A Japanese sweet potato butternut hash with bacon, perfect for a lazy, but healthy, weekend breakfast or brunch! Beef or pork bacon, and greens add savory flavor to this classic paleo breakfast while sweet potatoes and butternut add just the right amount of sweetness. Grain free, paleo, Whole30 friendly.
I totally had to back off and chill out with my recipe creation this week. I was putting way too much pressure on myself, and, when that happens I seem to completely lose touch with what kind of dish I’d actually like to make. I was trying to force myself to create a couple of different recipes for things I just didn’t want to eat, and, my brain doesn’t work that way – it rebels.
So I had to take a step back. I asked myself “what foods do you like lately that maybe some other people might like too?” Sounds ridiculous and basic but it worked, and here we are, together at last.
I’ve been really loving Japanese sweet potatoes recently ever since I found a local market that always seems to have an abundance of gorgeous ones.
They are reddish-purple on the outside with a creamy white inside, starchier, more dense, sturdier and less sweet than other varieties, in my opinion. I’ve been roasting them in coconut oil and salt and my kids are very into them too. I’ve been wanting to do some sort of “loaded” version, so that might be coming along too if I can swing it. For now, a sweet potato hash with bacon will more than satisfy my craving!
Sugar free beef bacon from US Wellness Meats was a very cool discovery, and, for the past several months it’s been a must-have in every order I’ve placed with them. The pork bacon was a long time favorite, the beef bacon is so very different yet completely and awesomely delicious. I think it goes so well with the Japanese sweet potatoes! Something about the textures and flavors just blend so well for me.
However, if you decide to use some other bacon in this recipe it will be just as delicious – I can assure you of that! You can even use another meat entirely if you so choose. But maybe forget I said that and just use bacon actually. Because bacon is the boss!
Sweet Potato Butternut Hash With Bacon & Spinach
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound sugar free beef or pork bacon - I used U.S. Wellness Meats
- 1.5 cups peeled and diced butternut squash I chopped ahead of time
- 1.5 cups peeled and diced Japanese sweet potatoes you can use any sweet potato variety
- fine grain sea salt to taste
- 2 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
- 3-4 eggs
- salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh chives
Instructions
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Heat a 10 or 12 inch heavy ovenproof skillet on the stove over medium-hi heat and preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
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Chop your bacon into 1 inch pieces and add to the heated skillet.
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Let the bacon cook until a bit crispy but not yet done, and drain off a bit of the fat, leaving enough to cook the potatoes and butternut. You can save the fat for later use if you like in a glass container.
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Put the chopped butternut squash and sweet potatoes in the skillet with the bacon and toss to coat with fat, then sprinkle salt on to taste and toss again.
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Lower the heat to medium and cover the pan (a non-matching lid is okay!) to let the potatoes and butternut soften a bit. After 2-3 minutes or so, uncover and stir to evenly brown.
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Once the butternut squash and potatoes are browning and soft, add the spinach and just toss to coat and soften.
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Remove from heat and carefully crack each egg in a different spot on top of the hash so as not to "break" the yolk. Sprinkle a bit of salt and pepper over the eggs, and put the entire skillet in the preheated oven for 5-10 minutes, depending on how well done you want your eggs cooked. I cook mine until the whites are set and the yolks are creamy.
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Check often, and, when eggs are cooked to preference, remove the skillet (carefully!) from the oven. Sprinkle a generous amount of chopped fresh chives over the top, and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
What’s your favorite variety of sweet potato? Hard to choose one, I know.
What inspires you to create new recipes?
Have you ever tried beef bacon?
Smile for the weekend everyone 🙂
I don’t know that I’ve ever paid attention to the variety of sweet potato that I buy but I will now. I haven’t had a sweet potato I didn’t like so I guess my answer is all varieties 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend!
Yup they’re all really good 🙂 You too!
So I know there’s a purple sweet potato but I had no idea there’s more! Looks delish!
I like these better than purple, the purples are so good though 🙂
I always get confused when I eat a different colored sweet potato but I really like them all!
I do love them all and find it interesting that they’re all a bit different 🙂
I need to find some different kinds of sweet potatoes to try! Maybe whole foods or fresh market will have something (I know my regular grocery store doesn’t). I’ve never tried beef bacon but I am sure I would like it. I mean, anything called “bacon” has to be good, right?
Whole Foods usually has several varieties so that would be a good bet. Beef bacon is different but it’s really good 🙂
I am kinda glad you said about backing off from recipe creation. I kinda feel like the same thing right now, sometimes it sucks the fun out of food when you know you will get frustrated with pictures that never quite look how you want them too. Thanks for sharing this recipe, what a killer idea!
Too much pressure on anything seems to wind up with frustration!
I’ve never even heard of Japanese sweet potatoes, but this looks so good! I’ll have to stop by my asian market and see if they carry them. Happy Friday!
I would think they would have them, definitely try! Happy Friday 🙂
i love japanese sweet potato. The shape alone is fun! and you know i love hash! haha
Yup they are good! And the hash, can’t go wrong 🙂
I can’t say that I’ve had beef bacon before. I wonder if it would be similar to a hanger steak in texture. Hmmm. Japanese sweet potatoes, on the other hand, are YUM. And I know what you mean–you can’t force the recipe magic!
