Crispy Homemade Hash Browns

Submitted by Scoutie

"We LOVE this! It's a great recipe for hash browns that are crispy on both sides. You can peel the potatoes if you wish, I always leave the skin on. Sometimes I add some shredded sharp cheddar cheese and/or some minced garlic. A good non-stick pan works the best, I first coat the pan with cooking spray, then sometimes use the bacon grease or cooking oil instead of the butter. This is adapted from the Food Network."

 

• Ready In: 29mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 4-6

ingredients

• 2 lbs russet potatoes
• 1⁄2 vidalia onion
• 5 slices thick bacon or 5 slices Canadian bacon, finely chopped
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 garlic cloves, finely minced (optional)
• 1⁄3 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated (optional)
• 3 tablespoons freshly chopped chives (to garnish, optional) (optional) or 3 tablespoons green onions (to garnish) (optional)

directions

1. Microwave the potatoes for 4 to 5 minutes, let cool until you can handle them.
2. Grate the potatoes and onion in a food processor using the grater attachment, or grate by hand.
3. Cook the bacon, but not too crisp, as it will cook with the potatoes.
4. In a medium bowl, add the grated potato mixture, the onions, and the bacon. Add cheese now and/or garlic now, if you are using it. Season with salt and pepper, to taste, and mix thoroughly together.
5. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until it just starts to foam.
6. Add the potato mixture and using a spatula or wooden spoon, press the potatoes firmly into the bottom of the pan.
7. Increase heat to medium-high and let the potatoes brown and crisp for 6 to 8 minutes.
8. Cut the potatoes into wedges, remove from pan, add remaining butter/oil and slide wedges into pan. Some folks turn the entire "pancake" onto a plate, then slide it back in, but that never seems to work for me. LOL.
9. Continue to cook over medium heat until remaining side is dark golden brown and crisp, 5 to 6 minutes longer.
10. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with chopped onions or chives if using.
11. Sometimes I have sour cream or ketchup in ramekins for those who would like to add that after plating.

Reviews

[Boomette]

This is a great recipe. I left the skin on the potatoes. I didn't use cheese and it was great without it but I'm sure it would be yummy also with cheese. I browned the potatoes in bacon grease. I forgot the garnish as we were ready to eat while it was still hot LOL Thanks Scoutie :) Made for 123 hit wonders

 

[breezermom]

I love homemade hash browns! Like the poster, I had a hard time sliding the entire thing out of the skillet and had to cut it into sections to flip it. I cooked my onion in the bacon grease (yes, I did cook my bacon ahead of time, although the recipe did not state to do that) so that they wouldn't be too crunchy for my DS. I also threw in some sliced green onions too. I did add the garlic and shredded cheddar too. These turned out beautifully and very tasty. Thanks for sharing! Made for Newest Zaar tag.

 

[LonghornMama]

Really good! I peeled two giant potatoes after microwaving for 5 minutes then ran through the food processor. Next time I'd only cook 4 minutes, they were a little too mashed. Added bacon and garlic. Used my biggest nonstick skillet and ended up cooking longer than stated since I had a few flipping errors and wanted a crunchy crust. Will definitely make these again, the whole family loved them. Thanks for sharing the recipe!

 

[Chef shapeweaver]

I made this recipe on 3/29/11 for the " Sides " event in the Food Photo Forum, and as part of my dinner.The recipe didn't state if the bacon should have been cooked or not,but of course I did.A beginner cook would have a problem with that part.And in the directions it calls for added cheese as an option,but doesn't say that in the ingredients or how much you should add if you wanted to use that option.But other than those minor problems, the recipe tasted good.Thank you for posting and " Keep Smiling :) "