Crispy masala French fries that don’t require a long list of spices, without compromising taste! Plus, these Indian-style fries can either be baked or air-fried!

I’ve even asked my Indian friends to taste this masala fries recipe, and they approved!

Close-up shot of Indian masala French fries garnished with coriander.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Potatoes: Starchy base for our masala fries! Whether you prefer Russet potatoes, Yukon Gold or any other potatoes, you can experiment and use them all!
Vegetable oil: To crisp up the fries and so that the seasoning will stick. Any neutral oil like avocado or sunflower oil is also good here.

Ingredients for masala French fries with labels on a white marbled background.

Garlic powder: Adds a savory depth.
Ginger powder: Adds some warmth to our masala spice mix.
(Kashmiri) chili powder: Brings in the heat!
- Regular chili powder/cayenne pepper also works here.
Turmeric: Adds earthiness and a beautiful golden hue!
Garam masala: Provides a warm, complex flavor
- If you don’t have access to garam masala, simply sub 1 teaspoon of garam masala with 1/2 teaspoon of coriander and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin.
Salt and Pepper: Because what is life without these two, right?
Coriander/cilantro (optional): As garnish. You can also use chopped scallions if you prefer.

How to Make Masala Fries

Prep the potatoes: Wash the potatoes with running water and cut the potatoes into fries, leaving the skin on. Pat them dry with a clean kitchen towel to remove additional moisture.

Season: First mix all the spices in a small bowl. Then toss the fries with oil and the masala spice mix until well coated.

Drying up the cut potato fries with a clean kitchen towel.

Adding the masala spice mix into the cut up potato fries.

Baked Masla Fries (Option 1): Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20 minutes, then at 425°F (210°C) for 10-12 minutes until crispy. No need to flip the potatoes so no hassle here!

Air Fryer Masala Fries (Option 2): Air fry at 380°F (195°C) for 12 minutes, shake, and cook for 5-10 more minutes until your desired crispiness. Be sure that your air fryer basket is not overcrowded!

Masala French fries before baking, on a baking sheet.

Masala French fries after baking, on a baking sheet.

Serve: Garnish with the optional coriander and serve your masala French fries while hot and crispy. Easy peasy!

Top Tips

Dry the potatoes well: Removing as much moisture as possible is key to crispy fries!
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Space them out in a single layer for proper crisping, both in the oven and in the air fryer.
- And if you’re baking them, do NOT stack two baking sheets in the oven!
Serve immediately: As with any other fries, these Indian-style fries lose their crispiness over time. As such, enjoy them immediately once they are done cooking!

Two hand grabbing Indian fries, with one of them dipping into the tandoori mayo.

Serving Suggestions

Dipping Sauces: Pair with some tandoori mayo or spicy garlic aioli. For a non-spicy dipping sauce, they go great with this citrus aioli or smoked paprika mayo.

As a Side Dish: Pair them with your smash onion burgers, tandoori roasted veggies, avocado bagel, or hummus bagel for a complete meal!

Street Food-Style Chaat: Toss the fries with chopped red onions, tomatoes, coriander, and a squeeze of lemon. Sprinkle with a bit of chaat masala for that characteristic chaat feel, similar to this masala chips recipe!

Someone dipping two masala fries into a bowl of tandoori mayonnaise.

Storage and Meal Prep Instructions

Store leftover fries in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Three ways you can reheat them:

Stovetop: Reheat in a frying pan on medium to high heat for 3-5 minutes until crispy.
Oven Reheating: Place in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 5-10 minutes.
Air Fryer Reheating: Cook in the air fryer at 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes.

FAQ

Masala fries are made of potatoes seasoned with a blend of Indian spices like kashmiri red chili powder, turmeric, garam masala, ginger, and garlic powder. You can check the complete list of ingredients here!

Masala itself just means “a blend of spices” so it does not indicate whether it is spicy or not. For example, garam masala literally means “hot blend” (warming blend) and it is not spicy at all (source: Food and Wine).

What goes into Indian fries really depends on the recipe. Some people just add chaat masala with chili powder, while I go all out here and use garm masala, turmeric, garlic, and ginger powder. You can also add tomatoes to make it saucy, like what I did in this masala chips recipe.

Three pieces of Indian masala French fries being dipping into a spicy mayonnaise.

Want More Fries Recipes?

For another Indian-style French fries recipe, try my masala chips where I added tomatoes and chaat masala into the mix!

If you want to keep things simple, try these adobo fries. And if you like Korean flavors, you would like my gochujang potatoes and my kimchi loaded fries! Or try my chimichurri fries for a Latin American twist!