Potatoes = Comfort Food
Cast Iron Red Potato Hash is proof that comfort food doesn’t have to be highly caloric, fattening, or smothered in cheese! When you think of comfort food are warm, cheesy potatoes at the top of the list? Yes, creamy scalloped potatoes or billowing clouds of mashed potatoes with melted butter warm your body and soul and cast the chill from a winter night. But simple roasted potato wedges with rosemary or steaming stew of nourishing root vegetables can too. Even in the summer, the humble potato graces our picnic tables and soothes our carb cravings with homey potato salads, grilled bakers, and hobo packets. And what leisurely weekend breakfast or brunch would be complete without a side of country hash or crispy hash browns?
Cast Iron Cooking For the Win
This recipe has all the comfort and nutrition of potatoes, with little of the guilt that comes with the mega calories often associated with potatoes – not because of the poor potato, but because of what we load it with. Bursting with the earthy flavor of mushrooms, a hint of heat, and a sprinkle of bacon goodness, I’m proud to have developed this heart healthy dish for the Idaho Potato Commission for Father’s Day. Using just one skillet, it’s an ideal meal for campfire cooking or weekend breakfast for your man and, the ever-versatile cast iron skillet moves easily from stove to table and offers a rustic presentation for a family brunch gathering as well.
Cast Iron Red Potato Hash takes me back to Julys spent in the clear, cool air of the Adirondack mountains in upstate New York. Wiling away in the wilderness, no internet, no T.V., no cell phone reception – just hiking, swimming, canoeing, sitting on the dock, Bloody Mary’s, early dawn crackling fires, the ringing of the dinner bell beckoning us to the next meal. Every summer, Don looked forward to the two-week respite in the woods and spending time with his daughters in the rough-hewn, hand-built cabin called Longview – a tradition that spanned 20 plus years and survived the thousands of miles that separated them after his move to California.
Cast Iron Red Potato Hash Recipe
- 5 medium-sized Idaho® Ruby red-skin potatoes, thinly sliced*
- 1/2 - 1 yellow or sweet onion, sliced depending on your preference for onions
- 2 tablespoon butter divided use
- 2 tablespoon olive oil divided use
- 1 teaspoon sweet smoked paprika
- 8 ounce package crimini or Baby Bella mushrooms
- 2 ounces chopped pancetta or bacon 2 slices *
- 1 jalapeño optional
- 1 red cherry pepper optional
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 cup half and half
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Preheat oven to 400°F. Melt one at tablespoon butter with one tablespoon olive oil in cast iron skillet by placing in the oven. Using a mandolin slice the potatoes into 1/8 inch slices. Toss the potatoes with the butter/olive oil mixture to coat. Return to oven. Bake ten minutes, then stir the potatoes and bake for ten more minutes. Remove from oven.
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While the potatoes are baking, slice the onions using the mandolin, or use a knife if you're scared of the mandolin like I am. Heat one tablespoon olive oil and one tablespoon butter in a skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook for two minutes until softened and translucent. Using a slotted spoon, remove from skillet and set aside.
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Add pancetta to skillet and cook for about 3 minutes until nicely browned. Remove pancetta to the dish with the onions. Add the mushrooms to the skillet, sprinkle with paprika and cook with the rendered fat until the mushrooms are browned and moisture from the mushrooms has cooked off. About 5 minutes. Stir in the jalapeño and red cherry pepper (if using) and cook another minute. The paprika becomes fragrant and gives the mushrooms an appealing color.
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Crack the eggs into a 2-cup glass measuring cup. Add half and half until the mixture measure equals 1- 1/2 cups.
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Add the onions and pancetta to the mushrooms and mix together so ingredients are evenly distributed. Pour the egg mixture over the potatoes. Add the mushroom and onion mixture, distribute evenly on top. Return to oven and bake for 15 minutes. Remove and check for doneness – if eggs are still runny, return to oven and cook until eggs are set.
*Eliminate for vegetarian.
Time Saving Tip: It's not necessary to peel red potatoes - the skin is tender and adds color to the dish. Potatoes, with the skin, are very low in saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium. It is also a good source of Vitamin B6 and Potassium, and a very good source of fiber.
