Thursday, January 24, 2013

Simple Side...HOME FRIES!!!!!

Seriously, who doesn't love home fries. If you don't, you need to have our membership to the human race analyzed. I don't  know about you, but I can eat home fries with any meal, any time of the day and I don't like to have to drive to the diner to get them all the time.  They're just plain simple and just plain good.  This recipe makes about 4-6 servings, depending on how far into a carb bender you want to go.

2# Idaho potatoes, peeled
Starchy Awesomeness
1/2 onion, peeled
2 tbsp whole butter, unsalted
1 tbsp vegetable or canola oil
1 tbsp parsley

1.  Split the potatoes in half lengthwise, then slice them about 1/4 inch thick.  Drop these into a small sauce pot, and cover them with cold water.  Add 1 tbsp of kosher salt to the pot and bring these to a boil.  Keep them at a boil for 3 -5 minutes.  You want these potatoes to be as soft as a potato you would use for mashed potatoes, or fork tender if you will.

2.  While the potatoes are cooking, split that onion lengthwise then slice 1/4 inch thick.  Leave these off to the side for now.

3. Here's the fun part, the home frying!!!  I like to use either a black steel or a cast iron skillet.  If you don't  have one don't worry, use what you got. Make sure it's not a nice new Teflon pan because we're going to be cranking some heat and doing some scraping. Turn that flame up about medium high, drop that butter and oil in and wait until their sizzling.  Do you see a little hint of smoke from that pan?  GOOD!!!! Drop them 'taters in.

4.  Season them with some salt and pepper and let them sit for about 3-5 minutes.  You'll know when to start flipping when they start getting nice and golden brown.  I like mine a little darker so I let them go a bit more, but it's up to you.  Now, take a nice metal spatula, and flip them 'taters.  If they stick a little, don't be afraid to dig under them.  You'll be picking up a nice crispy crunchy salty crust, that makes the home fries, home fries.  After you turn them, season them again , and add your onions and parsley.  Go for another 3-5 minutes.

5.  Turn them 'taters again.  Let them sit until you get a nice golden brown on this side too.  If there are some side that are still white don't worry about it.  Have you ever had a perfectly colored or shaped home fry?  I thought not.  They're not meant to be perfect.  Take them off the flame, scoop them out of the pan and drop them on a plate,just like the diner.  MMMMMMM....MMMMMMM!!!!

Seriously, that's it.  If you happen to have any left over baked potatoes anywhere, you can use those instead of the raw potatoes.  You can also bake them the night before, cool them down  and peel them the next day if you don't' want to use the blanching method I'm used.  It's really six of one, half a dozen of the other. As for things you can do with these...ANYTHING!!!!  I like to go waffle house style and melt some cheese over these.  I like through in ham, sausage , bacon, or (even better) all three too.  You can add all kinds of different herbs to these, rosemary being my favorite, or dry spices like some Cajun seasoning.  This recipe is one you can seriously play with in your test kitchen.  You want some ideas?  Comment below.

Happy Eating,

-The Doctor.

No comments:

Post a Comment