A method for making potato chips involving a marination step in a brine and acacia gum solution prior to frying. Potato pieces or slices are immersed for a short period of time in a brine solution that comprises soluble acacia gum. This immersion marinates the potato pieces prior to a frying step. The resultant potato chips, after frying, have a reduced fat content but exhibit otherwise very similar characteristics to a potato chip made by prior art frying methods.