My boys will put ketchup on just about anything… They’ll put ketchup on their chicken, on their steak (I know, I know, steak lovers are cringing!). Let’s face it, ketchup is kind of quintessential to childhood. And dare I say, I’m rather partial to it myself. For the best dip-in-your-ketchup side, try this salt and vinegar oven fries recipe! They turned out so tasty – with a bit of zing you don’t usually get in oven fries!

The boys gobbled these salt and vinegar fries down like nobody’s business! We discussed how the ketchup they enjoy so much could be made with the tomatoes we grow right outside in our garden! (I mean, it wasn’t, but in theory!). Heinz sent me a kit complete with several of their ketchups and a cute planting kit and seeds, which we’ll use next year when we start a new round of tomato plants! We talked about how ketchup gets made, and how the seeds we planted in the spring could turn into… ketchup, eventually! They were thrilled to hear that, because a ketchup shortage is a serious concern for preschoolers!

The best thing about ketchup is it’s a simple condiment. It’s made with few ingredients, doesn’t need to have junky stuff in it, and tastes SO good! This simple, ordinary condiment can also help my kids make the connection between growing plants and eating healthy foods. It’s important to me for our kids to understand that farm-to-table connection so they make healthy choices as they grow, based on a real understanding of food sources.

We all enjoyed these Salt and Vinegar Oven Fries dipped in Heinz ketchup! They are so easy to make! Here’s the recipe so you can try it at your house!

Salt and Vinegar Oven Fries Recipe

Salt and Vinegar Oven Fries

Print Recipe

Prep Time 15

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

4-5 medium russet potatoes, sliced into thick "sticks"
1/2 cup rice vinegar
1 T kosher salt, coarse
1 t black pepper
3 T olive oil
ketchup!

Method

Heat oven to 475 degrees F while you wash and slice the potatoes.
Marinate the fries in the vinegar, salt and pepper (you can bake as soon as you like but letting them sit for 15-30 minutes helps the flavor sink in).
Coat a baking sheet with some oil, then put the fries in a single layer on the sheet.
Pour remaining marinade over all, then drizzle with more oil. Be sure there's enough oil so the fries don't stick.
Bake for 15-25 minutes (depending on thickness of fries), stirring about every 5 minutes to avoid sticking.
When fries are golden brown and tender, remove from oven.
Test taste, and sprinkle with more salt and/or vinegar if desired, and serve immediately, with a side of ketchup!

This recipe is a keeper in my house (maybe even with MORE vinegar next time!). They crisped up nicely and had a great tangy flavor! I don’t love a big fuss to make a meal. Steak, veggies, and a side of oven fries makes my day (er, night!). It’s easy to keep your eating habits healthy when you focus on homegrown and simple ingredients.

Did you know Heinz has a line of natural and organic ketchups!? Heinz® Organic Ketchup is made with 100 percent USDA certified organic tomatoes, and Simply Heinz® Ketchup, made with real sugar (NO artificial preservatives or sweeteners!).