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trinidad pepper fries

Incredible Fiery Pepper Fries

A bold Trinidad-style pepper fries recipe made with crispy fries tossed in a fiery scotch bonnet pepper base, delivering intense heat, aroma, and street-food flavor in every bite.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb frozen crinkle fries
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion chunky chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic smashed
  • 2 scotch bonnet peppers sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups bell peppers chunky chopped
  • 2 scallions chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon black pepper coarse
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese grated

Instructions
 

  • Cook the crinkle fries according to the package instructions. Traditionally in Trinidad and Tobago, this is made with deep-fried French fries, however to make the dish slightly healthier, I opted to oven-bake the fries. Thus only using a tablespoon of oil for the entire dish.
    peppers cooking for making fiery pepper fries
  • Heat the vegetable oil in a wok or wide pan over medium heat.
  • Add the onion, bell peppers, scotch bonnet peppers, garlic, and scallions. Stir well and cook for about 3 minutes. Ensure your kitchen is well ventilated as the pepper fumes will be strong and can irritate your eyes and throat. In the video below you'll catch me choking with the intense scent of the scotch bonnet peppers being tossed in the hot oil.
    making trinidad pepper fries
  • Add the salt and black pepper, then toss to coat everything evenly. Cook for another minute.
    tossing pepper fries
  • Add the pre-cooked fries to the pan and toss thoroughly to coat them with the spicy pepper mixture.
    adding crinkle cut fries to make pepper fries
  • making pepper fries from trinidad
  • Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until the fries are heated through and infused with the pepper heat.
    finishing pepper fries in the wok
  • Turn off the heat and sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the fries. Toss gently and serve warm.
    parmesan cheese added to trinidad pepper fries
  • pepper fries recipe

Video

Notes

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What are pepper fries?

Pepper fries are a Trinbagonian street food made by tossing fried potatoes in a spicy mixture of peppers, onions, and seasonings, commonly served as a cutter with an adult beverage.

Can I use other peppers instead of scotch bonnet?

Yes, you can substitute with habanero or any hot pepper available to you. The flavor will vary slightly, but the heat level can still be adjusted to your preference.

Are pepper fries popular across the Caribbean?

While pepper fries are very popular in Trinidad and Tobago, they are not widely known across many other Caribbean islands, which often surprises people discovering the dish for the first time.

Can I make pepper fries with fresh potatoes?

Yes, you can use fresh-cut potatoes instead of frozen fries. Just ensure they are cooked until crisp before tossing with the pepper mixture.

How do I reduce the heat in pepper fries?

You can reduce the number of hot peppers used or remove the seeds and white membrane before cooking. Adding more bell peppers can also help balance the heat.
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