These Greek style fries are phenomenal. Not only do they remind me of our trip to Greece, they’re also a copycat version of the fries we used to get at Opa!, one of our favorite restaurants in the Bay Area. It took a little tweaking at home, and I baked them instead of frying because, well, I can at least pretend to try to make healthier choices every now and then, but these are super close to those wonderful Opa! fries. The feta melts just a little bit, the lemon juice brightens things up, and the fresh garlic and herbs bring the whole thing home for a fantastic side dish with marinated chicken or Greek meatballs. Serve them as is or with a creamy tzatziki sauce or mustard sauce for dipping.
What You’ll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Potatoes – We typically use Russet potatoes or Yukon gold potatoes for our Greek fries because we like the flavor and texture best. Oil – Olive oil or vegetable oil are both good choices for crispy homemade Greek fries. Kosher salt Freshly ground pepper Lemon Garlic cloves – While I like the extra punch of the raw garlic on these, you could totally use some roasted garlic instead if you want a more mellow garlic flavor. Dried oregano – You can use fresh if you happen to have it in your garden or on your windowsill, but there’s no need to go out and buy it! Fresh parsley Feta cheese crumbles
How Do You Get Crispy Fries in the Oven?
You are totally welcome to make homemade French fries by frying them in oil if that works for you. But if you haven’t tried doing fries in the oven before, here are some pointers for oven-baked fries that are crispy on the outside and soft inside:
1. Use a Hot Pan
A common problem when roasting potatoes in the oven is that they have a tendency to stick to the pan and fall apart when you flip or serve them. Preheating the pan with a few tablespoons of the oil helps make it so the potatoes don’t stick and they develop a nice, crispy crust on the cut side that is laying directly against the pan.
2. Don’t Crowd the Pan
Leave a little space between the potatoes or use 2 separate pans if possible. Definitely only cook the fries in a single layer. This will help them cook evenly and get a little more crispy.
3. Cut Your Fries to Be the Same Size
If some of your fries are thicker than others, they are going to take longer to cook through and you will end up either overcooking the smaller fries or undercooking the larger fries. Using a mandoline or a fry cutter can really help with this, but if you have the knife skills, then by all means, go ahead and slice your fries with a large knife. And you can leave the skin on if you like, which I definitely do, or peel them if that’s what you prefer.
4. Soak Your Fries
After cutting your fries, let them soak in a large bowl full of cold water for at least 30 minutes, or up to 1 hour, so some of the starch can leech out of the potatoes. I try to do this whether I am baking fries or frying them in oil. After they have soaked, be sure to dry them well on a paper towel so they don’t steam in the oven. This process of soaking and drying your cut fries will help the potatoes get crispier.
5. Leave Them Alone
Handle the fries as little as possible. No need to flip them over and over. Just once, halfway through the cooking time, will do the trick. More than that and the potatoes will start to fall apart and won’t be able to develop the nice, crispy, crusty brown exterior that makes them so, so delectable.
How to Make Baked Greek Feta Fries
Get ready for the most flavorful fries you’ve ever had! Here’s what you’ll need to do. Cut and soak the potatoes. Wash the potatoes and slice them in half lengthwise, then slice again, and again, as needed to create even sizes. Place the potatoes in a large bowl of ice water for 30 to 60 minutes, then drain and pat dry the cut potatoes with paper towels. Prepare. Preheat your oven to 450ºF. Pour 2 tablespoons of the olive oil onto a baking sheet and place it in the oven to get hot. Drizzle the potato slices with the remaining olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Bake. Remove the hot pan from the oven just before the oil starts smoking. Arrange the fries in a single layer, then return the pan to the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, turning the fries at the 20 minute mark so they get crispy on both sides. Finish. When the fries are soft on the inside and brown and crispy on the outside, remove them from the oven and place them on a serving plate. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over them, then sprinkle oregano, garlic, parsley, and feta over the top. Serve. Cut the remaining lemon into wedges for serving. Taste and add more salt if needed, then serve immediately, family-style.
Tips for Success
Greek Feta Fries are easy to make, but these simple tips will help make sure they turn out perfect!
Don’t skip the soaking. Russets are a starchy potato, so they really benefit from that time in the ice water to get some of the excess starch out. Take the time to dry the potatoes, too. If there’s water dripping off of them, it will create oil spatters when you put them onto the hot sheet pan. Coat them evenly. It’s fun to have a pile of seasonings on top, but you also want to make sure the bottom layer of fries is just as flavorful! You can add half of the seasonings, gently toss the fries on the serving plate to coat them, then add the rest.
Serving Suggestions
Round out your Greek-inspired feast by trying our Baked Greek Feta Meatballs, Greek Marinade, Greek Tzatziki Sauce, and Greek Baklava. You can go wrong with pairing your Baked Greek Feta Fries with a Juicy Grilled Turkey Burgers and a Greek salad either!
Variations and Substitutions
Add lemon zest. If you want even more bright lemon flavor, consider zesting the lemon before juicing it and sprinkling the lemon zest over the fries as well. Sprinkle with Greek seasoning or use fresh Greek herbs for even more flavor. Add some chopped red onion. If the red onions are too strong, try soaking the chopped onion in cold water for 10 minutes before draining and sprinkling over the fries for some extra kick. Sweet potatoes. You can make these Greek fries using sweet potatoes, even if it’s not traditional. We love sweet potato fries though and they taste fantastic with all the same herbs, garlic, and cheese.
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
These Baked Greek Feta Fries are best enjoyed fresh and hot out of the oven. However, if you happen to have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. To reheat, simply place them on a baking sheet and heat in a 400ºF oven or air fryer for 5-10 minutes until they’re warmed through. They will not be as crispy as they were when they were first made, but they will still be delicious.
Can This Recipe Be Frozen?
No, this isn’t a recipe that freezes well. If you’re looking for a freezer-friendly side dish that can be made in advance, try my Corn Fritters.
More Appetizer Recipes You’ll Enjoy
Baked Greek Feta Meatballs Patacones or Tostones (Fried Green Plantains) Oven Roasted Barbecue Potato Wedges
This post was originally published in October, 2016. The photos and content were updated in July, 2022.
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