Food

The Best Fries You’ll Ever Have (Belgian-Style)

A few months ago, I went to dinner at my friend Clare’s house (home of the perfect cauliflower soup, by the way), and she and her husband served mussels and fries. Everything was delicious, but you know what actually stole the show? The tangy mayonnaise they served with the fries. So, here’s how to serve delicious European-style fries for an instantly special dinner…

The secret trick to making fries is…not to make them. They’re a hassle, and you need a deep fryer. And they often come out soggy or bready. So instead, buy a bag of Trader Joe’s Fries. Seriously! They are delicious! Then to make the Belgian-style mayonnaise, just mix regular mayo with a splash of red-wine vinegar, and stir together until you have the tangy taste you like best. Voila! You have an instant fun dinner. You can pair them with mussels, burgers, roast chicken, fish sandwiches…even just a frothy pint of beer.

Who’s in? :)

P.S. More best recipes, including bourbon banana bread and a lazy egg sandwich.

(Photos by Laura Ratliff for Cup of Jo. And thanks to Shoko for help with this series)

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Trenton Endres

March 13, 2020 10:19 am

Where did you buy that cup the french fries are in?

cody

September 14, 2013 6:06 am

Excellent fries! Even using cheap potatoes, I got crisp fries. I love french cooking

city

September 20, 2012 3:50 am

thanks for sharing.

oregon chiropractor

May 10, 2012 9:11 am

Calories again. Im trying to get rid of it.

Project Management Class

April 20, 2012 1:10 am

There are no nutritonal benefits of french fries at all. They are full of starch ( can cause diabetes). The potatoes become carcinogenic when deep fried ( cancer causing)

Geraldine

April 12, 2012 8:20 pm

So, I never, ever buy mayonnaise. It’s dead easy to make so let me share with you my mayo recipe, you just won’t believe how easy it is. Many people say mayo contains vinegar but not my recipe (an old family recipe), the secret is in the mustard you use. In France, i like Amora but you can’t find it here so I find Trader Joe’s dijon mustard the best to use. so here it goes.
1 egg
1 heaped table spoon of dijon mustard (the stronger the mustard the better)
Mix with an electric mixer then slowly add vegetable oil until you have desired consitancy, still using the electric whisk (don’t bother using a hand whisk, you’ll never reach desired consistancy). add salt and pepper to taste (i like trader joe’s lemon pepper best). Now, some people make it with olive oil but i hate it, it gives it a sickly taste. Try making it, you’ll never look back Enjoy!

malo

April 12, 2012 4:02 pm

That´s so lame. It´s dead easy making your own mayo. It’s only egg and oil. A minute. We fry our chips in an ordinary pan and they come out crispy. No special equipment needed.

Rema

April 12, 2012 11:45 am

We’ve always added a crushed glove of garlic (out of a garlic press is best, but a really fine mince will work, too) and a squirt of Sriracha in our mayo. It’s excellent with fries and steamed artichoke! I’ll try the vinegar/mayo combo asap!

{Liana}

April 12, 2012 9:39 am

Yumyumyum! Mussels and fries with tangy mayo?! How fun:)Even in tiny Portland, Maine we have a Trader Joe’s. Thankfully!

Emily

April 12, 2012 8:10 am

Hi Joanna,

So this is going to be nit picky, and I apologize for that, but as an American who’s been living in Brussels for the last few years, I’ve been taught by my Belgian friends that it’s white vinegar that’s preferred, not red wine. But tomato, tomata, right?

If you do have a deep fryer, making fries commes les Belges isn’t that hard actually. My friend’s mother recently took me under her wing to teach me the ways. Her recipe is here (http://thepetitfour.com/?p=2752). And yep, they are fried twice, just like what Sophie said!

But seriously, fries with mayo taste great no matter what!

*** KITSCH ***

April 12, 2012 8:04 am

I am a mayonnaise LOVER since i can remember… i put it with everything!