Enjoy! I’m excited to be part of the Idaho Potatoes Blog Squad where my Red Idaho® Potato Hash is the featured recipe for Father’s Day – take a minute to check out other delicious recipes using America’s favorite vegetable on the Idaho Potato website 🙂
Laura (Tutti Dolci)
I love a skillet meal, this looks hearty & delicious for Father’s Day or just a summer morning at the cabin.
Nami | Just One Cookbook
This is for me! I love potato dish (I love potatoes so much that I would look like one someday…!), and I’ve never made hash like this! I have everything but jalapeno and red cherry powder (wow never heard of it) – going to make it real soon!
Priscilla
You would make a beautiful potato, Nami 🙂 It’s a red cherry pepper – they are tiny, round, peppers – you can substitute red bell pepper if you can’t find them (we grow them in our garden).
Patty
We would gladly start our father’s day with this hearty breakfast! I love cooking with my cast iron skillet and not just cakes,lol! We will be watching the US Open on Father’s Day so I will need to keep the ‘good eats’ coming out of the kitchen on that ‘very special’ day 😉
Lisa { AuthenticSuburbanGourmet }
Love that the whole meal is in a skillet! I use my cast iron skillet often and now I have a wonderful new recipe, compliments of you to make in it. Hubby would adore this! Looks like a great trip you took = great photos!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A great comfort food. Need to get a cast iron skillet.
RavieNomNoms
Comfort food to the max huh? This looks great Priscilla!
Carolyn
Wow, that cabin is gorgeous! Reminds me of the cottages in Ontario. Definitely my kind of roughing it. Great dish, this campfire hash.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
What a great potato dish. Perfect for camping, or hanging out with Dad this weekend!
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Defiantly my kind of dish, but I will include my hubby too!:)) Great recipe and wonderful photos!
Wishing you wonderful weekend!
Suzanne
This is my kind of meal all in one skillet and so rustic looking it makes me want to head out and go camping. Beautiful photos of the cabin and lake sounds so peaceful and calm just perfect.Have a wonderful weekend!
Krista
For a carbaholic like me this looks fantastic! Do I really have to share!? Okay, only because it’s Father’s Day.
Rowena @ Apron and Sneakers
This is the meal for husband. He eats potatoes like there’s no tomorrow. He will love this. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful weekend!
Jen L @ Tartine and Apron Strings
I love cooking with one skillet – especially when they are cast iron! Food turns out delicious plus clean-up is a breeze! Your hash looks awesome! It is a perfect camping / cottage food!
Jean (Lemons and Anchovies)
I hardly ever have breakfast or brunch but when I do, potatoes are such a treat. Your potato has all the right flavors going on and as it’s just past 8 am now, I’m really disappointed that my cast iron skillet is empty. Would love to eat this now.
Love the pictures and congrats on your feature, Priscilla. 🙂
Jamie
Wow this is some campfire hash recipe! This is fabulous with all the exciting flavors you’ve added. And yes, this is so homey. Happy Father’s Day and Happy Potato Cooking! Look’s like fun!
Roxana GreenGirl { A little bit of everything}
Congratulations on being featured for this wonderful and delicious recipe. We’re carb-aholic around here and potatoes are always in my pantry.
Magic of Spice
What a gorgeous spot that is…will have to make sure to visit 🙂 And this dish is so delightful…a perfect comfort dish!
Colleen M Patterson
I am uncertain about something in this recipe-in the instructions it says to slice the onions. In the ingredients, there is no mention of onion. Sooo…how much, if any, onion goes into this? It sounds delicious, and I want to try it, but I definitely want to get it right!
Priscilla
Hi Colleen – Good eye! I would use 1/2 to 1 whole onion depending on your preference for onions! I corrected the recipe – thank you and enjoy!
Linda
How would you modify this fantastic looking and sounding recipe for someone who has to avoid saturated fat? As much as I love them, I have to avoid the butter, half & half and pancetta/bacon as well as keep eggs to a minimum. Do I just have to give up on this one and do my usual roasted potatoes with onions?
Priscilla
Hi Linda – You can certainly make a version of this hash using olive oil instead of butter and caramelize mushrooms as a meaty substitute for the bacon/pancetta. Hope this works! Also, I add chopped red and/or green peppers to roasted potatoes with onions for a little color and texture 🙂