Ever since our burger cooking class at the Four Seasons a few weeks ago, I’ve been craaaaving sweet potato fries. The fries we had that night weren’t just any ordinary sweet potato fries. The seasoning used on them and the dipping sauces they were served with were almost life-changing. And, of course, because I was so enamored by them (read: I most likely blacked out from the deliciousness), I forgot to ask the chef how they were prepared.
So, I decided to make my own unique sweet potato fries. Which, in no way, resemble the kind we had at the Four Seasons, but my goal was to just make something a little different than a standard sweet potato fry 
I first found a recipe from Bobby Flay for Grilled Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Fries, but instead of grilling them I decided to bake them. And I changed the measurements because his served six. And although I’m not shy to admit I could have inhaled six servings of sweet potato fries, I decided to take it down a notch.
Garlic and Herb Sweet Potato Fries (serves 2):
Adapted from Bobby Flay
• 2 large sweet potatoes, cut into fries
• salt
• 1 large egg white (not pictured)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes (or to your liking)
• 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley (more on the contraption my parsley is stored in at the end of the post!)
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
In a small mixing bowl, combine the egg white, salt, garlic, thyme, and red chili flakes and lightly whisk.
Place sweet potato fries on a baking sheet and lightly toss with olive oil.
Pour the egg white mixture over the fries and with your hands, gently toss until all fries are coated with egg mixture.
Bake for about 35-40 minutes, or until crispy. Sprinkle with parsley and a tad more salt.
I would have liked mine to be a bit more crispy but they started sticking to the baking pan so I took them out a little earlier. However, this didn’t compromise the flavor at all, as I still ate the entire pan a healthy serving size.
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So now, a little about Prepara’s Herb-Savor.
My roommate bought me this for Christmas last year and it’s one of my newest favorite things. You see, it was also one of Oprah‘s favorite things last winter, and my roommate, who had only moved in a few months before the holidays, already knew me well enough to know I will gladly accept anything Oprah recommends
The Herb-Savor ($29.95) is a contraption that preserves your herbs in the refrigerator for about three weeks. I’d always buy herbs and within a few days they’d be shriveled up in the bottom of the fridge which, overtime, equals a huge waste of money. With the Herb-Savor, all you do is add some water in the base, add your herbs in so the stems are just touching the water, and voila, all done! The contraption also fits beautifully on the door of the fridge or on any shelf.
I’m in l.o.v.e.
And as I’m typing this, I just decided to do an impromptu giveaway. Basically because I hate being like “Oooh, look at this cool thing I have. It’s the best and I can’t live without it! The end.” I want you guys to be able to enjoy what I love, too! So, leave a comment on this post and tell me either why you need an Herb-Savor or what you do to prolong the life of your herbs (keep it clean, kids!). Tweet about the giveaway for and extra vote. Become a fan of us We are not Martha on Facbeook and I’ll add in another vote, too… just be sure to let me know in the comments of this post that you’re a new FB fan!
Leave your comment by Friday, April 29th at 11:59 EST and I’ll announce the randomly selected winner at the beginning of next week! Good Luck!
[Chels]
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I always end up throwing away cilantro and Basil – sooooo sad, that I live minutes from Russo’s means I buy herbs fresh all the time and then am VERY sad when I don’t use them! I try to wash my herbs and wrap them in paper towels to save them… but then I can’t see them and won’t use them out of laziness. This seems like a great tool to save BF from exploding at me fro waster herbs!
I need an herb-savor for two reason. 1.) I’ve eaten browning slimy basil one too many times, and 2.) while trying to avoid this, I went out and bought basil seeds which have failed to grow yet – it’s been months. GIVEN UP HOPE – HELP!
FB-ed you too!
Cooking for just two usually means I have an abundance of leftover herbs at some point or another. Sometimes I try to freeze them but they are never the same. An herb-savor would be the perfect thing to have!
Just liked you on FB too!
I’ve tried everything to save my herbs….I’ve even stuck them kind of in water in the fridge. I’ve also attempted to grow my own herbs in my tiny little apartment, which failed. So this herb saver would be extremely useful to me. I used fresh herbs in almost all of my dishes. It definitely takes these dishes up a notch! Thanks for the opportunity.
