French fries are the perfect side dish for all kinds of meals, as their salty flavor and crispy texture pair well with hamburgers, hot dogs, corn dogs, nuggets, and more. 

We love them so much that we have already written about the best tricks to make them crispy, we have chosen the best recipes for potatoes for snacking, and we even created a version with sweet potatoes.  

This time, we wanted to go further, so we will tell you about the history of this vegetable native to Peru, how it became one of the most important foods worldwide, and who is behind the creation of the famous crispy French fries.

You can also read: What is potato skin good for? 

Potatoes, from Peru to the world 

The potato is a vegetable that originally comes from the Andes region, located in Peru and Bolivia. This tuber has a neutral flavor and becomes creamy when cooked, making it perfect for preparing mashed potatoes, patties, stews, sides, and more.  

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the Incas domesticated and cultivated this vegetable over 1,800 years ago, so we can enjoy French fries with cheese, ketchup, and sauce thanks to the Incan civilization. 

When did the potato arrive in Europe and other parts of the world? Spanish colonizers brought the vegetable to distant lands in the mid-16th century. The encyclopedia explains that, years later, countries like Ireland, Germany, and England were already harvesting a significant amount of this food. So it's no surprise that today, many of the most famous dishes in European cuisine include potatoes, no one can resist them! 

The history of the potato doesn't end with its travels around the world, as it also has many health benefits, which include: 

• Vitamin C: this nutrient is an antioxidant and is essential for the proper functioning of the immune system. 

• Potassium: a mineral responsible for regulating the heartbeat and ensuring our muscles function properly. 

• Fiber: experts indicate that this nutrient is found in the skin. 

As you can see, there is a great history and many benefits behind this staple food in kitchens around the world.  

You may be interested in: Benefits and uses of the potato 

Who invented French fries? 

In Mexico, potatoes have become an essential part of our cuisine: we serve them with lots of lime and salt for snacking, we add them to spicy stews, or we cook them on the grill for a barbecue. However, the most famous way to enjoy them is in the form of crispy sticks. 

French fries are a flavor institution: their crunchy texture contrasts with a creamy filling, while the exact amount of salt is a true luxury for the palate. But to all this, who is behind this dish? 

Although it is hard to believe, there is a whole controversy surrounding the origin of this snack, as it seems that it was not created in France. 

Experts say that French fries were created in Belgium around the year 1680. Legend has it that the inhabitants of Namur had to fry potatoes after the local river froze and they couldn't fish. 

The story doesn't end there, as Belgium is so sure of the origin of French fries that it went to UNESCO to have the dish recognized as part of the country's cultural heritage. 

Keep reading: 10 tips for making the best mashed potatoes 

Kiwilimon Tip - How to make French fries 

To prepare the best French fries, you need a couple of ingredients and our recipe; it's the best on the internet! 

Ingredients 

• 10 potatoes 

• Water 

• Flour 

• 1 tablespoon of garlic powder 

• 1 tablespoon of salt 

• Vegetable oil 

• Salt 

Preparation 

1. Peel and cut the potatoes into sticks of the same size. 
2. Soak the potatoes in a bowl of water. 
3. Remove from the bowl. 
4. Dry the potatoes with paper towels. 
5. Mix the flour, garlic powder, and salt in a bowl. 
6. Coat the potatoes in the mixture very well. 
7. Heat the oil over medium-high heat. 
8. Fry a batch of potatoes for 10 to 12 minutes. Repeat until all the potatoes are done. 
9. Place on a plate lined with paper towels. 
10. Add a little salt to the French fries.  

With these expert tips, tasteless and soggy French fries will be a thing of the past; let us know how they turned out after following these tips!