No-fail method for making home fries with a crisp exterior and tender inside. Customize to your family's taste for a crowd pleasing side dish any time of day.
Prep Time:15 minutesmins
Cook Time:15 minutesmins
Total Time:30 minutesmins
Equipment
Large (10-inch or more) cast-iron skillet
Stiff spatula
Sharp knife
Microwave safe dish (for precooking the potatoes)
Ingredients
1½poundspotatoes (4 cups diced potatoes)about 4 medium potatoes, scrubbed clean
3tablespoonsvegetable oil
⅓cupminced onion
2tablespoonsbutter
¾teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonpepper
pinchcayenne pepper
Instructions
Precook the potatoes. Dice the potatoes into ½-inch cubes. Place in a microwave-safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes, stirring halfway through. While the potatoes cook, move on to the next step.
Cook the onion. Heat the skillet on low and add the butter. Cook the diced onion until softened, translucent, and beginning to brown (about 5 minutes). Remove the onion to a small plate and set aside.
Brown the potatoes. In the same skillet (no need to clean the pan), heat the vegetable oil on medium until hot but not smoking. Place the precooked potatoes carefully in the skillet in a single layer. Allow them to brown without stirring for about 5 minutes. Flip and let cook another 5 minutes. Leave them alone as much as possible so they will brown.
Add the onion and additional seasoning. Add the onion back into the skillet. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne. If you'd like to add any additional seasoning, add it now. Stir and cook another 5 minutes until everything is hot. Serve.
Notes
Home fries reheat very well.For extra flavor, try adding fresh herbs, diced pepper, or a garlic clove with the onion.