Kohlrabi Fries (Baked or Air Fryer)

Kohlrabi fries are the most delicious way to use up the kohlrabi in your CSA or from your farmer’s market. With options for both the air fryer and baked in the oven, there’s fries for everyone!If you’re not sure how to use up all the kohlrabi in your CSA or from your farmer’s market, you’ve got to make these kohlrabi fries!!

Seriously, I’ve never enjoyed kohlrabi more. Coated with fry seasoning. Paired with your favorite dip. Get ready for this to be your new favorite side dish.

Ready in just 15 minutes in the air fryer or 25 minutes in the oven! These are easy to bake in the oven or cook in your air fryer.

What is kohlrabi?

The name kohlrabi comes from a mashup of the German words for cabbage and turnip, for which this veg is slightly reminiscent of. It tastes subtly sweet and a little peppery when eaten raw and its texture is similar to jicama or a turnip. You can eat the leaves on kohlrabi too, as long as they look okay! Similar to collard greens, they’re delicious sautéed with garlic or added to soups or stir-fries. A cruciferous vegetable, similar to cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi is packed with fiber, fiber, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants which have been shown to help decrease the risk of cancer.

How to use kohlrabi

You can enjoy kohlrabi raw, either shaved, grated, or sliced thinly, in a slaw or a salad, or combine with flour and egg to make into kohlrabi fritters. Or, you can cook kohlrabi by roasting it in the oven with different herbs and spices or mashed similar to potatoes. 

Ingredients You’ll Need

Notes on Ingredients

Kohlrabi: you can find kohlrabi at your local farmer’s market throughout the fall. Some grocery stores with a robust produce section may carry it during the fall and winter months.

Smoked paprika: this spice is one of my favorites – it adds a smokey, spicy, and subtle sweetness to these fries

Cumin: a warming spice, cumin adds an earthy, nutty flavor.

Equipment You’ll Need (affiliate links – if you make a purchase I receive a small commission)

Baking Sheet

or

Air Fryer (we have a Phillips XXL Air Fryer)

How to Make Kohlrabi Fries

Step 1: (if using the oven, preheat to 425 degrees F) Start by preparing your kohlrabi. Using a vegetable peeler or a sharp knife, remove the outer tough peel.

Step 2: Cut the kohlrabi in half lengthwise. 

Step 3: Placing the cut side down, slice kohlrabi vertically into 1/2-inch slices.

Step 4: Cut slices of kohlrabi into 1/2-inch matchsticks.

Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, add kohlrabi, olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, and salt, and toss until kohlrabi is evenly coated.

For baked kohlrabi fries:

Step 6: Make sure your oven is preheated to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place kohlrabi onto baking sheet and spread apart so that kohlrabi is evenly spaced out in a single layer.

Step 7: Bake kohlrabi, flipping halfway through, until tender and the edges have browned, about 25-30 minutes.

For air fryer kohlrabi fries:

Step 6: Place seasoned kohlrabi in the air fryer basket, shaking basket to space out the kohlrabi. 

Step 7: Set air fryer to 400 degrees F and cook, shaking basket every 5 minutes, until kohlrabi is tender and browned on the edges, about 12-17 minutes.

Expert Tips

1. Try to cut kohlrabi into evenly-sized matchsticks to ensure even cooking. If some fries are larger, these will take longer to cook, while the smaller ones will brown/burn faster.
2. Crowding the air fryer will result in a longer cooking time and more uneven cooking. Make sure the fries have some air pockets between them.

Recipe FAQs

What does kohlrabi taste like?

Kohlrabi tastes subtly sweet and a little peppery when eaten raw and its texture is similar to jicama or a turnip. You can eat the leaves of the kohlrabi plant too (as long as they look okay), which taste similar to collard greens.

Can you eat raw kohlrabi?

Yes! Raw kohlrabi is delicious thinly sliced or shaved and used in salads or slaws.

Are kohlrabi fries better in the oven or air fryer?

I personally like kohlrabi fries better when cooked in the air fryer but if you don’t have any air fryer, baked in the oven is delicious too!

Can I double this recipe?

You sure can! But you will need to adjust the cooking time. For the air fryer, you’ll likely need to double the cooking time, closer to 25-30 minutes. For the oven, you may need to use two baking sheets to ensure the fries have enough space on the pan to cook, or you may have to use a bigger baking sheet, or bake a little longer, closer to 35 minutes.

What dips/sauces can I serve kohlrabi fries with?

Any dip or sauce that you love! I personally thought these were fantastic when paired with a garlic aioli or a version of the kitchn’s 3-ingredient magic sauce – I used a combo of mayo, dijon mustard, and sriracha.

Do kohlrabi fries crisp up like regular fries?

To be honest, no. Kohlrabi fries get a little browned or slightly crispy at the ends but the longer you cook them, the more likely they are to burn as opposed to get crispier. I still find them tender and delicious even if they don’t get super crispy like french fries.

Can you reheat kohlrabi fries?

Sure! You can reheat fries in the microwave, oven, or air fryer but they’ll likely lose some of their firmness in the microwave.

How long do kohlrabi fries last for in the fridge?

Store kohlrabi fries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure fries are completely cooled before storing in the fridge.

Can you freeze kohlrabi fries?

I wouldn’t freeze kohlrabi fries as they’ll lose their texture upon defrosting but if you want to freeze kohlrabi, I’d recommend blanching it before freezing.

Recipes That Pair Well

Baked BBQ Salmon

Air Fryer Salmon (Fresh or Frozen)

Air Fryer Whole Chicken

Easy Instant Pot BBQ Chicken

Slow Cooked Salmon

For more vegetable inspiration, check out my other recipes below!

Zucchini Kohlrabi Fritters

Air Fryer Zucchini Chips

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings – Air Fryer or Oven

The Best Mexican Street Corn Dip

Crispy Thai Inspired Brussels Sprouts

Grilled Eggplant with Pecan Pesto

If you like this recipe, please be sure to comment and give it a 5 star rating below. If you make it, share it on Instagram and tag me @karalydonrd and I’ll re-share it with my followers! If you want to save this recipe for later, be sure to pin it on Pinterest!

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