Spicy Oven Fries and Hash Browns:

You all know what this post is gonna be about, the title says it all! :) It’s all about the delicious, versatile and can’t do without veggie (atleast for me!) -- the POTATO!

It is the International Year of the Potato, so let's dig into all the spuds we can! Look at some of the varieties available, here.

I won’t waste more time in endless jabber and get to the recipes right away. Fries and hash browns are my favourite foods whenever we eat out. I’ve made fries many times but the hash browns, this was the first.

Hash Browns

This is a very simple and easy to make dish with only a few ingredients. It makes for a lovely breakfast .

You will need:

I large Russet/Idaho potato peeled and grated (about 1 cup)

1 tbsp Oil

1 tbsp Sour cream

Chopped scallions for Garnish

Salt and pepper

Heat a wide pan with ½ tbsp oil in it. Add the grated potato and using a flat wide spatula press it into a flat even pancake. You can go all the way to the ends of the pan or stop right near the edges. Cook on low heat till one side is completely cooked and crisped about 5 minutes. Flatten as it cooks so that the grated potato binds well. Drizzle remaining oil on the other side while one side is cooking. When the underside is done, you should be able to lift the entire cake with one lift of your wide spatula. Flip, and let cook for another 5 minutes. This ensures the potato is cooked through and at the same time a golden crispy crust is created.

Slide onto a serving plate when done, season with salt and pepper while its still hot. Top with sour cream and chopped scallions. Serve.

Spicy Oven Fries

You will need:
2 large Russet potatoes
Salt and pepper
2 tsps Chilli powder
3-4 tbsp Olive oil

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Peel potatoes and cut into half-inch thick slices (lengthwise) cut again into 1/2-inch thick fries. Place the potatoes into a pot with cold water and 1 tsp of salt. Bring up to a gentle boil and simmer until a knife tip goes through easily. Cook about 3/4 of the way through.

Drain carefully and put in a bowl. Add olive oil, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Toss well and lay out in 1 layer on a nonstick baking sheet. Bake until well-browned and crisp. Remove from oven, and toss with chilli powder. Serve hot with Ketchup or Ranch dressing (hubby’s favourite)

Hashbrowns and Spicy Oven Fries are my entry to the following events (yeah, there’s more than one!)

"The Potato Feast" hosted by Dhivya at the Culinary Bazaar

"An Ode to the Potato" hosted by Sia at Monsoon Spice

"The Potato - A Blog Event" hosted by Alex at Eating Leeds (Sending in the Hash Browns)

And it has been raining awards in the blogosphere of late, and another one has come my way. Sandhya has passed on the Excellence Award to me, thanks dear!! :)

I would love to pass it on to:

Rajitha of Hunger Pangs
TBC of the The Budding Cook
Laavanya of Cookery Corner