Chinese Hash Browns Recipe: Bite-Sized Fried Potatoes
After originating in the 1890s in New York City as a breakfast option, hash browns made their place on popular breakfast menus in America. Those hash browns are made by grating raw potatoes. Today, I will show you the Chinese version of hash browns.
To make this Chinese hash browns recipe, you need to boil the potatoes first. Then, you need to flatten the potatoes a bit and fry them in oil. It gives nice and crispy hash browns with a moist center. These hash browns are a bit spicier and more fragrant compared to American hash browns. Let’s make it.
Table of Contents
Recipe Overview
This is a fast breakfast option for your busy schedule. Check the quick overview below.
| Course: Snack | Cuisine: Chinese | Difficulty: Easy | ||
| Total Time: 20 minutes | ||||
| Serving | Preparation Time | Cooking Time | Calories | |
| 2 persons | 5 minutes | 15 minutes | 239 kcal | |
Ingredients Needed for the Recipe
The ingredients for this recipe are pretty simple. Use the following list to organize everything.
- Potato: Use 250g of local small potatoes.
- Garlic: 4-5 cloves, minced
- Scallion: 1 stalk, finely chopped
- Dried Chili: 2-3 dried chilies, chopped
- Salt: 1 tsp
- Pepper: 5-6 black peppers
- Cooking Oil: 500g
That’s it for the ingredients. The cooking process is also straightforward.
Chinese Hash Browns Recipe: Step-By-Step Instructions
The cooking process is divided into three main phases: boiling, deep frying, and stir-frying. The detailed steps are given below.
Step 1: Wash and Boil the Potatoes
Wash the small potatoes thoroughly so that there is no dirt or mud on them. Fill water in a steamer and put the potatoes into the steamer. Steam the potatoes for about 10 minutes or until they are tender.
Step 2: Peel and Smash the Potatoes
This step is unique for Chinese hash browns. Once the steamed potatoes have cooled down a bit, peel them. Put one potato in a plastic bag and smash the potato with the side of a cleaver.
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The potato should be flattened, just like a burger patty.
Step 3: Deep-Fry the Potatoes
Put oil in a large pan or wok and heat it up. Keep the heat at 50% to 60%. Add the flattened potatoes to the hot oil and fry them for about 3 minutes. Once the potatoes have a golden crust, take them out and drain the excess oil.
Step 4: Stir-Fry the Hash Browns
Add 1-2 tsp of oil to another pan. Put minced garlic, chopped scallions, and chopped dried chilies into the pan. After stir-frying the aromatics, pour in the fried potatoes.
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Season the hash browns with salt and pepper. Continue stir-frying the potatoes for one more minute so that they can absorb as much flavor as possible.
Step 5: Garnish and Serve
Put the hash browns on a plate and garnish them with some chopped scallions. You can pair these hash browns with eggs or other proteins.
Nutrition Facts of the Recipe
Chinese hash browns are high in potassium. They also contain a lot of carbohydrates and fat. You should check the following list of nutrients to maintain a healthy intake of hash browns.
- Total Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 3.6g
- Total Fat: 13g
- Saturated Fat: 1.1g
- Polyunsaturated Fat: 7.6g
- Monounsaturated Fat: 3.2g
- Trans Fat: 0.3g
- Total Dietary Fiber: 3.4g
- Total Sugar: 2.6g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
- Sodium: 65mg
- Potassium: 735.9mg
- Calcium: 27mg
- Iron: 1.6mg
- Vitamin D: 2mcg
Do’s and Don’ts of the Recipe
Though this recipe is pretty simple, you can make this much easier by following the expert tips below.
Do’s
- Smash the potatoes when they are still warm. If you smash cold potatoes, they might break.
- Season the potatoes generously. Otherwise, the hash browns might taste bland.
Don’ts
- Don’t make the hash browns too thin. Flatten them to a medium thickness.
- While stir-frying the hash browns with the aromatics, don’t fry them for too long. Otherwise, the aromatics might get burnt.
Chinese Hash Browns Recipe
Ingredients
Method
- Wash the small potatoes thoroughly so that there is no dirt or mud on them. Fill water in a steamer and put the potatoes into the steamer. Steam the potatoes for about 10 minutes or until they are tender.
- This step is unique for Chinese hash browns. Once the steamed potatoes have cooled down a bit, peel them. Put one potato in a plastic bag and smash the potato with the side of a cleaver.
- The potato should be flattened, just like a burger patty.
- Put oil in a large pan or wok and heat it up. Keep the heat at 50% to 60%. Add the flattened potatoes to the hot oil and fry them for about 3 minutes. Once the potatoes have a golden crust, take them out and drain the excess oil.
- Add 1-2 tsp of oil to another pan. Put minced garlic, chopped scallions, and chopped dried chilies into the pan. After stir-frying the aromatics, pour in the fried potatoes.
- Season the hash browns with salt and pepper. Continue stir-frying the potatoes for one more minute so that they can absorb as much flavor as possible.
- Put the hash browns on a plate and garnish them with some chopped scallions. You can pair these hash browns with eggs or other proteins.
FAQs
Knowing the answers to some commonly asked questions might help you. Check them out.
Are there any specific potatoes recommended for making Chinese hash browns?
You can make Chinese hash browns with almost any type of potato. But local small potatoes are the best as they can hold their shapes better. They also taste great.
Can I add other vegetables to the hash browns for extra flavor?
If hash browns are made in the American style with grated potatoes, you can add other vegetables for extra flavor. But as Chinese hash browns are made of whole potatoes, you can’t add anything else to them.
Is there a traditional seasoning blend used in Chinese hash browns?
The Chinese hash browns are popular for their simple taste that comes from a few aromatics and common seasonings. Salt and pepper are the most commonly used seasonings for this recipe. You can use Sichuan peppercorns or Bird’s Eye chilies for a spicy kick.
What cooking method is typically used: frying, baking, or both?
Frying is the traditional method for making Chinese hash browns. However, baking is also becoming popular as this method needs less oil and is healthier. You can try both methods to compare which method tastes better.
Conclusion
As hash browns require little ingredients and are easy to make, it has become a breakfast staple in many countries. The Chinese version of hash browns is more flavorful than its American counterpart. The crispy crust with a soft center, the aroma from the garlic and scallions, and the spiciness from the chili make these hash browns a must-try.
Follow this Chinese hash browns recipe to make these delicious fried hash browns for breakfast or brunch. Everyone you treat with these hash browns is bound to love these flavorful patties.
