Making hash browns is such a fun way to spice up your breakfast. They are super easy and quick to prepare and can make a healthy vegan meal if you don't fry them.
Today we'll show you how to make healthy non-fried hash browns using an air fryer. We'll also share some of our experiment notes to help you achieve a similar result using a regular oven.
The classic hash browns recipe consists of shredded potatoes assembled into a patty and pan-fried with a lot of oil.
Today, we will use an air fryer as a substitute. We have tested different time and temperature settings which will make these healthy hash browns incredibly crispy with virtually no oil at all.
Air fryers are a rather quirky appliance we bought a few years back. We like it because it produces similar crispiness to deep-frying, but without using any oil, or very little.
They work by blasting your food with swirling hot air. If you like crispy food but don't like smelling up the kitchen or ingesting bad saturated fats, air fryers are your friends.
Do air fryers work? Incredibly well, yes! Could you achieve a similar result with a regular oven in fan mode?
To some extent, yes. But not as well, as the air circulates in an air-fryer much faster than in an oven. Nonetheless, we'll give you the option to use a conventional oven in the Tips section below.
By ditching the frying, these browns have half the calories and at least 90% fewer fats than the classic ones. If you are buying organic potatoes, keep the skin on for extra fibres.
And if after making these patties with potatoes, you want to try other veggies too, check out these tofu carrot hash browns or these low-carb enoki mushroom pancakes!
Ingredients
| Potatoes | 500 g |
| Fresh Parsley | 30 g |
| Extra Virgin Olive Oil | 1 tbsp |
Step 1
Before you start, make sure to use starchy potatoes as they will give the crispiest results. Good options include Russet, Idaho, Desiree, Maris Piper, or Yukon Gold varieties.
Rinse well the potatoes and keep the skin on - for extra fibres and crunchiness.
Then, use a box grater to shred the potatoes into strips over a bowl lined with a cheesecloth or kitchen towel.
Step 2
Next, wrap up the towel and squeeze it tightly to drain excess water from the shredded potatoes.
The more moisture you remove, the crispier your hash browns will be.
Step 3
Now, transfer the squeezed potato strips into a mixing bowl and tip the chopped parsley.
Then, season with salt and black pepper to taste and give all a good stir.
Step 4
Use a cookie cutter or egg pochette ring to shape the hash browns, piling a few tablespoons of the potato mix in the centre of the rings.
Then, lightly compact the potato patties with the back of a spoon to a 1 cm (1/3 of an inch) thickness.
If you like super-crispy fritters, then leave the potato shreds as loose as possible, compacting them to a minimum.
Then, refrigerate the prepared hash browns for at least 15 minutes. That way, they will slightly harden, and it will be easier to transfer them in the air fryer.
Step 5
Preheat the air fryer to 200°C (390°F).
Then, transfer the hash browns into the air fryer basket, carefully lifting them with the help of a spatula.
They will be quite delicate, so don't worry if they'll lose their shape. Just tuck them back once you've placed them inside the basket.
Now, brush the hash browns with oil and bake them for 5 minutes. Then, flip them upside down and cook for 5 more minutes or until crispy and golden.
Step 6
As soon as they're ready, transfer potato fritters onto a wire rack to keep them nicely crunchy and avoid getting soggy bottoms for the steam.
Enjoy your super-healthy air fryer hash browns for breakfast and brunch or as a tasty nibble.
Tips
Spice up your hash browns with chilli flakes for extra flavour.
You can also bake these potato patties in the oven. Just follow our recipe above and instead of transferring the hash browns into the air fryer basket, keep them on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Then, bake them at 200°C (390°F) for 10-15 minutes on each side or until crispy.