Potato chips may be good for the soul, but they're not that great for the body. Luckily, there is a better alternative for those that crave that satisfying crunch: making your own chips at home.
Making your own chips is so easy you'll wonder why you ever bothered buying them from the store. It's a simple process of converting fruit or vegetables into thin slivers, tossing in your favorite spices and a layer of oil, and applying heat. Whether you're baking, dehydrating or air frying, it's a great way to make delicious snacks on a budget.
Tools for Chip Making
You can make chips using as little as an oven and a knife or vegetable peeler, but there are a couple of tools that will save you time and effort:
A mandolin
Pick one of these up from the store for $10 or less. A vegetable holder passes back and forth over a thin blade, quickly turning the bulkiest vegetable into consistently wafer-thin slivers.
An air fryer
Lightly misting your veggies with oil and cooking them in an air fryer will give you the same crispy goodness as deep frying without the post-snack guilt.
A dehydrator
This handy unit dries out food at low temperatures without using oil. It's the healthiest option of all.
Chip creativity
Beets, chickpeas, and sweet potatoes are the rock stars of the home-made chip world, but you can make chips out of a surprising array of foods. Here are some alternative ideas to spice up your snacks:
Apple
Give your galas a new lease of life by turning them into apple chips with some cinnamon and low and slow baking.
Carrots
Turn carrots from crunchy to crispy by slicing them into long slivers and tossing them in your favorite spices. How about a little ginger?
Cucumber
You thought cucumbers were just for salads? Think again. Use a dehydrator or bake them at a low temperature to create one of the healthiest snacks around.
Kale
For those whose love-hate relationship with kale lacks any real love, consider making it into chips instead. Biting into a crispy, salty kale crisp is a completely different experience.
Garlic
Soak thinly-sliced garlic in Thai Kitchen® Coconut Milk before frying it in a thin layer of oil. Just ensure that your significant other eats it too!
Plantain
Plantains needn't be plain. Turn this humble cooking banana into a creative snack centerpiece by combining it with seafood and fruit to make a Yucatan-Style Shrimp on Plaintain Crisp With Guava Cream and Annatto Oil Drizzle.
Sugar Snap Peas
Summer is the perfect time for Sugar Snap Pea Crisps to brighten up the dining table with a savory side dish. Seasoned with basil, oregano, black pepper, and garlic powder, these crispy veggies are a surefire better-for-you way to snack.
Taro
Not everyone's go-to vegetable, taro is surprisingly versatile. Slice it, bake it, and pair it with a range of dips for a dinner table talking point.
Once you get started on making your own fruit and vegetable chips, your only barrier is your imagination. They're easier on your wallet than potato chips, better for your body, and produce less packaging waste. They're also far more interesting for visitors to try.
Test out some chip ideas at your next book club or family get together. Just be sure to make extra, because people are sure to ask for more.
Looking to get the most out of your air fryer or oven? Try out these delicious, resolution-friendly recipes!
