Crispy Japanese Sweet Potato Fries made in the air fryer in about 30 minutes. Easy, flavorful seasoning, simple steps, and great for snacking.
I wanted to make these fries in the air fryer because it's convenient and easy to handle. Recently, I have switched from conventional deep-fried dishes to air fryer recipes.
This one has been the most successful (along with my Chinese French Fries), and I'm excited to share this recipe with you all.
I hope you like it too. Feel free to customize and tweak the recipe to your preference.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
⭐️ Crispy fries in the air fryer with just 1 tablespoon of oil.
⭐️ You can easily adjust the heat to your preference!
⭐️ Best of all, it's super easy to make.
What Are Japanese Sweet Potatoes?
It's a variety of sweet potato that's native to Japan. It usually has deep purple skin and pale cream-colored flesh that turns creamy yellow once cooked.
You can find them in most grocery stores and Asian or Indian stores.
Ingredients
- Japanese Sweet Potatoes have purple skin and are usually smaller and more slender than regular sweet potatoes. Cut them into ¼-inch-thick long strips. A mandoline or food processor helps you get even cuts.
- Olive Oil: You can use other cooking oils, such as coconut or grapeseed.
- Spice Mix: Use sea salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika (optional), and roasted red pepper flakes. Feel free to adjust the quantities according to your heat tolerance.
How To Make Japanese Sweet Potato Fries?
- Step 1. In a large bowl, add the sweet potato strips, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and red pepper flakes.
- Step 2. Toss to coat the sweet potato strips with the spice blend.
- Step 3. Set your air fryer to 375°F and place the fries in a single layer. Air fry for 15-20 minutes, shaking halfway through, until the edges turn crispy.
- Step 4. Remove from the air fryer and serve immediately with a spicy dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Cooking Times by Cut Size
My pick is ¼-inch thin-cut fries, with crispy edges and a soft, light center. If you like yours thinner or thicker, use this chart.
Keep the air fryer at 375°F, cook in a single layer, shake the basket halfway, and check a few minutes early, since every air fryer cooks a little differently.
- Shoestring fries (⅛ inch): 10-12 minutes. Very thin and crispy.
- Thin-cut fries (¼ inch): 15-20 minutes. Crispy, with a light center.
- Regular fries (⅜ inch): 18-22 minutes. Crispy outside, tender inside.
- Thick-cut fries (½ inch): 20-25 minutes. Crisp outside, fluffy inside.
- Steak fries (¾ inch): 25-30 minutes. Golden on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside.
♨️How To Adjust The Spice Level?
These roasted sweet potatoes are moderately hot, meaning there is some noticeable spiciness, but the heat is balanced with the sweet potatoes' natural sweetness.
- You can make these sweet potatoes mild or medium-hot by simply adjusting the quantity of the roasted red flakes.
- If you're not sure how many red pepper flakes you need, start with a small pinch and add more as needed.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Cutting is Key: Slice the sweet potatoes evenly into ¼-inch strips so they cook evenly and get crispy. If you cut them thinner or thicker, check the cooking times chart above.
- Tossing Halfway Through. Shake Halfway Through: Shake the air fryer basket once or twice during cooking to ensure the fries cook evenly. If you skip this, some fries can burn while others stay soft.
- Marination: For the best flavors, allow the fries to marinate for 10 to 15 minutes.
Storage & Reheating
These fries are best eaten as soon as they are made. Once they cool down, the sweet potato fries lose their crispiness. However, you can follow these steps to store them longer.
- Reheating: Reheat in the oven or air fryer at 375°F for 5 to 7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through for even crispiness.
- Refrigerator: Store spicy Japanese fries in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days.
- Freezing: To freeze efficiently, spread the fries on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 to 2 hours until they have a solid texture. Then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag. You can store them for up to two months.
What To Serve With?
- Dips: Sweet potato fries and a creamy, spicy dip are made for each other. Try them with Sriracha Aioli, or Ginger Aioli for a Japanese touch. Find more ideas in my spicy dip recipes.
- Chicken and Fish: Serve them next to Cajun Chicken Breast, grilled chicken, or baked salmon for an easy dinner plate.
- Wraps and Sandwiches: These fries go great with Spicy Shrimp Rolls, a chicken wrap, or your favorite burger.
- Salads: Pair them with a Spicy Kani Salad or a simple green salad for a lighter meal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can leave the skin on or remove it, whichever you prefer. If you're leaving the skin on, thoroughly wash the sweet potatoes under running water to remove dirt.
Absolutely! The same recipe can be used in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400°F and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes. For a crispy texture, broil the fries for the last 2 to 3 minutes.
Cut the fries thin and the same size, so they cook evenly. Spread them in a single layer and don't crowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed. Shake the basket halfway through, then cook until the edges look crispy.
📖 Recipe
Japanese Sweet Potato Fries (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
- 2 Japanese sweet potatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika optional
- ½ teaspoon roasted red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Wash the sweet potatoes well. Peel them if you like, or leave the skin on.
- Cut them into ¼-inch-thick, long, even-sized fries.
- To a large bowl, add the sweet potato strips, olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, and roasted red pepper flakes.
- Toss until the sweet potato strips are evenly coated with the spices.
- Set your air fryer to 375°F.
- Place the sweet potato fries in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Work in batches if needed.
- Air fry for 15-20 minutes or until the edges turn crispy, shaking the basket halfway through.
- Remove the fries from the air fryer and serve immediately with your spicy dipping sauce.
Notes
- Cut size: This recipe uses ¼-inch fries. Thinner or thicker fries need different times. See the cut-size chart in the post.
- Heat: Use less red pepper flakes for mild fries, or more for extra heat.
- Oven: Bake at 400°F for 25-30 minutes, then broil for the last 2-3 minutes.
- Storage: Keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat at 375°F for 5-7 minutes.
- Flavor tip (optional): Let the seasoned fries rest for 10-15 minutes before air frying for more flavor.