I already liked you guys on FB and am following on twitter!!
Oh. Em. Gee. I WANT. I’ve hated how much $$ I’ve wasted on herbs that are useless after a couple days that I’ve planted an herb garden this year so hopefully I’ll have a bunch that I’ll need to keep fresh!
I need an herb-savor since I threw away 3 bags of basil last night that I purchased 3 days ago and had already gone bad. I was really looking forward to the pesto I was going to make
I am a fan on FB and I will definitely re-tweet this. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
I always end up throwing away extra herbs that have gone bad! The quantities that they are sold in are too big!
Oooh I love sweet potato fries so much I want to take them behind the middle school and get them pregnant! Really, anything with sweet potato (or pumpkin or butternut squash). I’m going to have to try this recipe, stat!
With our hectic travel schedule, my husband and I could definitely use this little herb contraption–we’re forever buying sage, cilantro, rosemary, etc. and then only having time to use it for one meal as we’re on the road again; when we return home, of course, it’s inevitably bad!
I typically put my herbs in a small cup of water after I buy them, and that helps a little (maybe gives them an extra day or so). I’d love to have an extra week of herb use, especially for cilantro!
And I can’t wait to make these fries!
What an awesome recipe! I’m forwarding this to my Mom- shes been working on perfecting her sweet potato fry recipe lately. The herb -savor sounds AWESOME! I am really terrible about buying herbs and not storing them properly and having them been done with after one use! This would save me some major $$
Those sweet potato fries look fantastic!
Liked on FB! How had I not done that before???
Ugh, I am the worst with keeping fresh herbs! I usually store them too wet in a bag and they get all icky. What a great idea this is!
Laura
I do nothing and it’s an issue! Dead herbs, all the time!
OMG! I made those last night! Almost the same recipe, but I just winged it. Sweet Potato fries are SOOO damn good. I think next time I want to use cayenne and a little brown sugar.
So, I NEED one of those herb saver things specifically for cilantro. I have a garden, but my cilantro always goes right to seed, so I end up having to buy it at the store…but it comes in a huge bundle that you can never use in a week, and by then I pick up the bag from the veggie drawer in the fridge and its all wilty and slimy. Ew! This little contraption would save so much money…and so much cilantro!
xo
Candice
1. Your take on bobby flays fries looks great! I microwave a sweet potato for dinner about every other night, so this looks like a necessary change to my repertoire.
2. I would cherish the herb saver because I am often just cooking recipes for two and I only use a small bit of basil or cilantro, and then in two days the bunch is shriveled and not fit for another recipe.
I liked you on Facebook! And I’d love to save precious herbs. They are the absolute best for taking recipes up a notch!
I definitely need that – we have killed every herb that has come into our apartment! Such a waste:-(
i LOVE those things! i mean, i love them since i’ve seen them online/in real simple. they look aweeesome and i totally just blogged about them the other day! i want one!! i have some green bags that keep herbs a little longer. i usually keep them fresh for week or less and then freeze them, b/c frozen “fresh” herbs are still better than dried!! (well i think so). also those sweet potato fries look AWESOME. i always have an issue with them not being crispy enough for the hubby.
and i’m a new FB fan. and i’m sorry, because i don’t know why i wasn’t a fan before. but also, this gives me an extra entry, so i guess that works
I have to say, I have my own makeshift solution which has been working pretty well. I wet a cloth napkin until just barely moist, wrap my herbs inside, and stick in a big storage bag. So far it’s worked pretty well.
I always want to buy fresh herbs but when I do and need them for only one recipe I forget about them and find them rotten a couple of weeks later sadly alone and unused. Having this would be great because I would have a handy place to store them and I will use them in additional recipes down the road! Fresh rosemary from Easter weekend I am looking at you!!!
I stick them in a 1 quart container filled with an inch of water and covered loosely with a produce bag. It’s big, it’s bulky, and I live in fear of my kids knocking it over.
