Golden brown. Super crunchy. Perfectly seasoned. Why buy frozen ones when homemade is so much better and so easy to make? Pssst. And did you know that wedges have about 1/3 of the calories of fries??
Potato wedges are almost as popular as fries in Australia. When you go to a pub, there will inevitably be wedges on the bistro menu right alongside fries.
And there’s almost as many varieties of frozen potato wedges as there are fries. Different flavours, different crunch levels, normal potato and sweet potato, extra spicy – the list goes on and on.
I’m not going to deny that I have been known to have a stash of frozen wedges in my freezer. They are SUCH a great midnight snack….I can’t help it, I just can’t resist the convenience!
BUT as with everything, homemade is so much better. I’ve always noticed that the frozen ones have a slight sourness to them (I’ve also noticed that with frozen Potato Gems / Tater Tots) – anyone else notice that??
I’ve played around with seasoning mixes, but keep falling back to a simple combination that I think closely resembles the seasoned wedges served at pubs and the ones you can get from the supermarket. Just paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper.
I found that the way to make crunchy wedges is using the right amount of oil. Too much and it actually makes them soggy. Too little and the seasoning doesn’t stick on the wedges and the wedges stick to the baking tray.
I’ve previously shared a Truly Crunchy Roast Potatoes recipe to make potatoes with an incredible crunch factor. The technique used in that recipe calls for par boiling then roughing up the potatoes with semolina (it’s a Nigella revelation). I tried it for wedges but found that it didn’t work very well because wedges are smaller pieces. They need at least 35 minutes to get the crispy crust, and if you par boil them beforehand, they are really overcooked on the inside (fall apart mushy) by the time they finish baking.
Here in Australia, wedges are traditionally served with sour cream and sweet chili. If you order wedges at a bistro, you don’t even have to ask for them, it’s just how wedges come.
If you are the civilised sort, just dip away, one wedge at a time…
…or, if you want to serve them up the real Aussie way, then dollop some sour cream and sweet chili ON the wedges and prepare to get your fingers nice and messy!
Baby Hands Alert!! I’m starving, it’s been torture photographing these!! I need to get stuck into them while they’re still warm!! – Nagi
PS I FORGOT TO MENTION that these are just 250 calories a serving!! I’m not talking about a tiny portion either. Go forth and enjoy (almost) guilt free!
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Seasoned Baked Potato Wedges
In Australia, wedges are traditionally served with a side of sour cream and sweet chilli sauce. Combined with the hot, crunchy, salty wedges, it's a match made in heaven!
Just 250 calories per serving! (Assuming this serves 4)
Ingredients
- 2 lb / 1 kg potatoes , peeled (4 large ones) (Note 1)
- 3 tbsp olive oil
Seasoning
- 1 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder (or sub with more onion powder)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp pepper
To serve (optional - but highly recommended for optimal experience!)
- Sour cream
- Sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- Place a large baking tray in the oven and preheat the oven to 200C/390F.
- Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise, then cut each half into 4 "wedges" (so you get 8 pieces from each potato).
- Place potatoes in a large bowl and toss with olive oil.
- In a separate bowl, combine the Seasoning ingredients.
- Take the heated tray out of the oven.
- Tumble the potatoes onto the tray and crowd them together in a single layer.
- Sprinkle over half the Seasoning. Use an egg flip to toss, crowd them together again, then sprinkle over the remaining Seasoning.
- Spread the wedges out on the tray and bake for 35 to 45 minutes, turning once, or until dark golden brown and crispy.
- Serve hot with sour cream and sweet chili sauce, if desired.
Recipe Notes:
US - russet is ideal. Yukon Gold is not suitable.
UK - Maris Piper is a good all rounder which is suitable and readily available in all the supermarkets. 2. I found these freeze quite well! I let them cool, then froze them. Then I defrosted them, sprayed with oil and baked them at 200C/390F for around 12 minutes, just to heat through and crisp up again. 3. Nutrition assuming 4 servings, excluding sour cream and sweet chili.
Nutrition Information:
These were DELICIOUS. Hubby and I devoured them.
They didn’t come out as crispy as I hoped tho. I am going to try and put some oil in with the pan while it heats and see how that works. The wedges stuck a bit to the pan.
I am also going to season the wedges with the oil and toss them in the hot pan & quickly back in the oven.
I’ll let you know if this fixes it.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this!! If they didn’t come out crispy, I would try turning the oven up as well 🙂 I have a fan forced oven so it’s quite strong!
Didn’t know that Australians serve potato wedges with sour cream and sweet chili sauce! How interesting! Gotta try it that way next time! These wedges look SO CRISPY and DELISH!
It is the BEST combination ever!!! I am not happy if wedges come out without it. It would be like having a sausage roll without tomato sauce – never!!