And mussel with fries are great candidates to ; )

http://mykitschworld.blogspot.com.es

Betty Bake

April 12, 2012 6:10 am

oh my yumminess :)
you are making me totally hungry
will need to try this!

hugs
Betty Bake
http://www.bettybake.co.za

Absolutely Mrs. K

April 12, 2012 4:52 am

You guys have starbucks we have fries joints! I go there once a week for fries, a bicky burger and something meaty fried (not sure that there is meat inside)! No other country in the world can make fries like that! And yes we put them into a pointy sack like on your photos and of course we eat it with mayonnaise! It is cheap, very greasy but I cannot live without

Sophie

April 12, 2012 3:25 am

Hi,

I am sorry but those fries do not look like Belgian fries.

I am belgian and i live in Brussels.

The secret for making Belgian Fries is ………… you have to cook your potatoes 2 times… the first time for around 10 minutes in boil oil (around 140-150 ° celsius) then the second time just before eating into oil at around 180° celsius) until the fries become “gold” …

Bon appétit

I really like your blog

Anonymous

April 12, 2012 1:24 am

i’m with you abigail. oven fries are delicious and their even less fatty!

Abigail

April 11, 2012 11:44 pm

You actually don’t necessarily need a deep fryer. I’ve made sweet potato fries in the oven and they have turned out great!

Caz

April 11, 2012 10:21 pm

What’s even better than the mayo/vinegar combo is aioli! (mayonnaise with garlic)

I’ve been to Belgium and aioli with fries is way more common than mayonnaise, and for good reason because it is DELICIOUS!

http://www.bestrecipes.com.au/recipe/Garlic-Aioli-L12381.html

Kat

April 11, 2012 9:54 pm

Make that a Belgian beer and I’m definitely in! I’ll have to give the Trader Joe’s fries a try (I’ve been loving everything else from there).

teeny

April 11, 2012 8:08 pm

three words: sweet chili sauce.

i had it with fries (and everything else for that matter) when i lived in australia. it is absolutely amazing. almost as amazing as your frozen french fry suggestion! i can’t wait to try them. it would be wonderful to have a good go-to frozen fry….

themyletts

J.Chung

April 11, 2012 8:00 pm

if you like spice you should try mixing mayo and sriracha hot sauce. amazing!

Smash

April 11, 2012 7:46 pm

I make a California version: mayo and tapatio. We use it for anything. Fries, steak, even roasted brussels sprouts.

P.S. – Trader Joe’s will be ALL OVERRR Texas in the next 2 years. Hold out!

Chessa!

April 11, 2012 7:27 pm

trader joe’s has the best everything. we also LOVE the whole foods fries. I season with a pinch of rock salt or seasoned sea salt (gotta love flavored salt!)

Anonymous

April 11, 2012 6:16 pm

Have you had the fries at The New French in the West Village? Best fries and aioli ever!!!
Anja

http://www.onebiterule.com

Kendriana

April 11, 2012 5:00 pm

I am addicted to potatoes and I absolutely LOVE fries. They are so good and the best snack/pick me up. You can make them salty-sweet, spicy, savory with garlic or switch up the type of potato. This sauce just adds to the amazing non-ketchup ways you can season your potatoes.

Crunchy, waffle shaped, skinny, thick, baked or fried…mmm I love fries! The perfect comfort food.

Too bad we don’t have trader joes in Dallas.

Jillian@TheHumbleGourmet

April 11, 2012 4:20 pm

These french fries are making my mouth water, despite the fact that I just finished lunch not 5 minutes ago. I will definitely have to try these!

Jossie loves

April 11, 2012 4:00 pm

Another greta combo – which teams perfectly with seafood is to mix horseradish in with mayo. Seriously to die for! Hand on heart not lying!

Charlotte Wilder

April 11, 2012 3:48 pm

Such a great idea to wrap it in newspaper! I love these photos, really beautiful. And now I want fries!
-C

Kate Uhry

April 11, 2012 3:27 pm

yum! I also do this and use By The Sea Salt, which I first found on Martha’s Vineyard at Midnight Sun. They now sell it online, which is wonderful, because once you try it you will be hooked!

Christine

April 11, 2012 2:56 pm

i love trader joe’s and fries! i’m definitely going to buy this the next time i go

http://www.helloclee.blogspot.com

Kate

April 11, 2012 2:26 pm

I love how you name every food post ‘The Best…. You’ll Ever Have’! It really grabs people’s attention! And these fries certainly do look delicious….

