Seed oil free snacks and sides are simple to make once you're working from scratch, since chips, fries, popcorn, and dips only need canola or soybean oil because that's what the packaged versions are made with. Here are recipes for six snacks and sides built on avocado oil, tallow, ghee, coconut oil, and olive oil instead.
Fat Options for Common Snack Foods
| Snack | Recommended Fat | Approx. Smoke Point |
|---|---|---|
| Oven fries or wedges | Avocado oil | 520°F (refined) |
| Fried tortilla chips | Tallow | ~400°F |
| Stovetop popcorn | Coconut oil or ghee | 350-485°F |
| Roasted nuts | Butter or ghee | 350-485°F |
| Homemade mayo or dip | Avocado oil | Not heated |
| Baked kale chips | Olive oil | ~375°F |
Crispy Oven Potato Wedges in Avocado Oil
Oven wedges get a better crust with avocado oil than with butter alone, since the higher smoke point lets you roast at a hotter temperature.
Ingredients: 4 russet potatoes, cut into wedges, 3 tablespoons avocado oil, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, salt.
- Preheat the oven to 425°F.
- Toss the wedges with avocado oil, garlic powder, paprika, and salt.
- Arrange skin-side down in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast 35 to 40 minutes, flipping halfway, until golden and crisp at the edges.
Homemade Tortilla Chips Fried in Tallow
Frying your own chips takes about 15 minutes and avoids the seed oil in nearly every bagged version.
Ingredients: 12 corn tortillas, cut into wedges, tallow for frying, about 2 cups melted, salt.
- Melt the tallow in a heavy pot to about 1 inch deep and heat to 350°F.
- Fry the tortilla wedges in small batches for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until golden and crisp.
- Remove with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate and salt immediately.
- Let the tallow cool, strain it, and save it for the next batch.
Stovetop Popcorn in Coconut Oil or Ghee
Both coconut oil and ghee handle the heat of stovetop popping well, and each adds a slightly different flavor.
Ingredients: 1/3 cup popcorn kernels, 3 tablespoons coconut oil or ghee, salt.
- Heat the coconut oil or ghee in a large pot over medium-high heat with 3 test kernels, covered.