I need this desperately, I have not found a way to keep my herbs fresh!
ahhh, i would love this! i’ve had my eye on one for a while. when i get home from the farmer’s market, i usually store each bunch of herbs in it’s own glass filled with an inch or two of water. such a pain to have more than one or two of these around the kitchen, but it works
Normally I try to wrap them in a damp paper towel (learned this from Rachel Ray), but even that only keeps them fresh a day or two longer. Becoming a fan on FB right now!
Those look SO GOOD!!! Oh my gosh, I want to try these!
i need the herb saver because: my pet bunny Marshmallow eats a lot of herbs, mint, arugula, thyme, parsley etc….it is tough to keep all of it fresh for him. he needs the freshest herbs or he doesn’t eat them as fast…..please help me feed mrshmallow and i’ll send a pic of him reading your blog!!!
Tom
1 These fries look amazing 2) I need the herb savor for the same reasons you do.
I have a major problem keeping fresh herbs. I want to be a Greenbo planter to grow my own on my balcony!
My basil always dies a quick death in the drawer.. I’ve been dying for one of these! I’m also a fan on facebook – you guys are awesome.
my sister’s going to be starting her phd program in the fall. since she loves to cook, and she’ll be living on her own for the first time, this would be a great fun present for her!
I love making homemade sweet potato fries! And I always wrap fresh herbs in damp paper towels, and stick them in my fridge – they will last forever that way!
What a great idea! Last time I bought cilantro I got one use out of it and had to throw the rest away.
I have been so unsuccessful at making my herbs stay fresh. I usually try to use them in back to back dishes so they don’t go to waste… but it’s inevitable that sometimes they do. I’d LOVE LOVE LOVE this!
Liked yall on FB!
I need one of those because the parsley in my fridge is already wilting after 2 days
I REALLY NEED the herb savor because I finally have been able to keep an herb garden alive. Every year I try and every year they die but not this year. This year it looks like a professional herb garden!
I’m already a Facebook fan!
Interesting take on sweet potato fries with the egg white wash! I wonder if that helps with the crispiness. When I make baked sweet potato fries at home, I keep them on the thicker side so I can let the outsides get super crispy without the insides burning to a crisp themselves!
I need a herb saver because every time I buy overpriced herbs at the grocery store, I use whatever I need for my recipe, and the next time I look in the fridge they are a sad lump of wilted greens.
And I just became a FB fan!
usually put my herbs in a glass of water which always seems to get tipped over by my little one
Truth be told, I usually only cook with dry herbs because the fresh ones go bad by the time I use them! So I am really in need of an herb saver!
(And I just “liked” you on FB)!
What a great idea!! Love anything that will help me not waste as much!
Just liked you on FB too!
I need an herb saver because my fresh herbs always seem to go bad before I can use them fully!!!! Pretty please with sugar??
You ROCK!
I usually wash then, wrap them in paper towels then put them in a large zip lock bag. Helps a little bit, but not much, so I could absolutely use this!
AND I tweeted!!
I would love one! I cook with alot of fresh herbs, and I currently don’t have space for a garden. The herbs in the drawer tend to go bad quickly. I also friended on facebook! Please friend me too: Cooking With Abandon!
I love LOVE sweet potato fries! Now I want some. The way I keep my herbs fresh is to loosley wrap it in a damp paper towel and put it in a zip lock bag.
I would loooooove an herb savor!
I use fresh basil, thyme, cilantro and parsely all the time…I would LOVE something that actually prolongs the life of these! Usually I just keep them in a bag in the refrig, but that doesn’t keep them fresh very long.
I started growing my own herbs because I got tired of wasting the money and not having the chance to use them all. I still love my herb garden, but the herb savor would be a life saver after the harvest.
I need a herb saver because my husband is tired of me buying new fresh herbs all the time (we are big cilantro people). My hubby makes killer pico de gallo and I want him to make it whenever he has the urge. Nothing worse than opening the fridge and finding wilted, nast herbs.
I wrap them in moist paper towels, which helps somewhat, but there’s nothing worse than gooey slimy herbs!
I totally need an herb saver!! I’m always throwing away so many herbs! And once my CSA starts up this summer – I will need all the help I can get!
