Do you want fries with that? Of course you do! Everyone loves fries and on July 13^th, you can feel good about having fries on the side of everything because it’s National French Fry Day! It’s safe to say that French fries are one of the most popular side dishes ever!

Have you ever wondered why fries are French? The name actually refers to the method of deep-frying. In 17^th-century Belgium, people used to cut up small fish for frying and it was dubbed “French fried.” Today, fries can be deep-fried or they can be pan-fried, roasted, or baked. If you’re following a low-oil diet, you’ll be happy to know that you don’t even need oil to make a crispy French fry.

French fries don’t have to be made from potatoes, either. We can make delicious fries using all sorts of vegetables. Potatoes are healthy with lots of vitamins and fiber, but we can also benefit from the nutrients in sweet potatoes, jicama, kohlrabi, eggplant, squash, and even legumes like chickpeas. Take a look at 10 Healthier Ways to Make Fries and Chips and Add a Twist to Your Favorite Fried Side With These 20 Veggie Fries for some yummy ideas and recipes. Then have fun with these 15 newest recipes for healthy and crispy fries.

1. Crispy Chickpea Fries

Crisp on the outside with a fluffy interior, these Crispy Chickpea Fries0 are absolutely delicious! They’re simple with a slight zest and their shape stays intact through frying for a very snackable dish. Enjoy these as a fun side dish or make a big batch just to munch on.

2. Quick and Easy Curly Fries

Craving curly fries? Forget that frozen stuff and make your own! Seasoned with salt and pepper, these oven-baked Quick and Easy Curly Fries are light, crispy, and perfect for dipping in ketchup. This may be fast food, but it’s good food.

3. Polenta Fries With Mint Avocado Dip

Healthy fries and a delicious dip? These Polenta Fries With Mint Avocado Dip sounds like the perfect snack to us! In this recipe, polenta is sliced and baked into crispy wedges and served with a minty avocado dip. Surprise your friends with a new kind of fry and watch this become their new favorite.

4. Roasted Root Fries With Cheesy Dip

Craving fries? These Roasted Root Fries With Cheesy Dip are deliciously savory, crispy, and guilt-free! They simply need to be tossed with some olive oil and herbs, and then roasted in the oven. Pair them with a cheesy, cashew dip and we guarantee you’ll be craving this veggie-centric snack over and over again!

5. Cilantro Lime Jicama Fries

These crispy Cilanto Lime Jicama Fries are sure to satisfy any craving you have for fries. Tossed in cilantro, lime, and chipotle pepper, and then baked to perfection, these are a healthy and tasty alternative. Serve with zesty chipotle mayonnaise to really complete this snack!

6. Indian-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries With Parsley Cashew Dip

These crispy and tender Indian-Spiced Sweet Potato Fries are a zesty spin on the usual fries. They are delicately seasoned with an Indian-inspired spice blend. Serve them along with the creamy parsley cashew dip to complement your favorite veggie burgers.

7. Grilled Maple Tahini Sweet Potato Wedges

You just found the perfect side to your barbecue — these Grilled Maple Tahini Sweet Potato Wedges. These wedges soft and tender with caramelized edges and especially delicious when drizzled with a sweet-tart maple tahini dip with a squeeze of lemon juice. Top them with roasted, crushed cumin seeds and serve them at your next plant-based barbecue.

8. Baked Kohlrabi Fries With Tzatziki Sauce

If you’ve never tried kohlrabi, these Baked Kohlrabi Fries With Tzatziki Sauce are the perfect way to get introduced. These fries will melt in your mouth, but they still have enough bite and structure to pick up and dip into a tangy sauce. Simple, easy, and scrumptious. Serve these root vegetable fries with your favorite burger.

9. Paprika and Oregano Polenta Fries

Polenta makes the most delicious, creamy fries like these Paprika and Oregano Polenta Fries. Paprika gives these polenta fries a gorgeous golden color while oregano complements the flavors. Did we mention that they’re crispy on the outside and soft on the inside with that delicious cheesy polenta flavor? They’re sure to be a hit with everyone!

10. Kimchi Poutine

If Kimchi Poutine sounds strange to you, we understand. The marrying of a Canadian favorite and a Korean healthful flavor bomb is certainly different but just close your eyes — right now, do it. Now imagine biting into a hot, soft sweet potato fry that has been seasoned perfectly with fragrant, garlicky, gingery, and impeccably spiced kimchi. Then, you get a hint of a tangy and ever so cheesy hemp sauce. Oh, yeah. You know you’re down.

11. Baked Shoestring Fries With Garlic and Thyme

If you’re Team Skinny Fries, these Baked Shoestring Fries With Garlic and Thyme are perfect for you. These fries are made with a spiralizer and then baked in the oven to a crispy perfection. They’re full of garlic and thyme flavor, so condiments are strictly optional … but we’d love them with a side of some spicy sauce.

12. Rutabaga Fries With Basil Mayo

If you’re craving fries but don’t want to ingest a boatload of salt and grease, these Rutabaga Fries With Basil Mayo is the recipe for you! Rutabaga is a sweeter seasonal alternative to the ubiquitous potato, and they taste oh-so-delicious when dipped into (homemade!) vegan basil mayonnaise.

13. Eggplant Fries With Chipotle Aioli

These Eggplant Fries With Chipotle Aioli are delicious enough to cause friends and family to fight over who gets the last fry. And the chipotle aioli? It’s lick-the-bowl worthy. Together these components make the perfect snack or side dish. Make a lot — for the sake of world peace.

14. Super Flax Green Bean Fries

Perhaps one of our easiest (and tastiest) healthy fries recipes, these Super Flax Green Bean Fries are off the charts. Baked until crispy in a simple coating of ground flax seed, salt, and pepper, you can imagine, these taste pretty heavenly. They’re also gluten-free and grain-free, so if you have allergies but crave something with a crunchy coating, then these fries are a win!

15. Spiralized Garlic Paprika Sweet Potato Fries

If you like shoestring fries, you’ll love these Spiralized Garlic Paprika Sweet Potato “Fries.” Seasoned with garlic and paprika, these skinny fries are baked to crispy perfection. Serve these on the side of your favorite sandwich or on their own for a yummy snack. If it were up to us, we would definitely put these fries on a sandwich

These recipes for all types of veggie fries and so healthy, you can feel good about super-sizing your dish. That’s important because these fries are also so crispy and delicious, you’re going to want to clean your plate.

Hungry for more? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Vegan Snacks!

Lead image source: Cilantro Lime Jicama Fries