Straw Potatoes or Crispy Matchstick Potatoes

Straw potatoes or matchstick potatoes are a delicious crispy side dish, they cook in minutes and just need a good whack of salt and pepper.

These delicious crispy potato bites are not just for dinner either, they make a corking movie night snack too, just add your favourite dip!

Crispy Fried Matchstick Potato Chips

Given that my website is named after the Hungarian colloquial word for potatoes… yes my site is called spud, it should be no surprise that I have a few potato recipes knocking around.

Whether it is fancy fondant potatoes, Parmentier potatoes or Indian influenced aloo methi, I cook with them a lot!

But as a Brit, there is a special place in my foodie heart for frying spuds!

These crispy straw potato chips, which are also known as matchstick potatoes join other favourites like proper chip shop chips and crispy fried potatoes.

These are super quick to cook and they are gloriously crispy, and they are just as good as a side as they are as a snack.

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of potatoes should I use?

Because we are soaking them it does not make a huge amount of difference. However, you should make sure that you use a large single potato rather than lots of little potatoes.

Do I have to soak the potatoes?

For me, yes! Soaking them removes lots of the starch, this means super crisp potatoes really quickly, it also stops them clumping together.

Do I have to use a mandolin?

No, but it will make your life an awful lot easier! I have a mandolin that will cut the potatoes into an even 2mm matchstick which is ideal.

If yours only cuts strips, slice the potatoes into a 2mm “wafer”, then hand slice them into matchsticks.

If you are cutting by hand it is important to ensure that you cut the potatoes evenly in order for them to cook evenly.

Can I use other seasonings?

Oh gosh yes. Go wild and crazy and match the seasoning with whatever you are serving them with!

Think garam masala, cajun seasoning, paprika, Italian seasoning, celery salt, the world really is your oyster, knock yourself out!

Serving Suggestions

As I have mentioned above, these straw potatoes make for a wonderful snack. But for me, they come alive as a side dish!

I have them pictured above with my vegan mushroom stroganoff and a pan-fried lamb Barnsley chop.

Fried potatoes work so well with any stroganoff and I regularly serve these with both my beef stroganoff and pork stroganoff.

They are great finger food and as a result, they sit wonderfully with burgers. You could sprinkle a bit of jerk seasoning on them and serve them with my jerk chicken burger or some Thai flavourings and serve them with my fantastic fish burger!

I’m really fond of sprinkling these with toasted garam masala and serving them with my salmon tikka.

Or simply drop them on the side of a plate with perfectly cooked rump steak and some mushrooms, surf and turf or even a bacon chop!

Equipment Used

I only mention specific brands of equipment if I think they make a material difference to a recipe. If you have any questions feel free to ask them in the comments section below the recipe.

• Stovetop.
• Weighing scales and or measuring cups and spoons.
• Chopping board.
• Kitchen knife.
• Mandolin, this is optional and replaces the two items above. It is the best way to get perfect potatoes. If your mandolin does not come with a guard buy a safety glove!
• Tea towel and or kitchen paper.
• Deep fat fryer or a high sided 30cm or 12″ frying pan.
• Slotted spoon.