Oh come on who in the world does not like wedges. I for one cant resist. They definately are better homemade
I thought it was just an “Aussie” thing!! Clearly not 😉
i, too, love potato wedges and in the version of the recipe I use, it has dried basil in the seasonings. I absolutely love ’em!
Oooh! I’ll toss some in the next time I make wedges! 🙂 Thanks for the tip Debra – N x
I want to be able to enjoy such wedges with some quality dipping sauces on the beach in Goa. That would be a dream come true!! Somehow they have changed the rules in some part sin Europe where restaurants are not allowed to serve home cut potato fries/chips and wedges. That’s why my aunty had to close down her cool hotdog burger french fry place some 15 years back. They were famous for home made fries and wedges and obviously once the law was implemented for non-homemade potato products, business went down.
You’re kidding! That is just the oddest law….how strange. I hope your Auntie bounced back. That is just devastating.
Oh baby! Carbs in winter are a must, and then you taunt us with a low-fat oven version? I’m cranking the oven up now!
My simple logic: less fat = eat more 🙂
Looks fab.. I am used to frying the wedges for my kids and eating it with so much guilt with my expanding waist line.. but these baked version are a better option for me.. I can atleast eat it without any guilt.. Have never thought about the sour cream and chilli sauce.. i am gonna aisle hunting this weekend..
Bet my ever expanding waistline problem is worse than yours…. 😉
Sour cream and sweet chilli sauce with wedges is NOT optional, at least at my place. I LOVE these, Nagi!
Mine too!!! 🙂
Well you know what? This is a first for me, I’ve never heard of sour cream and sweet chili sauce together and as a dip for potato wedges. I really have to try this combo, I have a feeling I’m going to like it! I’m with you, I love my potato wedges, more so than fries. We could also throw in some bacon, but I guess it won’t be guilt free anymore. Oh well, who cares!
Ha ha you crack me up!! BACON! Totally 🙂 Makes everything better! You definitely have to try the sour cream / sweet chili combo!! Classic Aussie thing! 🙂
Hi Nagi! I made this for lunch today and it was delicious! So flavorful and yummy! 😀 these potato wedges are amazing!
Sarah! I’m SO HAPPY that you enjoyed it! Thank you so much for coming back to let me know! N xxxx
Hi Tin,
This dish looks very divine, and I am definitely trying this recipe on the memorial day. Thanks for the recipe.
Oooh! I hope you do! So happy at the thought of making into your Memorial Day menu 🙂 Hope you have a wonderful long weekend!!
I wish I had something intelligent to add to the conversation, but all I’m thinking is Yum, yes please 2 buckets to go lol
You crack me up!!! Too funny! Hope you have a wonderful weekend! N x
These potato wedges are everything, Nagi!!! Love how perfectly cooked and crispy they are. I would definitely make a mess while happily devouring these 🙂 The sour cream and sweet chili sauce sound amazing!
Awww, thanks Kelly!!! Well, I tend to make a mess of myself with anything that requires eating with my hands and a sauce…and I LOVE it. The saying “happy as a pig in mud” was made about me, I think! 🙂
These wedges look divine! Love how crunchy they are! Yum – can’t wait to try these out! 😀
THANKS Jessica!! Hope you do give these a go – they were SO crunchy and that seasoning! The flavour is fab!! 🙂
Sour cream and sweet chili sauce now that is a combination I must try!! 😉 I love the thick potato wedges compared to wimpy fritz- these are so much better. It is good to know that I can freeze them but don’t think I will get that opportunity with the boys. Have a super weekend!
You literally made me laugh out loud – wimpy fries!!!! Ha ha ha!! Hope you have a super weekend too! 🙂
Thanks so much Nagi, I love wedges, sour cream and honey sweet chilli sauce, but have then so infrequently due to the high calories, you have made my day plus home made is always best!
You’re welcome Hope! I’m glad you like the look of these 🙂 They really are super delicious and a food blogger friend of mine made them yesterday and said she loved them too!! So it’s not just me 🙂 It always amazes me that these are only 250 calories! That’s for 8 BIG wedges, a 250g/8oz serving i.e. one GIANT potato!! Mmmm…..it’s freezing here in Sydney today, I think I’ll have to make these for lunch! Have a wonderful weekend Hope!
I have never come across sweet chilli sauce. I live in the middle east . do we get it here if so what is the brand of it please nagi
I have never come across sweet chill sauce do we get it in the middle east if so can u please tell me the brand name of it. please
Hi Lina! I was in Dubai for a while and I remember seeing it at local supermarkets but I can’t remember exactly which brand! It was located where soy sauce and things like that are 🙂 Here’s a picture of what it looks like. There are MANY brands! It is very cheap too 🙂 http://www.amazon.com/Mae-Ploy-Sweet-Chili-Sauce/dp/B00023T3C6