masala Chips, Kenya

Potato is one of the most consumed produce in Kenya and many Kenyans love Masala chips, fries that come smothered in a spicy tomato sauce. The sauce is typically made from tomato and garlic paste, along with a blend of spices such as garam masala, chillies, and turmeric. To finish off the dish, tangy lemon juice is squeezed on top.

 

Patatas Bravas, SpainPatatas Bravas

A classic tapa dish, Patatas Bravas are cubed fries covered in a sauce which differs depending on the area in Spain. In Burgos, the sauce is typically tomato-based with added spices to give it bite. In Valencia or Catalonia, the sauce is made from olive oil, garlic, red pepper and vinegar. If you ever go to Madrid, check out Las Bravas which even patented their secret sauce in 1960.

Salchipapas, Peru

Sausage and fries are always a winning combination and Salchipapas are just that – the fries come mixed with thinly sliced pan-fried beef sausages and a side of salsa or coleslaw. The dish is also served with an array of sauces: ketchup, mayonnaise, crema de aceituna (olive sauce), and aji (chilli peppers). Though originating in Lima, Peru, this dish has become a classic street food throughout Latin America.

Patatje oorlog, Netherlands

The Dutch love Indonesian food, so much so that they use the sauce and topping for satay (peanut sauce and raw onions) for fries as well. Called Patatie oorlog or “war chips,” this common street food in the Netherlands typically comes piled high in a paper cone. Along with peanut sauce and raw onions, a dollop of mayonnaise is added for extra creaminess. Yum!

Curry Chips, UK & Ireland

Curry Chips, UK & Ireland

Don’t expect to find this in India. Curry chips (curry fries) are unique to the UK and Ireland whose residents frequently voted curry as their number 1 dish. The curry here is known as ‘Chip Shop Curry’, referring to the British version of curry that you get from some Fish ‘n Chips shops. Pour the curry all over thick-cut chips, serve it with a piece of fried fish or on its own; this dish is a favourite among Brits and Irish.

Slap Chips, South Africa

South Africans keep their fries simple, with vinegar serving as the star component of the dish. To begin, thickly cut potatoes are soaked in a vinegar bath to give them a tangy taste. Next, they are fried twice to ensure that each batch is crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Bratkartoffeln, Germany

Crispy bacon and sautéed onions are combined with pan-fried potato wedges to create this German dish. It’s topped with salt, pepper, and often fresh parsley.

Khoai tây chiên, Vietnam

Forget the notion that fries are supposed to be savoury. In Vietnam, fries are dipped in butter and then swirled in white sugar – soft and sweet, great to go with a cup of Vietnamese coffee.