Kate {Something Fabulous}
http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com

Mabel and Zora

April 11, 2012 1:55 pm

These fries sound taste!

Jada

April 11, 2012 1:29 pm

Ah, yum! I crave fries all the time. This post makes my mouth water…haha

Alexa

April 11, 2012 1:28 pm

this is such a simple, different idea
and i love a sweet-ish dipping sauce with my fries! makes me want to host friends on the next warm night :)

Freya Lily

April 11, 2012 12:44 pm

I work at a Belgian bar and they make fires…they…are…DELICIOUS!

Michelle {lovely little things}

April 11, 2012 12:33 pm

I LOVE French Fries!!

Beth

April 11, 2012 12:22 pm

One thing I like is Pomme Frites…with all the dipping choices …but this sounds delish!

Trina

April 11, 2012 12:22 pm

Have you seen the Rick Steves BeNeLux segment on “The Art of Flemish Fries”? Yum: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgaYKInDaew. I have to say this show is part of what convinced me to put Belgium and the Netherlands next on my foreign-travel list.

P.S. I loved fries with mayo long before the idea grossed out Jules (Samuel L. Jackson) in Pulp Fiction. :)

Ann On and On...

April 11, 2012 12:22 pm

Fun post! There is a restaurant here in Quebec City that gives you three choices of dipping mayo. Needless to say they get a lot (too much) of my money.

Sarah K.

April 11, 2012 12:20 pm

That’s sooo much easier than I anticipated! Can’t wait to try it!

Jenni Austria Germany

April 11, 2012 12:17 pm

one of the many things i love about europe.

Deanna (Silly Goose Farm)

April 11, 2012 12:16 pm

Where I grew up, people mix mayo with a little maple syrup and a dash of cayenne pepper (or hot sauce) and dip fries into it. DELISH!

.aubrey c.

April 11, 2012 12:14 pm

That whole dinner sounds effortlessly yummy!

http://gandacummings.blogspot.com

Anonymous

April 11, 2012 12:13 pm

Who would ever make the themselves anyway??? :-)

Having just gotten back from Europe, where we stayed in Brussels as a side trip, this is timely. That said, I had the frites at several places and did not find the mayo to be extra-tangy. If anything it was LESS tangy and more creamy than what we find here. Regular mayo (which already contains vinegar) should suffice, I would think, although as another poster said, I often love to put vinegar on fries, so this sounds like its own delicious thing… just doesn’t sound particularly Belgian.

They put mayo on their fries in Montreal (where I used to live), too, so this does not seem odd to me. (Plus, I grew up obsessed with putting tartar sauce on everything including fries.)

ana {bluebirdkisses}

April 11, 2012 11:50 am

great idea! i sometimes mix a little bit of paprika in the mayo too {in addition to the vinegar} and it makes it so perfect.

Kristen Eleni Shellenbarger

April 11, 2012 11:47 am

Yum but it’s sooo easy to make your own! Cut up any type of starchy potato and fry in a cast iron pan, in about 2″ of olive oil and voila-deeelic. My Greek Momma makes them all the time, soooo good! Salt when HOT and add a little oregano too and a squeeze of lemon. Mmmm

RobynC

April 11, 2012 11:45 am

After living in Europe for 3 years I can testify their fries are amazing! Thanks for the tip!
http://knownitwasyou.blogspot.com/

Mal

April 11, 2012 11:40 am

I love Belgian style fries, these look perfect!

Mal @ The Chic Geek

Young at Heart

April 11, 2012 11:40 am

oh my…they look good!!

J+H @ Beyond The Stoop

April 11, 2012 11:32 am

yum! i LOVE mayo and fries, and i LOVE vinegar on fries, so vinegary-mayo sounds delicious!

(and fries are SO easy to make! julienne some washed potatoes, toss in salt, pepper, and olive oil, and bake at 350 until golden! super simple :D)

…or even better?? homemade CHIPS in the MICROWAVE! can’t get any easier than that, right?

http://www.beyondthestoop.com/2012/02/im-believer-microwave-potato-chips.html

Courtney

April 11, 2012 11:30 am

omg, those fries are the best! I have gotten numerous friends hooked. I love eating them with fry sauce– equal parts ketchup and mayo.

