Hasbrown and Egg Bowls

Serves 4

Instructions

4 strips applewood smoked bacon

2 cups Idaho Russet Potatoes (approximately 1 1/2 pounds), peeled and grated

1/2 cup yellow onion, grated or finely chopped

2 teaspoons garlic, minced

2-1/2 tablespoons jalapeño pepper, washed and dried, seeds removed, finely chopped 

1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs

olive oil for the pan if necessary

3/4 teaspoon salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 large eggs

handful of microgreens

*frozen or bagged hash browns will work fine for this recipe as well!

Place a paper towel over a large plate and set aside.

Add the bacon to a large sauté pan over medium heat. Cook until the bacon is golden brown and crispy, about 4 minutes per side. Remove the bacon -- but not the bacon grease -- from the pan, and set it aside to drain on the towel-lined plate.

Use a food processor fitted with the grater attachment -- or a hand held grater -- to grate the potato and onion. (The former is much easier!) Then use your hands to squeeze as much liquid as possible out of the potatoes and onion. Potatoes have a very high water content, so you'll be surprised at the quantity of liquid; you can actually "wring out" the potatoes! Doing this will result in much crispier potatoes.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Add the potatoes and onion, along with the garlic, jalapeño pepper, and bread crumbs to the pan with the bacon grease. Turn the heat to medium-high, and stirring from time to time, cook until everything is golden brown, about 10 minutes. (If at any point the pan becomes too dry and the potatoes are sticking to the bottom, add a bit of olive oil.)

Add the salt and a few turns of pepper. Stir to blend.

Place four (4 X 2-inch, round) ramekins on a baking sheet.

Crumble the bacon and line the bottom of each ramekin with it (about 1 strip of crumbled bacon each).

Then divide the potatoes evenly amongst them, on top of the bacon. Gently press down on the potatoes with the back of a spoon, to flatten them a bit.

Crack an egg over each one and bake in the preheated 375 degree F oven just until the eggs are cooked, about 15 minutes. (I like the yolks runny and the whites completely solidified, but cook to your taste.)

Let them cool on the baking sheet for about 10 minutes, then add microgreens to the top and serve!