Delicious Loaded Cheese Fries (Ozzy Cheese Fries)
From Fresh Potatoes to Loaded Cheese Fries! Perfect with Beer!
Using seasonal, naturally sweet potatoes, we’ve recreated the popular loaded cheese fries from family restaurants. We even made the french fries from scratch! Generously topped with cheese, these fries are perfect as a beer snack or a delightful treat for kids.
Ingredients
- 4 medium potatoes
- 3 strips of thick-cut bacon
- 1/4 onion
- 1/2 Tbsp coarse salt (for soaking potatoes)
- 1 cup cheddar cheese (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese (adjust to taste)
- All-purpose flour or frying powder, as needed
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients for today’s star dish: potatoes, bacon, and onion. Fresh ingredients are the foundation of a delicious meal.
Step 2
Peel the potatoes and cut them into thick sticks, similar in size to the french fries served at family restaurants. Aim for a consistent thickness of about 1 cm so they cook evenly when fried.
Step 3
Place the cut potatoes in a bowl, cover them with plenty of cold water, and add 1/2 Tbsp of coarse salt. Let them soak for 10 minutes. This step helps remove excess starch, resulting in crispier and cleaner-tasting fries.
Step 4
Cut the thick-cut bacon into large cubes. Place the bacon in a preheated frying pan without any oil and cook over medium-low heat. Slowly render the fat from the bacon until it becomes crispy. Cooking slowly ensures maximum crispiness.
Step 5
Transfer the crispy bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain off any excess grease. Finely mince the onion. Ensure the onion is chopped uniformly so it cooks at the same rate as other ingredients.
Step 6
Drain the potatoes from the soaking water and rinse them briefly under running water to wash off any remaining starch. Thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels. Residual moisture can cause oil to splatter during frying and prevent the coating from adhering properly.
Step 7
Place the dried potatoes and a generous amount of flour (or frying powder) into a large resealable bag or ziplock bag. Seal the bag tightly and shake gently to coat each potato evenly with the flour. This method ensures a light and uniform coating without clumping.
Step 8
Using a plastic bag to coat the potatoes not only keeps your kitchen clean but also ensures that the flour adheres evenly to each piece, making the process much more convenient.
Step 9
Remove the potatoes from the bag and gently shake off any excess flour. For a cleaner finish, you can also place them in a sieve and shake. It’s best to coat the potatoes in batches just before frying. This is especially important on humid days, as the flour can become damp and the potatoes may release moisture, causing the coating to become gummy and clump.
Step 10
Heat a generous amount of oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat to about 170-180°C (340-350°F). Carefully add the floured potatoes in batches and fry until golden brown and crispy. Stir occasionally to ensure even cooking and browning.
Step 11
At this point, if you simply sprinkle some salt on these freshly fried potatoes, you’ll have delicious french fries comparable to those from fast-food restaurants. They are already a wonderful snack on their own!
Step 12
To assemble the loaded cheese fries, arrange the hot, freshly fried french fries attractively in an oven-safe dish or heatproof platter. This forms the appealing base for our loaded fries.
Step 13
Evenly sprinkle the crispy bacon pieces and the finely minced onion generously over the french fries. These toppings will add wonderful texture and flavor.
Step 14
Finally, top generously with a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheeses. The cheeses will melt into a glorious, gooey topping, creating a truly decadent experience. Feel free to adjust the cheese quantity to your liking.
Step 15
Bake in a preheated oven at 200°C (400°F) for about 5-7 minutes, or until the cheese is completely melted and bubbly. Alternatively, microwave until the cheese is just melted. Your delicious loaded cheese fries are ready to be enjoyed immediately while hot!
