INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
6 slices Hickory smoked bacon (thick cut) reserve bacon drippings
1 Vidalia onion, peeled and quartered
1/2 teaspoon Kosher or Sea Salt (to taste)
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper corns (Tellicherry)
1/2 teaspoon Smoked Paprika
Bacon drippings or butter for frying

Fry bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp and drain on paper towels and and reserve bacon drippings.  Shred the potatoes and onions using a food processor or box grater.  Transfer shredded potatoes and onions to paper towels and squeeze out all excess moisture.  In a mixing bowl, add shredded potatoes and onion, crumbled bacon, salt, smoked paprika and pepper to taste.

Using a large skillet over medium-high heat add 1 tablespoon of bacon drippings or butter and add hash brown mixture and flatten with a spatula.  Reduce heat to low and cook until golden brown with the edges crisp about 6 minutes.  Place a plate on top of hash browns and invert skillet.  Add additional bacon drippings or butter to skillet and slide the hash browns back into skillet and allow to to cook an addition 4 to 5 minutes until golden brown.

Transfer hash browns to a cutting board and cut into wedges.

YIELD:  4 to 6 large servings

NOTE:  If using a flat top grill or counter top flat top grill, you can fry individual servings as needed.

I know, most people simply purchase already shredded hash brown potatoes but it is fun doing them from "scratch".  Hash browns are good anytime served but in the South they are normally served with breakfast food items.   I shredded way more than 2 lbs. of potatoes for this recipe and have plenty of shredded hash browns for my next Hash Brown Casserole.  The Paprika in this recipe will produce a dark crust or bark on the hash browns.

Click on thumbnail pixs for a larger screen view:

NOTES:  You need a good non-stick skillet to do the recipe as described of which I did not use.  Had some trouble getting the hash browns to turn loose from the stainless steel skillet but did manage to get them out............not too pretty though.  Grin if you must!  

Web posted by Bill aka Mickey Porter 08-19-12 with pixs added on 08-25-12.  Updated plated pixs on 03-13-13.

LEAVING ON A SPIRITUAL NOTE