Spicy Carrot Fries w/Tzatziki Sauce

Something happened when I started this food blog…all my (boy) friends (a.k.a. friends who happen to be boys) started texting/calling me with their cooking questions.

I’m not sure what it was per se that piqued their interest in cooking since most of them didn’t care a few years ago. I kinda think it had to do with growing tired of their typical take-out and fast food options..but mostly…it was to cook for girls.

I couln’t really blame them? I mean…boys cooking = cuteness.

I’d get calls like, “hey, I have two eggs, one sweet potato and garlic in the fridge…what can I cook?” They’d call with questions about roasting vegetables, how to cook bacon, what roasting actually means, etc…and then they got the hang of it…and umm…it’s really cute. Now, I get texts (all of the time!) of pictures of what they’ve cooked.

1. The first pic of filet wrapped bacon with a side of potatoes au gratin. This is a huge step for my friend Ian. One time he told me he was giving up fast food and then opened up his freezer to show me all the Lean Cuisines and Stoeffers meals. He wanted approval. Umm…

2. Second picture is total show-off city. My friend Ryan got all fancy with his omelet and Sriracha. He’s a cooking pro (sort of) and makes some of my fav guacamole ever. His secret: crushed cumin seeds, which he pronounces in another way to be crude. I laugh every time…mainly because deep down I’m four years old.

3. Third picture is my friend Justin bragging…his girl makes him vegetarian chili. Girls cooking for boys is equally cute.

4. And then, after four (separate) calls on how to make sweet potato fries, Justin got all crazy and put ’em in some fish tacos. Kind of genius. Let’s be nice and just ignore the burnt ones.

5. & 6. Travis eats super healthy. He sends me pictures of healthy food made delicious. Some sauteed shrimp with peas and carrots. And the other picture is a tofu patty he made with rosemary carrot fries?

Can I be honest? I don’t even like carrots. And boiled carrots? #vom

But I wanted to give them a try.

I thought them in a spicy variety would be delicious. Curry, cumin powder, a little cayenne and salt.

I peeled them and cut them into batons.

Transfered them to a bowl and added a few tablespoons of olive oil and spices.

Toss. Tumble.

Baking sheet. Spread ’em out evenly.

I made a tzatziki sauce, which I have to google every time to get the spelling down.

Pretty standard: dill, greek yogurt, lemon, cucumber and sour cream. Delicious and refreshing.

Perfect combination with the spicy, curriness from the fries.

#boom!

Spicy Carrot Fries with Tzaziki Sauce

Print this recipe!

Yields enough for 8 people

Spicy Carrot Fries:

6-8 small carrots, peeled and cut into batons

3 tablespoons of olive oil

2 teaspoon of curry powder (if you’re adverse to heat, scale back to 1 teaspoon)

1/2 teaspoon of cayenne

1 teaspoon of salt

1 1/2 teaspoon of cumin powder

Tzatziki Sauce:

1 cucumber, peeled and diced

1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice (or juice from 1/2 lemon)

7 ounces of whole greek yogurt (one small container of Fage)

2 tablespoons of dill

3 tablespoons of sour cream

1 teaspoon of salt

Pre-heat oven to 425F.

In a large bowl, toss carrots with olive oil, curry powder, cayenne, salt and cumin powder. Evenly spread out on a baking sheet being sure that the carrots don’t overlap. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until golden brown.

For the tzatziki sauce add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until thoroughly incorporated. Transfer to a bowl and refrigerate for 15 minutes.