Pat: Don’t even think about servin’ me fried eggs and toast unless they come with a side of crispy, golden hash browns. We make ours with salty browned smoked ham. I’ve been making them this way for years. My girls love ’em, and if my girls love ’em you know they’re good. Sometimes I’ll use a food processor to shred the potatoes coarsely; other times I’ll cube them and fry them up until they are golden brown and crispy. And if I really want to go overboard, sometimes I’ll top each serving with a slice of American cheese.
Recipe information
Yield
serves 4 to 6
Ingredients
Preparation
Step 1
Place the diced potatoes in a large pot, cover with water and a generous sprinkling of salt, and bring to a boil. Lower the heat, and simmer until the potatoes are almost tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander, and cool slightly.
Step 2
Heat the shortening in a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over high heat. Add the ham, and cook, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the ham to a plate lined with paper towels to drain. Add the onion to the skillet, and sauté until pale golden, about 3 minutes. Add the potatoes, thyme, the 1/2 teaspoon of salt, the black pepper, and cayenne and cook until the potatoes begin to color and crisp on the bottom, about 4 minutes (shake the pan occasionally, if necessary, to keep the potatoes from burning). Using a slotted metal spatula, turn the potatoes (don’t stir them with a wooden spoon or you will mash them), and continue cooking until they are browned, about 4 minutes more. Taste for seasonings and serve immediately, while the potatoes are still hot.
