Hash browns are my breakfast nemesis. You know, the thing you just can't resist no matter how many healthy choices are placed in front of you. Or maybe it's the bacon. Or the Eggs Benedict. Clearly, eating out for breakfast can be an issue and potentially hazardous to my healthy eating and weight loss efforts. All the more reason to come up with healthy breakfast options that I can make at home.
I've already tackled the eggs benedict, coming up with a southwestern version that tastes better each time I eat it. As for the bacon - well, there's no hope for me there. When a plate of crispy fried pig fat is placed in front of me, I'm a goner. Moving on. Let's talk hash browns.
There are so many fantastic health benefits to sweet potatoes (well, at least when you don’t mix them with butter and top with sweet and spicy pecans...one of our favorite Thanksgiving dishes). Not only are they rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene, but they also have high levels of protein, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Now that's what I call a powerhouse veggie.
In this recipe, I sauteed sweet potatoes and a few russet potatoes with Canadian bacon (a low-fat alternative to regular bacon), red bell peppers and green onions. To add a little zing, the hash is flavored with chile flakes, nutmeg and fresh sage. To avoid mushy potatoes, do not over-boil the potatoes. They should be just tender, and the rest of the cooking will take place in the skillet, where the Canadian bacon and potatoes will turn golden brown.
This dish is naturally at home on the breakfast or brunch table, but we also serve it at dinner time, alongside some eggs and extra vegetables. Really, who doesn't love breakfast for dinner?
The recipe:
Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add sweet and russet potatoes and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat. Add Canadian bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
Add red chile flakes, red bell pepper, and white and light green parts of green onion. Cook until red bell pepper starts to soften, about 2 minutes.
Stir in cooked sweet and russet potatoes, salt and nutmeg.
Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes start to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Serve.
Other hash recipes:
Never Enough Thyme's Hash Brown-Omelet Skillets
Savoring the Thyme's Purple Potato Breakfast Hash
The Yummy Life's Individual Parmesan Hash Brown Cups
Printable Recipe
Sweet Potato Hash with Canadian Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds sweet potato peeled and cut into ½-inch dice (about 4 ½ cups)
- 8 ounces russet potato peeled and cut into ½-inch dice (about 1 ½ cups)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 ounces Canadian bacon cut into ½-inch pieces
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ teaspoon red chile flakes
- 1 red bell pepper cut into ½-inch dice
- 3 green onions thinly sliced, divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg preferably fresh
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh sage
Instructions
- Bring a large saucepan of lightly salted water to a boil over high heat. Add sweet and russet potatoes and cook until just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium heat. Add Canadian bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until just starting to brown, 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add red chile flakes, red bell pepper, and white and light green parts of green onion. Cook until red bell pepper starts to soften, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in cooked sweet and russet potatoes, salt, nutmeg and sage. Increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until the potatoes start to brown, 7 to 8 minutes. Serve.
Nutrition
Miss @ Miss in the Kitchen
Looks so pretty and I'm sure tastes as good as it looks!
KalynsKitchen
I can pass up hash browns, but I think I'd like them a lot more with sweet potatoes. Great idea.
Lisa [With Style and Grace]
I love that you added sweet potatoes to this hash, I definitely need to give this a try!
Georgia @ The Comfort of Cooking
This looks so delicious, Dara! What a yummy thing to wake up to on a weekend morning. Saving this to make soon. Thanks for sharing! Have a great weekend.
Jessica @ How Sweet
Absolutely ADORE this!!
Michele
This looks delicious! Can't wait to try it!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Michele. This one's definitely a keeper.
Doreen
Hi Dara,
I'm a private chef, I am on about 50 cooking sites for continuous ideas. I have to tell you, your recipes and pictures are my favorite. When I recreate your dishes they always taste wonderful. You are am amazing resource and I can depend on looking at one of your pictures and have the dish come out excellent. You are most talented. Thank you for inspiring me but moreover, truly creating delicious food.
A huge fan,
Doreen
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Doreen, thank you so much for your comment. I can't tell you how much that means to me. I hope you continue to find recipes here that inspire you, and that you and your clients enjoy.
Lauren
Gorgeous!! Those colors just POP!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Lauren. Sweet potatoes like to have their picture taken.
ea-the spicy rd
Yes please!!! I love b-fast for dinner, and in fact last night I cooked up some hashbrowns with scrambled eggs and sauteed broccoli and onions. It was delicious. Your hash looks amazing, and I'm thinking would be perfect with a poached egg on top!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
It's funny you say that. As I was eating it, all I could think was, "I wish I had poached an egg to put on top of this." Next time.
Sydney Jones
This looks and sounds incredible Dara! This would be a lovely breakfast for dinner or simply breakfast 🙂 Congratulations on your tremendous weight loss, too 🙂 You look very happy and healthy!!!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Sydney. I really appreciate that.
Tara @ Chip Chip Hooray
This sounds delicious--I love the use of sweet potatoes in addition to russet! Their flavor gives dishes such a great pop for me; they're a personal palate favorite. 😉
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I agree, Tara. They really can take a hash from ordinary to awesome.
Nancy@acommunaltable
I LOVE breakfast for dinner - but this is a dish you could honestly eat for any meal! Gorgeous colors Dara - can't wait to give this one a try!!
Anna @ hiddenponies
This is a stunning dish that I can totally see myself eating for breakfast or dinner! Great idea!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Anna. My family was more than happy to eat this for dinner and I enjoyed the leftovers for breakfast the next morning.
Flavia
Love this recipe, Dara! Canadian bacon is one of my favorites and I like how you paired it with the potatoes in this recipe. Hash is one of my favorite breakfast/brunch {or anytime} meals.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Flavia. It really is one of those dishes that can be served at any meal. Fine by me!
Nicole, RD
This looks so refreshing and colorful, but still with the taste of the cooler months. Mmm!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Nicole. It was a chilly night here when I made this and it certainly did warm us up.
Rachel @ Baked by Rachel
If I could have breakfast (and bacon) for every meal I would!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
I feel the same way, Rachel. Too bad bacon isn't under the "healthy eating" category.
MikeVFMK
Love all variations on sweet potato hash! This looks so amazing, Dara!! I only wish I had a plate of this in front of me right now. Delish.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Mike. I would send you a plate if I could!
Katherine Martinelli
I love sweet potatoes and sweet potato hash! It really is a great alternative to normal potatoes. And I'm the same way about bacon - who can resist it?! This looks gorgeous. So bright and colorful!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thank you, Katherine. Sweet potatoes really do add something special to a hash. Glad to hear there are fellow bacon addicts out there!
Belinda @zomppa
Now this is what I call a breakfast. So hearty and colorful and bet it smells pretty awesome.
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks, Belinda. You're right - the smell was wonderful.
Blog is the New Black
Oh yum! This sounds wonderful!
Dara (Cookin' Canuck)
Thanks so much, Liz. I ate the leftovers for breakfast and it was just as good the next day!