By Jodee Weiland

When preparing a meal for several guests, it’s always nice to have an easy but tasty potato side dish to serve. Delicious Oven Baked Seasoned Steak Fries are both tasty and easy to prepare as well as healthy.

Usually I scrub the skins of the potatoes earlier, and then set them aside to dry whole. We all know that baking potatoes whole is easy, but it takes longer to bake them, and you can’t season them or anything, so they are just a baked potato. That’s fine, but if you want something a little different and delicious, this is definitely the dish for you!

I like my guests to feel that they are special enough for me to do something a little extra for them. That something can definitely be both healthy and taste delicious. Seasonings and a little extra virgin olive oil can make all the difference, and it’s not that difficult to do. Besides, with a baked potato, people tend to load them up with not so healthy choices, while these potatoes need no extra garnishes!

Delicious Oven Baked Seasoned Steak Fries

6 to 8 baking potatoes (depending on the number of people and size of the potatoes)
Extra virgin olive oil
Garlic powder
Onion powder
Dried parsley flakes
Sea salt and black pepper to taste (for after baking)

These are the basic seasonings, but you can add any other seasonings you may like. Preheat your oven to 475 degrees. Prepare your baking sheets with parchment cooking paper. Cut the each potato in half and then cut the halves into ¼” to ½” slices to create your steak fries just before you are ready to cook. You may do this sooner and leave in cold water, but I prefer to do it just before baking.

Put the slices in a large bowl and pour some olive oil over the slices. Toss the slices until all of them are coated with some olive oil. They do not need to be drenched, but just coated. Once coated in olive oil, place the slices evenly on your baking sheets. Sprinkle them to taste with the garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley flakes. You may add any additional seasonings you may like, but if serving guests, I suggest you always ask about preferences as some people may not like or tolerate well certain seasonings. When done seasoning, place the baking sheets in the oven for about 20 minutes or until fork tender. Watch them carefully when baking so that you do not burn them.

Once done, place your Delicious Oven Baked Seasoned Steak Fries in a dish and serve along with the rest of the meal. Your guests may add salt and pepper to their own taste, but they don’t really need it with the seasonings already used. I don’t usually put salt on the table, just a whole peppercorn grinder, and rarely does anyone request the salt. These steak fries are always a winner with those eating, but the best part is that they are full of great flavor and healthy. On top of that, they are really easy to put together and adaptable to the tastes of your guests as well. Try them, and enjoy!