Best 3 Sunnys Saturday Special Hash Browns Recipes

SUNNY'S SATURDAY SPECIAL HASH BROWNS

Steps:

• Using a box grater or a food processor with the shred attachment, shred the potatoes and place them in a colander over a large bowl. Fill the bowl with cold water and agitate the shredded potatoes and rinse with water until the water runs clear from the colander. Strain the potatoes and pour into a clean kitchen towel, gather the edges and twist the towel around to squeeze the excess water out of the potatoes. Do this as hard as possible, changing towels if needed to remove the most moisture. Transfer the dried potato shreds to a large bowl. Add the garlic powder, onion powder, Hungarian paprika, 2 teaspoons of salt, and a grind or two of pepper. Toss with your hands to combine.
• In a large nonstick saute pan on medium heat, add the olive oil and shredded potatoes. Spread the potatoes evenly and allow a bottom crust to build before tossing to cook some more. Continue to cook while tossing until most of the hash browns are golden, 10 to 12 minutes. Pour into a serving plate.

PERFECT HASH BROWNS

Steps:

• Grate potatoes on the largest hole on a box grater into a medium bowl. Cover with cold water and drain; repeat once or twice, until water runs nearly clear. Taking small handfuls at a time, squeeze all the water from the potatoes and place in a dry medium bowl. Grate onion on the largest hole on a box grater and toss with potatoes. Season with salt and pepper.
• Taking small handfuls at a time, squeeze all water from the potato-onion mixture. Heat 2 tablespoons reserved bacon fat or vegetable oil in skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon butter and swirl together.
• Add potatoes and onions and spread into a thin, even layer. Cook, without moving, until the potatoes are nearly cooked through and browned on one side, about 5 to 8 minutes. Using a spatula, flip sections of the potatoes to crisp on the other side. Add 1 tablespoon reserved bacon fat or vegetable oil and remaining 1 tablespoon butter and cook, without moving, until potatoes are browned on the other side, about another 5 minutes. Flip once or twice more (you don't have to be so careful here; just kind of stir them around) and continue to cook until most of the bits of potato are golden brown and crisped, about another 4 minutes.
• Transfer potatoes to a plate. Serve with hot sauce (or ketchup, if you wish).

CRISPY HASH BROWNS

Steps:

• Prepare the hash browns: Peel the potatoes, then use a box grater to shred them lengthwise into long strands, then place them immediately into a large bowl of cold water to prevent them from oxidizing. Pour out the water, add a second round of cold water until the shredded potatoes are immersed, and let them sit for about 5 minutes.
• While the potatoes soak, prepare the crème fraîche: Add crème fraîche, dill and lemon zest to a medium bowl and whisk until aerated, about 1 minute. Season to taste with salt; refrigerate until ready to serve.
• Strain the potatoes, then use a cheesecloth or towel to squeeze out any excess water (or tightly grip them by the fistful, squeezing any liquid into the sink), transferring potatoes to a large bowl. Season shredded potatoes with the Parmesan, garlic powder, onion powder and a generous amount of kosher salt. (If you notice a little excess water in your bowl, feel free to pour it out.) Mix until everything is incorporated and then shape the mixture into 8 patties, patting them firmly until compact.
• Once you have your hash browns shaped and ready, divide 3 tablespoons canola oil between 2 large nonstick or cast-iron pans and heat over medium. Gently add 4 hash browns to each pan, using a spatula to sculpt the edges of each hash brown so they're rounded like hockey pucks. Cook, undisturbed, until golden-brown and crisp underneath, about 5 minutes, reducing the heat to medium-low if browning too quickly. Carefully flip the hash browns, adding about 1 tablespoon of oil to each pan (or more, if needed), and cook over medium until the second side is golden-brown, another 3 to 5 minutes, reducing the heat to medium-low if browning too quickly.
• Once the hash browns are golden on both sides, working with 1 pan at a time, add 1 1/2 tablespoons butter and 2 thyme sprigs to the pan and cook over medium, tilting the pan slightly and using a spoon to baste the thyme-scented butter over the hash browns, about 1 minute.
• Turn heat off and transfer butter-basted hash browns to a paper towel-lined baking sheet to absorb any excess oil. Repeat basting step with the remaining hash browns, butter and thyme sprigs.
• Garnish with chives and serve with crème fraîche.