I try to wrap them in a paper-towel to absorb the moisture but it never fails within the week they are bad. I need this especially for cilantro and basil. I may even buy more fresh herbs if I know they won’t go to waste! thanks!
What a fun giveaway! Thanks!
To prolong my herbs, I put the ends in a mason jar filled with water with a plastic bag on top. For hardier herbs, I wrap them in a damp paper towel and seal in a plastic bag.
Oh, I would *love* the herb saver! I love having fresh herbs around, but, jsut liek you said, they are always shriveled and wasted in the fridge after a couple days. This contraption looks like a life- eer… herb-saver!
I love cooking with fresh basil and parsley but I usually end up throwing more out then I cook with since they spoil so quickly. I’ve tried to grow my own but unfortunately my green thumb isn’t as good as my cooking mitts (haha). This sounds right up my alley…a fun practical kitchen necessity! Thanks!
I love love love cooking with fresh herbs, but with a studio apartment that is consistently too hot no matter what I do (seriously, it didn’t get below 75 this winter unless I had my window open, heat off, and there was ice on the ground) plants don’t last long. I then have to buy the fresh herbs, and living alone does not help in using it all before they go bad
I love sweet potatoes fry…and these with garlic and herbs are even yummier…hope you are having a wonderful week
I LOVE kitchen gadgets and this one would be well used in my home. I grow my own basil since I use so much of it during the summer. Tried cilantro also but was not as successful with that.
SOOO I need this herb saver due to my continually dying herbs in my fridge or counter. I tried to start putting them on my counter in a glass of water but they still seem to wilt quickly.
I facebooked you as well
The sweet potatoes look soooo good. I think I will make them tomorrow. I need the herb saver because I always end up throwing away fresh herbs that I can use quickly enough. It’s a vicious cycle, but I can’t get out of it because… there’s no substitute for fresh.
i would love an herb saver. i am able to keep any cilantro i buy for a while by putting it in a glass of water but any other herbs seem to go bad so fast.
I can never use all my herbs before they go bad. This little gadget would be great!
I need an herb saver because I never use up my herbs in time, especially basil…I actually stick to heartier herbs like parsley, cilantro, and thyme so keep from wasting a ton of money on throwing away basil.
That said, to preserve my herbs, I wrap them in a paper towel (some I do damp paper towels…depending on the herb) and store in the warmest part of my fridge. I get some life out them, but not three weeks!
i dont do much to prolong the life of my herbs… other than keeping them in little containers or bags to lock in moisture and prevent too much oxidation..if possible.
btw i made you CADBURY MINI EGG SCONES! you can see them here: http://www.snackingsquirrel.com/2011/04/cadbury-mini-egg-scones.html
i made sure to credit you for the recipe as well.
xoxo <3
Why I Need Herb Saver: I have gone through three bunches of herbs this past month and I only used one bunch more than once and even that didn’t use all of it!
I also just Facebook Liked you… but I have a different name. The initials are AB, email me or somethin if you need more info
PS. How the heck do you get sweet potato fries to be crispy? Every time I make them they are soggy
Oh my herb saver! I try to grow my own herbs in the garden, but for some reason I can never get to my cilantro in time – it ALWAYS bolts, and then I don’t have any to use… so I go to the market, buy some and store it in the fridge… and by the time I use it, it’s wilted =/.
I need this because basil in a tube (yes, a tube) does not compare. I simply HATE watching my expensive herbs go bad
This would be great to keep basil fresh for longer! It barely lasts longer than a day! I sometimes use the “debbie’s green bags” which work ok for herbs (the bags are excellent for keeping berries fresh!). Also – the trick I’ve found for sweet potato fries is cooking them on a stainless steel rack that fits on a baking sheet. Thanks to cooks illustrated, I found the ram kitchen supply website (www.ramkitchen.com) and got a baking rack and 1/2 sheet pan (both very inexpensive) that are awesome for cooking sweet potato fries!!!
I planted an herb garden for the first time ever this year. This would be a great item to prolong the life of my new, fresh herbs!
i NEED the herb savor because i have bought and wasted basil 5 times in the month of april alone (help me) lol.
my herbs die so quickly in my fridge– i need this!
i like you on fb
first of all, sweet potato fries are my fave!
second, i use fresh herbs all the time, but i have a really hard time keeping them fresh, especially since i’m always cooking for one person.
