If all this time you were thanking a Frenchman for this crispy goodness, you should read about its twisted history to find out more.
French fries, the world’s
most beloved potato fritters, have cultural variants. Crispy and thin French fries are the most addictive snack out there. This deep-fried, lip-smacking snack has lured foodies across countries for centuries and has firmly established itself as the perfect sidekick to several dishes.
So, let us snack on the delicious history of French fries!
The Belgian Contribution
Well, despite the popularity of French fries, you must know they are not French. The origin of French fries can be traced back to Belgium, where potatoes were fried in the late 1600s, as suggested by several historians.
Various Belgian folk tales talked about villagers living in the Meuse Valley who often ate small fried fish they caught in the river. But during the cold months, the river froze, and fishing became an impossible activity, compelling villagers to look for an alternative food source.
Faced with this problem, the villagers started relying on the root plant, slicing and frying it just as they cooked fish.
The American Connection
In a 19th-century manuscript by Thomas Jefferson, then-US President, he talked about a deep-fried potato dish called ‘Pommes de Terre Frites en Petites tranches’. Some historians believe that this recipe is from Honoré Julien, a French chef.
By the 1850s, this recipe gained immense popularity and soon became a mainstay in numerous cookbooks of America as ‘French Fried Potatoes’.
The French Connection
As proclaimed by several historians, this beloved snack has French origins and was first sold by street vendors in the 1780s on Paris’ Pont Neuf. The crispy potato fritters were one of the best-selling food items until the outbreak of the French Revolution.
At that time, potatoes were a means of sustenance for middle-class citizens who were not as privileged as the nobility or clergy. Antoine-Augustin Parmentier popularized potatoes as food for the common people in France, but he did not mention French fries.
The Popularity of French Fries Across the Globe
French fries are an atypical and favored side dish to several delicacies. The Americans love French fries with fish ‘n’ chips. People love their French fries with pita bread and other fillings for a wholesome snack in the Middle East. In Canada, Poutine is a popular dish consisting of cheese curds and French fries topped with delicious brown gravy.
The French or Belgian discovery of French fries will always remain a sinful treat for munching on them without counting those calories!
