The marketing genius behind Lays’ famous old slogan was not mistaken when they coined the phrase, “bet you can’t have just one!” We’ve all been in this situation: a bag of deliciously tempting potato chips is placed in front of you. You tell yourself you’ll just have one, maybe two. Fifteen minutes later, you find yourself in a potato chip coma, with grease and salt covered fingers to evidence that you, in fact, finished the entire bag. Now, instead of finishing your lengthy to-do list, you can’t find the strength to get up off the couch, because the potato chips you just ingested had almost no nutritional value. We love the satisfying crunch of a wonderfully flavorful snack just as much as you do, so we have a solution that will keep the chip lover in you contented, without draining all of your energy and leaving you feeling lethargic!
Nutrient rich fruits and vegetables are the perfect substitute for starchy potatoes. Easy to grow and harvest in your own backyard, you can turn almost any in-season fruit or vegetable into a delicious chip without much effort at all. The easiest way to accomplish the perfectly round and thin chip is with a mandolin, but if you don’t have one—no problem! Just use a knife to get whatever cut you desire.
Homemade fruit and vegetable chips are perfect for the imaginative, adventurous cook. There is no right or wrong way to make them, so feel free to experiment using your favorite spices and flavoring techniques. Coconut oil and extra-virgin olive oil are some of the most nutrient packed oils with an abundance of healthy fats, you can’t go wrong with using either to lightly coat your chips before baking! To achieve the greatest crunch without ending up with a burnt chip, cook whatever fruit and vegetable chip you’ve decided on at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. And be sure to go easy on the salt, since fruit and veggie chips are purposed in being a healthier alternative after all!
The beauty of homemade fruit and veggie chips is that they allow for limitless creativity, unlike baking, where exact measurements and ingredients are crucial. But if you need a little inspiration to get the creative juices flowing, here are some simple, yet delicious ideas for the perfect fruit and vegetable chips!
Sweet potatoes are a everyone’s favorite alternative to the typical potato chip. These root vegetables are known for being one of the best food sources of vitamin A, a large one containing more than 100% of the daily-recommended value (“Live Science” 1). Vitamin A is packed with antioxidants, associated with anti-aging and vision benefits, and is believed to help prevent cancer. With all these health benefits, and its delicious flavor, sweet potatoes are a great seasonal vegetable to utilize for a batch of healthy chips (“Live Science” 1). Here’s a tasty recipe you can follow, or use it as a guideline, and add your own twist! http://www.seeandsavour.com/2013/04/sweet-potato-baked-chips-with-orange.html#.V2gWM5ODGkp
Beets are another yummy seasonal vegetable that can be easily turned into a chip! Potassium, magnesium, fiber, iron, folic acid—the list of nutritional benefits goes on. Beets are packed full of vitamins our bodies need to thrive, and with their naturally sweet flavor, they make a wonderfully delicious snack! Give this simple recipe a try, and add your own stamp with your favorite spices. http://minimalistbaker.com/baked-rosemary-beet-chips/
The opportunities are endless when it comes to making delightfully crunchy, flavor-packed fruit and veggie chips. Since we, at Local Llano, are all about locally produced vegetables, make sure you’re choosing locally grown, in season fruits and vegetables. Or even better, grow your own! Here’s a list of in season fruits and veggies that will make for the most enjoyable chip snacks:
- Peaches
- Plums
- Beets
- Turnips
- Carrots
- Squash
- Eggplant
- Radishes
- Tomatoes
Have fun with the fruit and veggie chip experiment, and remember there is no right or wrong way to create them!
