Growing up in New York during the disco era in the 1970s and 1980s, Chef Mark Slutzky, Director of Culinary at McCain, once ordered disco fries after a long night of dancing with family and friends. Though Chef Slutzky’s fond memories of disco fries took place at Tick Tock Diner in Clifton, New Jersey (where disco fries were supposedly invented), he still recreates this New Jersey diner staple at home using his air fryer. Here’s why he recommends using an air fryer to elevate this classic comfort food.
What are disco fries?
If you haven’t already heard of disco fries (I hadn’t), let’s rewind to the basics. Per Slutzky, “Disco fries are a New Jersey diner classic featuring French fries smothered with melted cheese and brown gravy. They’re the ultimate late-night snack, delivering savory, gooey deliciousness in every bite. To make disco fries, Slutzky recommends choosing a fry that is hearty enough to stand up to the cheese and gravy while still preserving its crispiness. The quintessential disco fry is the crinkle-cut, he shares. However, you can also use waffle fries as an alternative.
Making disco fries in the air fryer
While disco fries can be made using any frying method, Slutzky’s favorite method uses the air fryer to cook fries to perfection quickly. “I like using the air fryer as they are quicker than a conventional oven and also provide an even heat that is perfect for cooking fries and other crispy foods,” he says. Here’s how he recommends making disco fries in the air fryer:
- Start by preheating your air fryer. Don’t skip this step, as it’s crucial to getting the crispiest fries. If you don’t preheat, you end up steaming your fries while the device warms up, and you don’t get the hot heat needed for that perfect crisp.
- Next, heat some gravy in a pan. You want a good, thick gravy that lies across the top of the fries. If you want your gravy from scratch, you can make a roux using 4 oz. of butter to 16 oz. of flour. Mix and cook for 7 minutes over medium-high heat, then slowly whisk in 1 to 1.5 quarts of beef stock and let it simmer for about 30 minutes, until it thickens. (You can use canned homestyle gravy if you’re in a rush)
- Cook your fries in the air fryer following the instructions on the package. If you want, you can also spritz your fries with your favorite cooking oil beforehand to help them crisp up.
- Add the fries and gravy to an oven-proof dish and cover with a generous helping of shredded mozzarella and American cheeses.
- Put the dish in the oven and broil it at 425°F for 4-5 minutes until the cheese gets brown and melty. Add some chopped scallions as a garnish.
Disco fries with a global twist
Though the classic version of disco fries has a “diner vibe”, Slutzky also shares his favorite ways to uplevel disco fries with global flavors. “You could give them a Korean BBQ spin by mixing some Korean BBQ sauce and gochujang hot chili sauce, and then drizzling that over the finished fries. I would also add some kimchi on top of the cheese before you put your fries in the broiler,” he says.
“For an elote-inspired version of disco fries, I would swap out the mozzarella for Chihuahua or Oaxacan cheese and then roast up some corn and add it to your fries along with Tajin seasoning. After the fries are finished cooking in the oven, drizzle them with some garlic aioli and top them off with the roasted corn kernels.”
