Perfect Pairings: 8 Best Side Dishes for Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries, originally from North America and found in almost every grocery shop and restaurant worldwide, are made by cutting sweet potatoes into thin strips and frying them in oil.

However, the fries lose a lot of nutrients during frying and can be a little greasy.

To get good-quality, healthier sweet potato fries, roast them yourself in the oven or air fryer.

Or, if you are looking for something different, why not try baked sweet potato fries?

Most people enjoy the deliciously sweet flavor of sweet potatoes.

They have a sweet but earthy taste and go well with almost every savory food.

Sweet potatoes are often used as an alternative to white potatoes or French fries in many dishes because they have a milder flavor.

Sweet potato fries usually come with a type of dipping sauce or seasoning.

Whether it is ketchup or some other sauce, you will enjoy this treat.

In this article, we will list the eight best side dishes that go well with sweet potato fries.

Why Consider Serving Side Dishes for Sweet Potato Fries?

Sweet potato fries are often considered to be a dish unto themselves.

As their rich sweetness makes them stand out amongst other fries, this may cause the inclusion of side dishes to seem overkill.

However, there are several delicious options for sweet potato fries.

Furthermore, the flavor of such side dishes can enhance the flavor of your sweet potato fries.

Side dishes can provide unique flavors to compliment the sweetness of your fries, creating a multi-faceted dish that people will love to eat again and again.

As potatoes are naturally sweet, they can act as an excellent base for complex flavors.

What to Serve with Sweet Potato Fries? 8 BEST Side Dishes

Foods that would work great as a side dish for sweet potatoes fries include:

1 – Mashed Potatoes and Gravy

A staple of many American’s favorite foods, mashed potatoes and gravy make the perfect pairing to sweet potato fries.

The creamy and savory components both complement and contrast the sweetness of the potatoes without overshadowing it.

The starchy texture of the mashed potatoes holds up well against the crispiness of the fries, while gravy provides a rich, luxurious sauce that brings it all together.

You can make a creamy gravy using beef, chicken, or vegetable stock for a savory, meaty taste.

For a healthier take on this dish, make the mashed potatoes with the same ingredients as usual, but half butter and milk.

Top it off with a splash of your favorite non-dairy milk rather than heavy cream to save some calories.

This will still provide all the flavor without derailing your diet.

2 – Mango Salsa

Mango salsa goes great with sweet potato fries because it has a strong sweetness that balances out the intense spiciness of certain salsas.

The spiciness of this salsa can come from jalapeños, serrano peppers, or habaneros.

For a milder spicy kick, you can use just one of these peppers instead of all three.

Mango also offers an aromatic and juicy flavor that makes salsa stand out.

While mangoes are in season from May to October, you can buy pre-made mango salsa from most grocery stores year-round.

This makes this dish a very easy side dish to prepare with minimal time and effort.

3 – Red Cabbage Coleslaw

Coleslaw makes a great side dish for sweet potato fries because of the similarity in texture and color.

Though coleslaw tends to be a bit crunchier, it can easily be modified by briefly throwing it into a food processor to soften the veggies.

Coleslaw is generally made from shredded cabbage that has been mixed with mayonnaise or a similar dressing.

Sweet vinaigrette works well with coleslaw to provide a creamy and slightly sweet flavor that is the perfect contrast to the crispiness of your fries.

There are a ton of different ingredients you can add to give your coleslaw unique flavors.

You can add carrots or other vegetables to give it a bit of crunch, while dried fruit such as raisins or cranberries makes for a pleasant sweet contrast.

4 – Corn on the Cob

Adding corn on the cob to your side dish list can add an excellent complimentary taste that combines two wonderful flavors.

You can either serve it alongside your fries, or you can mix them and make something like chili-lime corn fries.

This delicious twist on traditional corn takes advantage of the sweetness and starchiness of sweet potatoes to create a wonderful dish.

Corn on the cob goes great with sweet potatoes because they both have a very earthy and natural flavor that works well together.

You can top it off with butter, salt, or chili powder to add additional flavors that work super well.

5 – Beet Greens

Though this may not be a super common vegetable, beet greens make an excellent addition as a side dish for your fries.

Beetroots are commonly used as the main ingredient to create delicious dishes such as borscht, a green beet soup widely served in Eastern Europe.

This earthy and woodsy flavor works well with sweet potatoes.

Beet greens are pretty easy to find at your local grocery store year-round.

They can be stored in your refrigerator for about a week, so if it’s easier, you can buy them fresh and prepare them yourself.

You can cook them with warm spices such as pepper or parsley to enhance the flavors and provide a bit of texture, or you can lightly toast them and serve them as a delicious side dish.

6 – Mixed Vegetable Stir Fry

Stir fry quickly tossed in your wok makes for an excellent side dish to pair with sweet potatoes.

You can use any combination of vegetables that you’d like; just be sure to cut them into small enough pieces that they cook through reasonably quickly.

This dish can be made just in a few minutes and provides an incredibly flavorful way to give your fries some more crunch and texture.

Continuing on the Asian-inspired theme, you can also use rice noodles or rice as an aside.

This will provide an excellent texture contrast to your fries and give them an overall more balanced flavor profile.

7 – Broccoli with Cheese Sauce

Broccoli is easily one of the most popular vegetable options to pair with sweet potatoes because it has many health benefits and provides an excellent flavor profile.

Broccoli is available year-round at your local grocery store and can be found both fresh and frozen.

There are many different ways to prepare broccoli, but the most common way is to boil or steam it.

You could also try roasting it to give it a crispy texture that goes well with the fries.

The cheese sauce is also a great option to pair with broccoli because it can give it an extra creamy and cheesy flavor that takes your side dish from good to great.

8 – Dipping Sauce

The dipping sauce is a great way to add a layer of flavor without worrying about whether your fries will go well with it.

Most Japanese restaurants serve dipping sauce alongside their sweet potato fries, making for an excellent way to enjoy them.

You can try serving different dipping sauces that range from spicy mayo to sweet chili sauce—many other dipping options like caramel, chocolate (for dessert fries), or honey toms.

Conclusion

In conclusion, sweet potato fries are great because they provide a lovely crunchy and flavorful base to which you can add an endless list of delicious sides.

Try out any combination of the above side dishes for a unique twist on this classic favorite.

It’s essential to keep things simple when cooking, so if you’re looking for something easy to prepare, then try these eight best side dishes.

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