Description
Craving California’s famous In-N-Out Animal Style Fries? This irresistible recipe brings west coast diner magic straight to your kitchen, blending crispy golden potatoes with tangy special sauce and melted cheese. Comfort meets culinary creativity in one mouthwatering plate you’ll want to devour.
Ingredients
Scale
Fries and Potato:
- 2 large russet potatoes
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) salt
- ¼ teaspoon (1.25 grams) black pepper
Caramelized Onions:
- 1 large onion (finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) vegetable oil
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) salt
- 1 teaspoon (4 grams) sugar (optional, for extra sweetness)
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) water (to deglaze the pan)
Sauce and Cheese:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) ketchup
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) sweet pickle relish
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) mustard
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) white vinegar
- ½ teaspoon (2 grams) sugar (optional, for balance)
- 4 slices American cheese (or cheddar, for a sharper flavor)
Instructions
- Create uniform potato strips by carefully slicing into thin, even matchsticks, ensuring consistent thickness for optimal cooking.
- Immerse freshly cut potatoes in ice-cold water for half an hour to eliminate residual starches, promoting crispier texture when cooked.
- Thoroughly drain potato strips and meticulously pat dry using clean kitchen towels or paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Season potato strips with vegetable oil, sprinkling salt and pepper evenly across surface for balanced flavor distribution.
- For air fryer preparation, arrange potato strips in single layer without overcrowding, cooking at high temperature and rotating basket midway through cooking process.
- Alternative oven method involves spreading potato strips on baking sheet, rotating midpoint to ensure uniform golden-brown crispness.
- Traditional deep-frying technique requires maintaining precise oil temperature, submerging potato strips in small batches to prevent temperature drop.
- After cooking through selected method, transfer fries to absorbent paper towels to eliminate excess oil and preserve crispy exterior.
- Allow fries to rest momentarily, ensuring optimal texture and temperature before serving with preferred condiments or signature animal style toppings.
Notes
- Enhance starch removal by adding a splash of vinegar to the cold water when soaking potatoes, helping achieve crispier fries.
- Customize texture by cutting fries slightly thicker for a more substantial bite or thinner for extra crunchiness.
- Reduce oil absorption by thoroughly drying potato strips before cooking, ensuring a lighter, less greasy final result.
- Accommodate dietary needs by using sweet potatoes or russet potatoes for varied nutritional profiles and flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Snacks, Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 1000 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg