Ingredients
Yams - at least one per person.
Olive oil
Corn starch. A big sprinkle’s worth.
Salt, pepper and a little cayenne
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Peel the yams and cut them into fry-shaped pieces. Try to cut them into similarly sized pieces so the fries will bake evenly.
Toss the uncooked fries into a mixing bowl or a plastic bag. Pour in a few tablespoons of olive oil, enough to lightly coat the fries. Season with salt, pepper, and spices. Sprinkle in corn starch. Use half a teaspoon per potato or so. Mix/shake to distribute evenly.
Pour the fries onto a non-stick baking sheet or a baking sheet covered with parchment paper (aluminum foil produces mixed results). Arrange the fries in a single layer. It is very important to keep them in a single layer, otherwise they will never crisp up. It’s best to give each fry a bit of room on the baking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes, then flip the fries so they can cook on all sides. I find the easiest way to flip them is with a metal spatula. Section by section, scoop up about ten fries and flip them with a quick turn of the wrist.
Bake for 10 to 15 more minutes, until the fries are crispy. You’ll know they’re done when the surface of the fries change from shiny orange to a more matte, puffed up texture. It’s essential to bake them long enough, otherwise they won’t be crispy. Don’t worry if the edges are a little bit brown; they will taste more caramelized than burnt.