Sweet Potato Home Fries

My last post was ages ago. Horrible I know but I promise I'm about to pick up the pace very soon. You will hear all about my February Recipe Challenge and weekly recipe posts are part of the plan.

But in the meantime I just wanted to share a great recipe for Sweet Potato Home Fries.  I wrote it not too long after I wrote my Sweet Potato Cheesecake recipe because I made the dish with sweet potatoes I had leftover from testing that recipe.  One weekend I wanted to cook breakfast, and as I was gathering my bacon and eggs, I spied the sweet potatoes.  Then the foodie gods stepped in because I suddenly remembered a gorgeous sweet potato hash that one of my Instagram followers posted.  With that dish in mind, I realized I make home fries all the time so I thought that I would sub in the sweet potatoes for regular potatoes.

Well, that day, the home fries turned out great, but as I was eating them with the bacon on the side, I realized how nicely the salty and smokey bacon paired with the sweet potatoes.  So the next time I incorporated bacon into the dish and all I could think after I tasted was "perfection."

I suggest you make this if you are entertaining for brunch.  It's something different, delicious, and it looks beautiful on the platter (you see that picture don't you?).  Or you can switch it up one night and make breakfast for dinner.  The sweet potato home fries are hearty enough to satisfy your after-work hunger.  But let's be honest, it doesn't matter when you make it, just do it! Make it this weekend! :-)

Ingredients: (make 4-5 servings)

3 Medium-Large Sweet Potatoes

4 Strips of Bacon

½ Green Pepper, diced

½ Onion, diced

1 clove garlic, minced

2 teaspoons Paprika (smoked is better, regular is fine)

Salt & Pepper, to taste

Vegetarians and Non-Pork Eaters: simply eliminate the bacon and sauté the veggies in 1-2 tablespoons of olive or vegetable oil.

Directions:

Peel and dice the sweet potatoes and add to a medium sized pot.   Cover the potatoes with cold water and place over high heat.  While you're waiting on the water to boil, chop your pepper, onion and garlic.  Once the water is boiling, set timer and allow potatoes to boil for 7 minutes.  (Any longer and the potatoes will be mushy)

While potatoes are boiling, cook bacon strips in a deep frying pan until crispy (about 2-3 minutes per side).  Remove bacon strips from pan and place on a paper towel lined plate.  Then add the diced pepper and onion right into the bacon fat and sauté for about 4 minutes or until softened.  Add the garlic and sauté for a minute more.

 

By this time the potatoes should be done.  Drain potatoes and then add them to the pan with the pepper, onion, and garlic.  Season with paprika, salt, and pepper and stir to combine.  Allow potatoes to fry for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.  Then dice the bacon strips, add them to the potatoes, and stir to combine.

Transfer potatoes to a serving platter or bowl and serve alongside eggs (any style).