I adore sweet potato fries!! I’ve made them too and mine weren’t as crispy as I would have liked either…I wonder how that can be changed with deep frying them
Love the giveaway gift.. I’ve been contemplating buying one actually, I can’t get herbs to stay fresh for more then 2 days….ugh!!
I like you on Facebook too
I do love sweet potato fries. The hardest part is getting them as crispy as they do in the restaurants. I love the seasonings in this recipe!
I had never heard of the herb savor! What a cost savings it must be. It just kills me to buy fresh herbs and throw them away in just a few days after they’ve gotten either dried up or mushy in the frig. Thanks so much for telling us about it!
I just Liked you on Facebook!
I can never keep my herbs fresh for long! Especially when I send my boyfriend out to do the shopping! He has been known to bring back cilantro instread of parsley or vice versa! I wind up having to go back out to get what I need while a great fresh batch of fresh herbs goes to waste! I was told you can freeze them and there is a ton of info about that online but I have not tried that method out myself yet!
Thanks for the chance.
aubreyfick@yahoo.com
I have the same problem with herbs. . primarily cilantro. I love cilantro but I never use a whole bunch at a time and the rest wilts 2 days later. I got around the problem with flat leaf parsley, basil, and chives by growing my own in the summer months. . .but I can’t keep cilantro alive to save my life! It’s picky I guess!
Such a cool gadget! Would love this because it would actually encourage me to use more fresh herbs. I have found myself shying away from using fresh herbs because I know if I buy them they will go bad before I can use them all. Hate that waste. Plus, with summer coming up I know I’m not going to be able to resist tomato, basil and mozzarella salads. This would definitely be a big help.
Also, Oprah loves it. So I obviously need it.
Liking yall on FB too!
My plan is always just to use my herbs as fast as possible!
The best way to keep herbs fresh is to grow them yourself and only cut what you need! Now if only my basil would actually grow… (Also I’m a new FB fan)
I always forget about things in the fridge door until I smell something lol!
LOVE sweet potato fries, but love the idea of an herb saver even better!!
I read somewhere that you can freeze extra herbs, so I have some basil in my freezer right now…but…I never use it because it seems so wonky! I definitely would prefer a handy door-sized contraption…
I literally throw away basil every week and nothing I have done has helped keep it fresh. I have been thinking about getting this based on Oprah’s selection, but I was concerned that it wasn’t for real and would be a disappointment when I finally got it. Happy to hear from WANM that you had such great success! AND I’m a new Facebook fan as of today!
I sadly waste so many herbs.
I have never heard of this delightful product but just knowing it exists has just made my day!
I just don’t buy fresh herbs b/c they are so expensive and go bad so quickly! This would be great!
That looks like the coolest thing ever! I have such a hard time trying to use up an entire bunch of basil/cilantro/parsley/etc before it starts to go.
Wow-what a cool contraption!! I could really use one of these. Usually basil goes bad pretty quickly in my house–but I really have a problem with cilantro! It lasts a little longer than basil, but does anyone else find that they give you such a large bunch at the store–that it goes bad before you can use it up!
Thanks! keep up the posts–love the blog
Like you, I live in the cold most of the year Northeast and need help keeping herbs and available longer over the winter months. I often will whip up some summer inspired dishes in the cold dark winter to call for the summer to come quicker. Doesn’t work and I end up throwing away browned herbs too often.
Gorgeous fries!
I need it for cilantro – they sell such big bunches and some always ends up going bad before I can use it up
Ohhhhh the things I could do with this nifty gadget!!!!
Your fries look amazing! I would love the Herb-Savor because I throw away so many herbs. I only use a little at a time, but always buy more than I need.
I’m a new Facebook fan. Thanks!
I definitely need this gadget – whenever I just leave the herbs in the grocery plastic bag in the veggie crisper, they’re doomed. The ones in the plastic shell pack seem to fare better for me, but with the amount of parsley I actually do eat, it’s better to get the loose stuff.