Hash Browns

A(nother) "Ode to Potatoes"!

If you've been following me for a while you know by now... I LOVE POTATOES... In fact, one of my first ever posts to my blog mentioned a story about the extent of my potato love.  Did you miss that one? Let's see if I can re-enact it for you...

"Anyway, like I was sayin', I love the potato. You can mash it, boil it, roast it, bake it, fry it. Dey's uh, baked potato, mashed potatoes, potato au gratin. Hash browns, home fries, tater tots. There's french fries, potato chips, scalloped potatoes, potato soup, potato chowder, potato pierogi, potato salad, potato pancakes, hasselback potatoes, twice baked potatoes, potato skins. That- that's about it."  (did you get the movie reference?)

Yeah... That ACTUALLY happened... maybe not exactly word for word in that order, but I did ramble on about all the ways you can cook potatoes! Why do I love potatoes so much? Seriously? DUH it's because potatoes are super versatile and you can eat them for every meal! (except maybe dessert... but then, there's sweet potatoes for that!)  Potatoes are like the French Manicure of food... they go with everything! 

ANYWAYS.... One of my favorite things to have for breakfast is a super crispy hash brown dipped in sriracha-ketchup. I used to have an issue with eating breakfast because I'd feel so sick afterwards... turns out it had to do with too much fruit/veggie acid in my stomach, but potatoes were a way to combat that! So I've been on a quest to create the best homemade hashbrowns and I've finally mastered them! 

(so much that this -----------------------------> was actually my breakfast one morning.. 2 gardein breakfast patties, a small batch of homefries and a huge hashbrown w/ sriracha ketchup) It was glorious.

So today's post is to give you my recipe for that large and crispy hashbrown at the top of my plate. I've now made these hashbrowns for my dad and sister and both love how crispy they are and how they aren't bland and boring.

To make these hashbrowns (small, about 2-inch diameter):

4 small-medium russet potatoes, peeled
1/4 small onion (optional)*
canola oil
s&p / any other seasoning you may like (you should try cajun! yum)

On a box grater, shred the potatoes on the small grating side. *if using onion, shred it as well

Soak the shredded potatoes in a bowl of cool water for 5 minutes.  Drain off water, pressing the potatoes to drain off all of the liquid. 

Add more water to the bowl and let the potatoes sit.

Heat about a turn of the pan of oil in a large pan over medium high heat.

Take a small handful of the potato shreds (and a pinch of the shredded onion if using) and mix it in your hand and roll into a ball.  Over the sink, squeeze the ball into a flat pancake, squeezing out as much water as possible.  Carefully place into the hot oil, and repeat until pan is full.

While the hashbrowns are in the pan, use your spatula to press down on them. (I've found not doing this results in a higher chance of the inner potatoes being raw.)  Season with salt and pepper (and/or other seasoning) and flip when the edges start to deepen in color. Cook until both sides are golden brown.

Drain on a paper towel sprinkle with salt and serve while hot!

How easy is that?! It's is important not to skip the soaking part of this recipe.  Soaking the potato shreds helps to remove all of the potato starch which will help your hashbrowns to achieve the super crispy exterior!