Turnip fries in the air fryer are healthy alternatives to Ninja Foodi French fries but just as delicious. Vegetables seasoned crispy and crunchy snacks cooked in your hot air countertop appliance in no time.
If you haven’t tried French fries made with other vegetables, they turn out great. VERY low carb and keto friendly snack you can enjoy with ketchup. You may even be able to fool your kids because they get as crispy as potatoes with a bit of sweetness. One of many air fryer recipes we love.
We made Ninja foodi fries with potatoes right when we got that pot. It doesn’t matter what brand machine you have, they all work basically the same. The biggest difference is the size of the basket, that’s pretty much it. The biggest thing to remember is to load them in a single layer so they crisp up nicely.
Even frozen french fries in air fryer turn out just like at the restaurant I tell you. There is nothing my Cosori can’t do well.
Tips
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
The seasoning choices are always up to you but what was used is listed below. Change it up to ones you love or try this combination and vary from there. This is what you’re going to need to cook turnip sticks.
Ingredient Notes
You are going to want to pick up a few fresh turnips, peel and slice so they are all the same thickness and length. This is key so that each one gets tender in the center and crispy out at the same time.
Olive oil will get them crispy and allow the seasonings to stick well too. An alternative to this would be avocado oil. You may want an additional spray of this when you flip the fries in the air fryer basket near the end to get extra crispy.
As far as seasonings you will want some; Chili powder to add a bit of heat, or dry Sriracha to make spicy. Garlic powder and onion powder would work well too for flavoring. I mean Salt and pepper are just the basics but use your favorites.
Using olive oil spray is important in order to get the outsides nice and crisp. Use this a few minutes before the end of the cook time or every time you shake the basket.
Other vegetables that can be used
Every vegetable I have made into finger foods like this works basically the same. You really don’t need any breading per say but could if you wanted to like our air fryer zucchini fries. These are similar to air fryer carrot fries we have enjoyed in the past, and our jicama fries you should try those as well sometime.
How to make them sweet
You could make these on the sweet side instead of savory like we did here. If you wanted to go that direction I might use 1/3 cinnamon and 2/3 sugar mixture and toss after the oil adheres to the outside.
Turnip Fries Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
- 1 knife
Ingredients
- 1 large turnip, peeled and sliced 1/3" sticks
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Peel and slice turnip into 1/3" sticks like french fry sized. Lay on a few paper towels and roll up tight to eliminate water left on the outside so they are dry.
- In a bowl add them plus the olive oil and seasonings. Toss to coat. Preheat air fryer to 400 degrees F.
- Pour pieces into basket (in a single layer) and cook for 6-8 minutes tossing halfway thru until they are as tender as you'd like them to be on the inside and golden brown on the outside. Spray olive oil on top the last minute if you want them extra crispy. Serve immediately.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
What is the best way to eat turnips?
Well we say to air fry them is best but you can also eat them raw. If you make veggie trays often this is a great addition that may be new to your guests. Dipped in ranch just like carrots or broccoli it may be a new flavor your kids might enjoy too.
FAQ
You’ll want to peel the outside as that isn’t very edible. Then slice it into sticks or thin slices and brush or toss with olive oil to keep moist. Bake in the oven, deep fry or the best way is to cook turnips in air fryer like we did here.
Yes, we have done this time and time again with jicama, turnips and carrots too. It is a fun new way to season veggies and get them crispy. A great way to get kids to try new flavors and enjoy as a side dish.
What does a turnip taste like?
If you eat it raw you may think that is a bit too bitter. When cooked though it changes to sweeter in flavor which is typically more desirable. It is hard to compare it to something else as it has a nutty earthy taste that is distinct to this purple root vegetable.
For any sort of air fryer vegetable recipe you really want to eliminate as much water from the outsides as possible. The easiest way to do just this is to grab a few paper towels and make them thick. After you slice them lay them on top. Once all are done roll them up and gently press down. This will do the trick.
As you know oil and water don’t mix and you want it to in order to get crunchy. The more water is left the softer they will stay no matter how long you cook them. Of course you can re-season them when done, just like fries.
How long to air fry turnip fries
The timing will vary depending on the thickness. The thinner they are the faster they will get tender on the inside and crispy on the outside of course. Keep a bit less than 10 minutes set aside for 1 batch to be done though.
We have a bunch of french fry dipping sauce choices we love like how to make fry sauce, ranch and ketchup of course. Make some air fryer spam fries and these for a finger food kinda’ afternoon.
Want to try another easy side dish? Try chicken fries in air fryer sometime. These are homemade as well with fresh meat which adds protein to the mix. Make them together for the funnest dinner your kids will rave over.
If you were to make baked turnip fries on a baking sheet in your oven you’d use the same temp. but it may take a bit longer. You still want to use a spatula to rotate your fries in the oven so they get crispy on both sides. Depending on the size you will likely get 2 servings out of each one, so keep that in mind.
I will say that these don’t keep great, but if you do make sure to enjoy them the next day. You can throw them into your AirWave for about 2 minutes to warm them again and get them crunchy again.
