Mersin Style Fried Potatoes Recipe

Mersin cuisine is famous for its delicious dishes made with fresh ingredients and rich Mediterranean flavors. One standout dish is the Mersin-style fried potatoes, which are especially popular when served alongside seafood. These potatoes are prepared using a special method that gives them a crispy, chip-like texture. You can serve them with fish or meat dishes, or even enjoy them on their own as a snack. Serving them with yogurt can enhance the recipe, particularly when offering them as an appetizer.

Choosing the Right Potatoes: Which Types Work Best?

Various types of potatoes are available in the supermarkets, making it important to choose the right kind for frying, as not all varieties are suitable. For the best results with Mersin-style fried potatoes, opt for potatoes with a high starch content and firm texture. These types of potatoes ensure that the outside gets crispy when fried. If the potatoes are too soft and have a high water content, they won't stay crispy after frying and will soften quickly.

The Reason for Soaking and Refrigerating the Potatoes

One of the key steps in this recipe is soaking the potatoes in a bowl of water in the refrigerator for 2 to 8 hours. This helps the potatoes release excess starch. High-starch potatoes tend to have a soft interior and a crispier exterior when fried. Additionally, chilling the potatoes in the fridge speeds up the crisping process when they come into contact with hot oil. The longer they sit in the fridge, the crispier and more delicious they become.

The Importance of Drying the Potatoes Before Frying

After taking the potatoes out of the fridge and removing them from the water, it’s essential to dry them thoroughly with a clean kitchen towel. This step prevents the potatoes from splattering in the oil. If the potatoes are still wet, the sudden contact between the water and hot oil can cause dangerous splashes, which may lead to serious burns. Therefore, make sure the potatoes are fully dried before frying.

Choosing Spices and Balancing Flavors

Another characteristic of Mersin-style fried potatoes is the distinctive flavor imparted by lemon and garlic. After frying, the potatoes are mixed with lemon juice, garlic, and various spices, turning an ordinary fry into a signature Mediterranean dish. The lemon juice lightens the richness of the fried potatoes, adding a refreshing note, while garlic deepens the flavor with its strong aroma. This recipe reminds me of an extra crispy lemony fries dish.

The spices used in this recipe (sweet paprika, sumac, chili flakes) can be adjusted to your taste. Sumac, in particular, gives the dish a bold and tangy flavor. However, if you're not a fan of sumac, you can omit it and still achieve a different yet delicious version of the dish.

The Secret to Perfect Crispiness

One of the key techniques in making Mersin-style fried potatoes is frying them in batches. This ensures that the potatoes cook through evenly and turn golden and crispy on the outside. Adding too many potatoes at once can lower the oil temperature and result in uneven frying. After frying, draining the potatoes in a strainer to shake off excess oil will make the fries lighter and crispier.

Serving Suggestions

Mersin-style fried potatoes are commonly served in seafood restaurants alongside fish and other seafood dishes. However, you can also serve them with meat dishes or as a standalone snack. If you choose to serve them as a snack, pairing them with yogurt or yogurt-based sauces creates a perfect balance, as the lightness of the yogurt complements the richness of the fries.

With the right potato selection, carefully executed preparation steps, and aromatic touches, Mersin-style fried potatoes offer much more than a simple fry. The freshness of the lemon, the depth of garlic, and the dance of spices make this dish a delightful treat that you can enjoy with any meal.

Enjoy the recipe

Enjoy your meal!