Cheesy dirty fries

If you’re counting your calories, look away now (and, let’s face it, you’re probably looking at the wrong cookbook!). Sometimes you just have to go the whole hog, like I’ve done in this recipe by smothering fries in melted cheese and bacon bits. No turning back now.

INGREDIENTS

2 tablespoons olive oil

15g butter

1 large onion, diced

1 bacon slice, cut into strips

oil, for frying

300g frozen french fries

sea salt flakes, to taste

125g cheddar cheese, shredded

DRESSING

150g mayonnaise

2 tablespoons tomato ketchup

1 tablespoon white vinegar

2 teaspoons sugar

1 pickled gherkin, finely diced

1/2 teaspoon dijon mustard

pinch salt

METHOD

Heat the oil and butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until the butter is frothy. Sauté the onion until brown, about 10 minutes. Remove the onion from the pan and set aside.

Add the bacon to the pan and fry until crisp, about 5 minutes.

To make the dressing, mix all the ingredients in a small bowl.

Use a deep-fryer if you have one. If not, fill a large, deep saucepan with the oil to about a third full. Bring the oil temperature up to 190ºC over a medium–high heat. In batches, fry the fries until golden, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towel. Season the fries with sea salt while still hot.

Heat the grill to its highest setting, or simply preheat the oven to 250ºC. Place the fries in a gratin or baking dish. Cover the fries in the cheddar then sprinkle the onion and bacon evenly over the top. Place the dish as close to the grill as possible, or on the top shelf of the oven. Grill or bake for 2–3 minutes until the cheese is just starting to melt. Remove from the oven, spoon the dressing over the fries and serve immediately.

#billman #fries #bacon #cheddar