Sarah Carlson

April 11, 2012 11:27 am

Yum! You’re making me so hungry for some fries! I love the dipping sauce for sweet potato fries, too!

Amy

April 11, 2012 11:20 am

I’ve never thought of adding red wine vinegar to mayo. I’ll definitely try it next time we have fries!

We often make curry mayo by mixing in curry powder and honey to taste – sweet and spicy!

UrbanChiqueNess

April 11, 2012 11:19 am

good tip….love fries with mayo. I sometimes make chipotle mayo! Spicy but delicious. Gotta love TJ’s.
xo
E
http://www.urbanchiqueness.com

anglopologie

April 11, 2012 11:15 am

If only the UK had a Trader Joes!

Anitra Sweet

April 11, 2012 11:12 am

Looks Delish! We don’t have a trader joes here in Boise :( i’m sure I can find a good substitute though! Thanks for the mayo tip!

Amy Turman

April 11, 2012 11:10 am

I love the TJ’s shortcut. I’m a sucker for a good mayo dipping sauce. I think this is a must-try.

xoxo,
mon amy

Jenny in Ohio

April 11, 2012 11:08 am

boo hiss! This is a cop out!

cominghomesoon

April 11, 2012 11:02 am

I lived in Belgium for a year so I am all over this…..I’m ALL in…feet, head, arms, body….ALL in! hahaha.

Wish I could get to traders joes though, I mean, living in the south of France does have its down sides, believe it or not!!!! :)

Louise xo

Tragic Sandwich

April 11, 2012 10:50 am

My mother-in-law is Dutch, and this is her favorite way to eat fries–even if it’s just with plain mayonnaise.

BunnyFuFu

April 11, 2012 10:50 am

that sauce sounds delicious and i need to pick up those fries!!!

BunnyFuFu Fashion

Olivia

April 11, 2012 10:32 am

Yum I’ve always loved putting mayo on my fries! LOL it must be the fatty in me. I actually invested in a deep fryer and you can buy those frozen bag of Oreida french fries and fry them and they come out soo crispy and delicious! I was in Amsterdam last year with my boyfriend and we spotted those Frites stations everywhere- so of course we had to stop and indulge!

xx Olivia
IWANTTHESESHOES

Bianca

April 11, 2012 10:29 am

I vote yes! But I already love mayo with my fries… it’s kind of a problem…

Quindome

April 11, 2012 10:26 am

Yum! Fries are the best! I like the idea of the tangy mayo. You also might like Emeri’s recipe for baked fries, which are healthy, but super tasty!

leigh

April 11, 2012 10:26 am

many canadians, such as myself – well at least the ones that live in Québec and near Québec eat fries with a mayo type dressing… it’s soo delish.

kati

April 11, 2012 10:25 am

we did pomme frites for my daughter’s birthday party a couple years ago and had all kinds of fun dipping sauces, everyone loved them! but i had no idea about vinegar in the mayo… brills :)

Erin

April 11, 2012 10:21 am

I’m going to have the real-deal Belgium moules et frites in just a few weeks when I land in Brussels! I can’t wait. I practically live off mussels and fries from a Belgian bar here in Philly called Monk’s. It’s so authentic.

Susan

April 11, 2012 10:20 am

Homemade mayo is the easiest damn thing in the world to make. Then you add the other stuff…seriously, ppl, make some w/ a blender (using farmers market eggs).

Sarah B

April 11, 2012 10:16 am

Ooo yummm! If ever in Milwaukee, go to Hollander Café… they have fry just like this and they put them in the cute paper cone and cup. Haven’t tried the Trader Joe’s brand, but Alexia’s All Natural fry line is TDF. MMM, fries.

vanessa (the gal)

April 11, 2012 10:16 am

WHAT. Those look SO good! I want to be friends with your friends ;)

xo’s, Vanessa

Glocal Girl

April 11, 2012 10:12 am

I live in Amsterdam at the moment and they seriously have the best fries here! I spent some time in Brussels one weekend and the fries were insanely good as well. My Californian girlfriends think its disgusting of course to dip fries (or frites as they say here) and mayo but now I wouldn’t have it ANY other way!!!!

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