Baked Beet Fries With Maple-Pecan Aioli

Written by
Leah Maroney
A recipe developer and food photographer, Leah Maroney is an ardent home cook and food blogger who has written over 300 recipes for The Spruce Eats.
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Leah Maroney
Published 03/31/20
beet fries on a plate with maple pecan aioli

 The Spruce Eats / Leah Maroney 
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 1 platter

These crispy beet fries are lightly garlicky, topped with crumbled goat cheese, and served alongside a super easy and delicious maple pecan aioli. It’s salty, sweet, crispy, and creamy all in one delicious bite.

Beet fries are perfect if you are looking to cut out starchy potatoes, but still want something dippable to go along with your favorite burger. They're super easy to bake and you don’t have any of the mess that comes with deep frying.

Ingredients

  • For the Beet Fries:
  • 4 golden and red beets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • Garnish: fresh chopped parsley, crumbled goat cheese
  • For the Maple Pecan Aioli:
  • 1/4 cup pecan halves
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 teaspoons lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Steps to Make It

Note: while there are multiple steps to this recipe, this dish is broken down into workable categories to help you better plan for preparation and cooking.

Prepare the Beets

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    beet fry ingredients

  2. Preheat the oven to 425 F. Wash and scrub your beets then peel them. Cut both ends off of the beets.

    peeled raw beets on a cutting board

  3. Cut the beets into slices and then cut them into 1/2-inch matchsticks.

    beet fries cut into matchsticks

  4. Whisk the olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic in a large bowl. Toss the beet sticks in the bowl until they are completely coated with the garlic oil.

    beet fries tossed with olive oil and garlic

  5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lay out the beet fries in one even layer. Don’t let them overlap or they will steam instead of crisp.

    Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through to allow both sides to crisp.

    While the fries are baking prepare the maple pecan aioli.

    beet fries on a parchment paper lined baking sheet

Make the Aioli

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    ingredients for maple pean aioli on a marble board

  2. Toast the pecans in a small sauté pan, shaking frequently for 3 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant.

    toasted pecans in a saute pan

  3. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, salt, pepper, and maple syrup to a blender or food processor. Toss in the pecans and blend until smooth. Add a teaspoon of water if it’s too thick.

    blended maple pecan aioli

  4. Remove the fries from the oven.

    roasted beet fries on a parchent lined baking sheet

  5. Place the cooked beet fries on a platter and top with chopped parsley and crumbled goat cheese. Serve with the maple pecan aioli and enjoy.

    beet fries topped with goat cheese on a white plate

Tips

  • These fries are baked and are made from beets so they are not going to be as crispy as regular fries. But you can deep-fry them for extra crisp if you want! Just heat up a few cups of oil to 360 F and fry for 3 to 4 minutes. Just make sure to pat them dry before adding them to the frying oil.

Recipe Variations

  • You can omit the garlic and/or add other spices to the olive oil. Try adding cumin, chili powder, or smoked paprika.

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