*This post for Harissa Sweet Potato Hash first appeared on March 29, 2012. I updated the recipe a bit (made it better!), reshot the photographs and included a video below. I love simple potato hash recipes for any meal of the day when you need to eat quickly. Of course, any of them are improved with a runny egg or two on top. This one is part Mexican inspired and part Middle Eastern thanks to the harissa paste. It’s ready in 25 minutes and doesn’t skimp on flavor or satiety. Text below is original and back when I had a full time job in addition to this little blog gig.
—–
This is a quick Mexican inspired sweet potato hash recipe with a spicy harissa kick. Super simple and makes the perfect breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Are you a procrastinator?
I totally am.
I never used to be this way but within the past 2-3 years and specifically when it comes to work, I’ve been leaving stuff to the very last minute. Like whoa.
I’ve had this webinar on my calendar for no joke, 5 months. I won’t even get into how much I don’t want to do it, don’t think I should have to do it, or how much of a complete waste of time it’s going to be but nonetheless, it’s today.
I ignored it, fought it, prayed it would go away (it didn’t) and just downright refused to acknowledge it’s existence.
Until yesterday morning.
Employee of the year right here.
So for 5 hours straight I was buried in about 15 different PowerPoint slides, trying my best to ignore twitter and attempting to put together something of substance that I can talk about for 45 minutes on college campuses’ deferred maintenance and planning.
Enthralling, no?
When I was finally getting to a place where I realized this thing was actually in somewhat decent shape and I might not sound like a babbling idiot while presenting, I looked at the clock and it was after 1pm.
I had a 1:30pm conference call and needed lunch quick if I was going to be able to maintain a somewhat tame (as opposed to complete cranky hungry bitch) composure on this call.
And so this harissa sweet potato hash was born.
A procrastination spurred, hangry bitch avoidance of a lunch.
The Basics of a Hash
I love hash recipes because they really only require a few main ingredients:
- potatoes
- onions
- meat (*optional)
- a good cast iron skillet
After that, the world is your oyster.
For this sweet potato hash, I chose a Mexican theme and went with green onions, black beans, bell peppers and some typical Mexican spices like cumin and smoked paprika.
Check out this turkey sweet potato skillet or this skillet ground beef and sweet potatoes for similarly flavored easy meals.
The harissa paste gives a spicy kick. If you like things not so spicy, just use a little less than the recommended 1 tablespoon.
More hash recipes to try:
Corned beef hash breakfast sandwich
Potato hash
Jalapeno cilantro hash stuffed portobellos
Brussels sprouts pumpkin and apple hash
This easy sweet potato hash recipe is a healthy, quick, satisfying breakfast, lunch or dinner appropriate meal for one really hungry person or more realistically, two.
When you’re pressed for time, plates are overrated.
More skillet meals –> chicken artichoke olive skillet | chinese chicken zoodles | chorizo spinach skillet pizza
Harissa Sweet Potato Hash
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for cooking
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small sweet potato, chopped into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup packed baby spinach
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 eggs
- 1 green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onions and let cook 2-3 minutes until softened.
- Add the peppers and garlic and cook an additional 3-4 minutes until softened.
- Add sweet potato, harissa paste, all the spices and a drizzle more of the olive oil. Toss to combine and cook until the potatoes are fork tender and softened, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the spinach and black beans to the skillet, toss and cook until spinach is wilted.
- Crack the eggs over the top of the hash, cover with a lid and cook until egg whites are set.
- Remove the lid, season with additional salt and pepper. Sprinkle the chopped green onion on top and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
Oooo that looks so good. Considering I eat sweet potatoes nearly everyday, it’s odd I’ve yet to make a hash. Love the colors too!
Love your last line..plates are over-rated.
And you amaze me with how busy you seem, and amidst it all, you rock out spectacular pictures! When I am rushed, my pics do NOT turn out well. They are shaky/blurry, not well composed, etc. Yours look PERFECT!
Ha, if only you had seen me running between the kitchen and dining room to “set up” for the pictures while this was on the stove. I’m pretty sure I was sweating when I sat down to finally eat it. It was like an athletic event!
Gina, how do you have time to be creative when you only have 30 minutes to make it? I would’ve just stuffed my face with granola and yogurt or a banana with almond butter and some milk. It would take me a good part of an afternoon to come up with this. This is delish! I have a race on Saturday morning and I think this would be a perfect fuel breakfast!
I’ve totally become a procrastinator as time goes on as well and it bothers me but at the same time, I don’t WANT to do that stuff! That’s why I’m putting it off! duh.
Of all the foods I thought I’d miss during pregnancy, runny eggs never really occurred to me…and then suddenly I couldn’t have them, and MAN do I miss them. I’m going to have to make this in a few weeks!!
Oh my gosh, I didn’t even realize that was on the not during pregnancy list. Another strike against kids for me!
Whenever I see recipes for hash I think of my grandpa. He loved his corned beef and hash! I think PowerPoint is my least favorite thing ever. Ever since middle school when it is no longer acceptable to have cool sound effects and have your slides zoom in from all over the screen.
YAY this looks awesome! I just started getting into sweet taters as of a week ago and have been loving all the recipes you have that use them.
Your funny, but I get where you coming from. I have 4 interviews to give today, which messes up my schedule for today,than tomorrow I have a stupid webinar about a data base that I don’t really are about and then to top it off 4 more interviews to give. What a boring Friday. Normally Fridays are blow-off days but no not tomorrow!! Your hash looks fantstic!!!
If this dish was born from me assigning you that webinar, I’m not sorry about it at all. This looks AMAZING!
Until 2:30pm today when this damn thing is over, I’m not sure we can be friends. ;)
Wow, I just made a sweet potato hash, too. When you’re pressed for time it makes a great breakfast for dinner!