*This post for Harissa Sweet Potato Hash first appeared on March 29, 2012. I’ve updated the recipe, reshot the photos and added a video below. I love quick potato hash recipes for any meal when you need something fast. A runny egg on top improves any hash. This version blends Mexican flavors with a Middle Eastern harissa kick. It comes together in about 25 minutes and is filling and flavorful. The text below is from the original post when I was balancing this blog with a full-time job.
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Quick Mexican-inspired sweet potato hash with a spicy harissa kick. Super simple and perfect for breakfast, lunch or dinner!
Are you a procrastinator?
I definitely am.
Over the past few years I’ve gotten into the habit of leaving tasks to the last minute — especially work things. I had a webinar on my calendar for five months that I kept putting off. I didn’t want to do it, I questioned whether I even should, and I hoped it would disappear. It didn’t — and it was scheduled for today.
After ignoring it for weeks, I finally started working on the presentation the day before. I spent about five hours assembling slides and trying to create something I could speak about for 45 minutes on deferred maintenance and planning. Exciting stuff, right?
By the time I felt like the slides were in decent shape, it was after 1pm. I had a 1:30pm conference call and needed lunch fast if I wanted to avoid turning into a hangry mess on the call.
So this harissa sweet potato hash was born — a lunch inspired by procrastination and the need to stay civilized until the meeting ended.
The Basics of a Hash
I love hash recipes because they require just a few core ingredients:
- potatoes
- onions
- meat (optional)
- a good cast iron skillet
From there, you can take the recipe in many directions. For this sweet potato hash I went with a Mexican-inspired mix: green onion, black beans, bell peppers and spices like cumin and smoked paprika. Harissa paste adds a warm, peppery heat that gives the dish its distinctive edge — use less if you prefer milder flavors.
This hash is a quick, healthy and satisfying meal for one very hungry person or easily shared between two. It’s equally great topped with runny eggs for breakfast, served as a hearty lunch, or enjoyed for dinner when time is short.
When you’re pressed for time, a skillet meal like this is ideal — minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
Harissa Sweet Potato Hash
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, plus more for cooking
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 small sweet potato, chopped into small cubes
- 1 tablespoon harissa paste
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup packed baby spinach
- 1/2 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 2 eggs
- 1 green onion, chopped
Instructions
- Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add the onions and cook 2–3 minutes until softened.
- Add the bell pepper and garlic; cook another 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add the sweet potato, harissa paste, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, pepper and a drizzle more olive oil. Toss to coat and cook until the sweet potato is fork-tender, about 5–7 minutes.
- Stir in the spinach and black beans and cook until the spinach wilts.
- Crack the eggs over the hash, cover the skillet and cook until the egg whites are set and the yolks reach your desired doneness.
- Remove the lid, season with additional salt and pepper if needed, sprinkle chopped green onion on top and serve.
Video
Nutrition
Calories: 321kcal
Carbohydrates: 38g
Protein: 14g
Fat: 14g
Fiber: 9g
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.