My produce dude at Whole Foods might know me just as well as some of my closest friends. We’ve built quite the relationship.
Yea.. he’s MY produce dude. Miguel gets to work at 4am.
He’s in the produce restocking business… and he has to get his ducks in a row before 7am rolls around, and the store opens.
I saunter in around 7:30am. I generally have ridiculous bedhead, sunglasses on indoors, a scarf wrapped around my head, and lip gloss… always lip gloss. Miguel has seen some truly unfortunate morning fashion choices. Maybe he judges. If so, at least he does so with kind eyes.
Maybe I look like one of those dishevelled, incognito super famous people… except that I’m not at all.
Miguel always greets me. We talk about what I’m about to cook. He picks up an apple and slices it for me to sample. He tells me about how many beers he is going to drink when he gets off of work, and what he’s going to do with his family over the weekend. That’s about as much conversation as I can muster at such an early hour.
I think he and I have high-fived once. I initiated it… surely it was awkward.
He gave me a smushed avocado once, and I acted like he was giving me a brick of gold. Also awkward.
I wonder what Miguel is doing right now.
Probably stacking potatoes and chatting up the girl that does her produce shopping everyday at 10:30am. She probably likes apple slices too.
Hm… she’s probably more chatty and less awkward. But I’m probably cuter.
And yes… I’m totally comparing myself to a fictional girl I just made up in my head. Whatevs. I’m over it.
I’ll tell you what.
Tomorrow morning I’d like you to saute some peppers, onions, and a bit of garlic. If nothing else… just do this. If you’re single, your neighbor will probably knock on your door and ask you to marry him/her. It smells good… that’s why.
In this hash you’ll find sauteed peppers, onions, and garlic.
There’s also roasted potatoes, sauteed sausage (I used veggie sausage), and fennel seeds.
So delicious! So fragrant. Big, yummy breakfast food.
Once all of the hash ingredients are pan fried and roasted, I tossed the warm hash with a few handfuls of fresh spinach. The warm hash will slightly wilt the greens. Topped with fried eggs… I mean, come on! Share this breakfast with someone.
Take the scarf off your head… and be a normal person for once.
Ok. That last sentence was totally just for me.
Enjoy with coffee. Eat a second helping. Take your vitamins.
Spinach and Potato Breakfast Hash
makes 2 large or 4 small servings
1 green bell pepper, diced into medium chunks
1 medium yellow onion, diced into medium chunks
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes (russet or new potatoes will also be great), cut into bite-size chunks
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 ounces sausage, cooked and sliced (I used vegetarian chipotle sausage) (pork or chicken sausage would also be great)
1 heaping teaspoon fennel seeds
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups baby spinach leaves
2 to 4 eggs, fried to desired doneness
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Place diced potatoes on a lined baking sheet and drizzle with about 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Bake potatoes for 20-30 minutes, or until potatoes are cooked through. Poke the potato chunks with a fork, if they’re tender they’re done.
While potatoes are baking, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan, over medium heat. (Wait! Now would be a great time to cook your sausage if it’s raw. Cook through and remove from the pan, then follow the next steps). Add the diced peppers and onions and cook until browned and broken down, about 6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper as it cooks. Add the minced garlic, and cook for 1 minute more. Remove from pan and place in a bowl to the side.
When potatoes are done roasting, remove from the oven.
Return the pan you cooked the onions and peppers in to a medium flame. Add the sliced, cooked sausage and potatoes. Pan fry until the sausage and potatoes have crispy bits on them. Add the fennel seeds. Stir. Add the onion and pepper mixture and fold to incorporate. Remove from the flame and add spinach leaves. Toss to incorporate and wilt the leaves.
Transfer the hash to a serving dish. Season with salt and pepper as necessary. Fry as many eggs and you’d like and serve over hash.
This has will last for up to 4 days in the fridge. It’s also really delicious mixed with black beans and salsa for dinner. With tortillas and cheese… amazing.
Simone Grant
I made these with russet potatoes, sweet potato yams and chicken herb sausage…… DELICIOUS!!
Rebecca
I am so happy I caught up on your blog yesterday. I made this for breakfast today and am already planning on making it next weekend when my parents come visit.
iris
I made this spinach/potato hash the other day, although I think I used more spinach. Mmmm, spinach.
Sean Nolte
Now this would be awesome with a bit of good chorizo.
Liz
I am going to make this and then I am going to bathe myself in it. Holy yumness. Thank you for sharing.
devaleena
I just made this for dinner and it was a big hit – this dish just inspired me to invite some friends over for brunch!
Danielle
This is amazing! I’ve already made it twice. The first time I used mixed greens because the store ran out of spinach (What?? Exactly.) and it still turned out great. I just made it again for dinner and added some cilantro and ground red pepper. AMAZING. Thank you Joy!
Maggie
Hello Joy
I love breakfast too! Nothing better than eating breakfast out: spreading out a newspaper with a cuppa and meandering throuh a warm comforting breakfast. Very sadly, my favourite, daily breakfast haunts were detroyed in our February earthquake. So I’m feeling a bit deprived. This recipe was terrifically appealing. Made it for dinner last night. Leftovers for brekkie this morning. Thanks.
April
Hi Joy,
I just made this recipe w/veg sausage for my fellow five hungry field workers and everyone loved it and was impressed! Breakfast is the absolute best. This recipe is totally tasty and real pretty. Thank you!
Kerry
I made this for supper tonight and man, was it awesome. I didn’t have potatoes or spinach so I used sweet potatoes and tossed in a handful of frozen peas to green it up. I also poached the eggs instead of frying, forgot the garlic and it was still delicious. It’s all about the fennel seed. Thanks for this!
Mina
I’m making this tonight. I think I’ll use chorizo, too, because i think i’m addicted to chorizo. that first photo looks so delicious. mmmmmm
Laura
I don’t have any fennel seeds in the house… is there a good substitute? I’ve also heard that fennel seeds taste like licorice, so I’m a little hesitant….
Pam
This looks sooooooo good. I especially liked that idea of using leftovers with black beans and salsa. I’m not sure about needing the spinach at breakfast though. I might just go for the eggs on top of the wonderful hash ingredients, and save that spinach for lunch.