Through the years, I’ve had my fair proportion of soggy hash browns. It’s unhappy to be excited for some crispy breakfast potatoes solely to get a soggy chunk. Due to this disappointment, I’ve spent a lot time perfecting my crispy hash browns.
![Close-up photo of crispy hash browns covering a plate, topped with a chile fried egg.](https://naturallyella.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/crispy_hashbrowns-1.jpg)
Crispy hash browns, each time
The potato sort
For those who’ve tried your hand at crispy hash browns, you might need learn that russet potatoes are crucial. This selection is used as a result of russets are on the starchy aspect of the spectrum of starchy to waxy potatoes. Starchy potatoes inherently have much less moisture than their waxy counterparts, making them simpler to crisp.
However, utilizing a starchy potato isn’t the end-all of the hash brown dialog. I want yellow potatoes, as you see on this recipe. These potatoes, similar to Yukon gold, are extra of an all-purpose potato, sitting between starchy and waxy. They usually have thinner pores and skin, a buttery taste, and an amazing texture and moisture retention steadiness.
With the next ideas, I discover these potatoes make the perfect crispy hash browns.
The starch
You would technically get away with making hash browns with out the additional starch. Nevertheless, including somewhat further starch helps you guarantee you may have sufficient to steadiness the moisture of the potatoes.
When crispness is the aim, I attain for potato starch. Corn starch would additionally work if that’s all you may have available.
Warmth
Your pan must be heated excellent to attain the proper crispy-to-cooked potato ratio. Something too low, and your potatoes will find yourself soggy. Something too excessive, and also you threat burning patches of the potatoes whereas leaving different elements undercooked.
On a forged iron skillet, I take advantage of barely larger warmth than medium–if medium is 6 on a clock and medium-high is a 9, I like to sit down at round 7. Or, if you happen to occur to personal an infrared thermometer, the skillet must be round 300˚F to 325˚F. This may change relying on the kind of pan you employ, so it would take a little bit of trial and error.
Oil
Lastly, don’t maintain again on the oil in relation to crispy objects. The new oil pulls the moisture from the potato, facilitating all of the crispy goodness. Not having a fair coat of oil on the skillet correlates to patchy, uneven cooking. You don’t have to go fully wild, however make sure that the skillet has a strong coat of oil earlier than including your potatoes.
Garlic chile sauce
Whereas this meal is all in regards to the crispy hash browns, it’s price mentioning the chile-fried egg. Utilizing chile paste to prepare dinner your eggs is a good way to ramp up taste. I alternate what I take advantage of however at all times discover myself utilizing a chile-garlic sauce, such because the Huy Fong, Lee Kum Kee, or a homemade version.
Alternate options
As talked about, I’ve fried eggs in lots of chile pastes, so I like to recommend utilizing what you would possibly have already got. Harissa, sambal oelek, gochujang, or ancho paste work nice. I even have an area in my coronary heart for frying eggs on this garlic achaar.
![Close-up photo of crispy hash browns covering a plate, topped with a chile fried egg.](https://naturallyella.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/crispy_hashbrowns-1.jpg)
Hash Browns
- 2-3 scallions
- 1 (220 g) medium gold potato
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons potato starch or cornstarch
- Avocado or sunflower oil (for frying)
Eggs
- 1-2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1-2 tablespoons garlic chile sauce
- 2 eggs
- Salt for ending
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To prep the hash browns: Have a small bowl of ice water close by. Trim the ends from the scallions and thinly slice by means of the whites and greens. Place the whites and lightweight inexperienced items in a medium bowl, and switch the sliced darkish greens to the bowl with ice. Put aside.
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Give the potatoes an excellent scrub and pat dry. Grate the potatoes into the bowl with the scallion whites utilizing a field grater. Add the salt and toss till well-coated. Let the potato combination relaxation for 15-20 minutes.
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To prepare dinner the crispy hash browns: Scoot the potatoes to the aspect of the bowl, tilt the bowl, and start to squeeze the potatoes. Pour out any liquid and repeat the method till you possibly can wring no extra liquid from the potatoes. Add within the potato starch and stir till effectively mixed.
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Drizzle a skinny layer of oil in a ten” or 12” heavy-bottomed skillet, similar to forged iron, over medium warmth. As soon as scorching, switch the potatoes to the skillet and press down with the again of a spatula. The potatoes ought to kind a skinny layer throughout the skillet. Cook dinner till the potatoes are golden and crispy for 2-3 minutes, flip, and repeat the method. Switch to a plate as soon as either side are crisp.
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For the eggs: Whereas the potatoes are frying, place the butter and chile paste in an 8” skillet over medium warmth. Crack the eggs in as soon as the butter begins to sputter and the skillet is scorching. Cook dinner, spooning a number of the butter combine over the eggs. Cook dinner till the egg yolks are your required doneness.
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To Assemble: Layer the cooked eggs on the hash browns and drizzle with any remaining chile paste and butter. Drain the scallions from the ice water, pat dry, and sprinkle over the eggs. End with salt as desired.
Crunch Issue: I am a skinny and crispy sort of potato lady and as such, my hash browns and fairly thin- there’s not a lot non-crispy potato to have right here. For those who want barely thicker hash browns, press down sufficient to make a cohesive hash brown however not so exhausting that it fully flattens.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook dinner Time :10 minutes
20 minutes
![](https://naturallyella.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/crispy_hashbrowns.jpg)