It’s almost like a fattier, crispier roast beef, in a good way 😉
This looks delicious! I love hashes but never have time to make them. Life has been go, go, go lately. I need to find those potatoes. Maybe Whole Foods?
My Whole Foods has always had them so I would check there. They’re really awesome 🙂
I’ve never tried Japanese sweet potatoes before, but I’m definitely going to keep an eye out for them… especially since my stomach started rebelling against any sort of orange food 😡 And I feel ya on the recipe creation… As soon as you start feeling too pressured, motivation and creativity go out the window. That’s why I needed to take a step back as well.
These are really good, grab them if you can! Too much pressure on anything just winds up bad news for me!
Mmmm…LOVE hash. I am sad that I cannot seem to find this “variety” of sweet potatoes that seem to be in abundance where you live. Maybe I need to go to the Co-op or something. My family are not big fans, but I would like to find one that they will enjoy. The Japanese sounds like a good bet (less sweet, more starch).
I have a package of the US Wellness Meats in my freezer now. Can’t wait to try.
My kids do like them and they are definitely sturdier and starchier than the orange ones. Hope you like the bacon 🙂
oh wow beef bacon is where it’s at!!! i love that, i have not had it in ages but thank you for reminding me how awesome it is and that it exists. yay!
i’ve made a couple of meals this week purely for the hubby, to sort of make up for my emotional roller coaster and crazy. i think my morning meditation is making me a little nutty, maybe because i still feel like i wish i could do more in the morning besides meditate. i workout at lunch and after work now, but have this energy in the morning. it’s a cycle of crazy in my head, eek.
last night he was at an MBA event and i made the most sad dinner for myself, i think it was sad enough to make me realize i need some food therapy. so made a decent breakfast today. my point, i actually had one, is that i’ve been meditating and skipping breakfast… i know! so i need to figure out a way to make both things happen, before i jump face first into the land of sugar and red bulls.
happy friday lady cakes, hope ya have a fabulous weekend. i think we are going to take some pics for my um… blog? yeah! eek! bated breath i know 😀
Breakfast needs to happen! And I know what mean about mornings, my body seems to want to be active first thing so if I rest (even if I’m active later) I do feel off. Very excited for your blog!
Japanese sweets are probably my second favorite after the PSP!
Purple ones are so good too! My little guy’s favorite 🙂
i love the japanese sweet potatoes much more than the regular ones! i love how they add a little bit of color into the mix but also taste similar to a regular potato? but i feel like they’re healthier so its yayy! i dont eat meat but will definitely add some avocados to make up for it! have a great Friday!!
Avocado sounds wonderful! I love roasted sweet potatoes paired with avocado, great combo 🙂 Hope you have a great Friday/weekend too!
Ive only heard of Japanese SP from you so far. I have not seen them in my store. Just regular old orange ones and sometimes sitting next the yams ? WTF is there really a difference ? i LOVE sweet potatoes recently and could eat them every day ! i have never made a hash though i wondered how you cooked eggs on top of the items. it never dawned on me to put in the oven. clearly i am not a recipe developer of any kind !
There really is a flavor and texture difference! The orange ones are the softest and sweetest, Japanese ones are definitely starchier and sturdier, they need longer to cook but they come out so delicious 🙂 Since getting my cast iron pans I love just sticking the whole thing in the oven!
I am swimming in my puddle of DROOL!! I love US Wellness beef bacon… And with butternut squash, OHHHH yes! This is genius!
Haha! Try it out, you won’t be disappointed 🙂
I love the idea of a breakfast hash although I’ve never tried the Japanese sweet potatoes. I’ll keep an eye for them.
For me, my recipes come about based on my cravings, leftovers in my fridge or whatever I’ve got a boat load of at the moment. Right now, I’m working on Acorn Squash fritters because I’m trying to get through all the squash in my root cellar before spring is fully here.
I haven’t had acorn squash in a while and that sounds so good. Definitely try the potatoes if you get the chance 🙂
Yum! I made a similar hash the other day and it was so good. I am loving veggies and eggs for breakfast lately. What a great idea to use a cast iron pan. I have one, but didn’t think to use it!
Made this for lunch today. It was delicious !!
That makes me so happy! Glad you enjoyed it 🙂
I LOVE Japanese purple sweet potatoes. The normal orange ones aren’t sweet enough for me but the purples are super sweet. I just roast it and eat it.. or throw in foil and into the campfire while everyone else is roasting marshmellows. Yummy.
I work at Whole Foods. My store carries them because I convinced the buyer that they are the best because they are so sweet and creamy. Two other stores near mine do not, so it’s hit or miss. The Asian market has LOADS of them. Usually no one calls them Japanese sweet potatoes-just find a dark purple skinned potato and see what color the inside is. If it’s a white-ish yellow color, you found it! We use them on shepherds pie and they are Sooooooooo good! They often grow pretty small-perfect size for a side to an easy dinner for baked sweet potatoes.
Oh wow I’d love to use them in shepherds pie! That sounds so yummy. They really are SO delicious 🙂
Have you ever made this ahead of time and frozen it (w/o eggs)?
I haven’t but I think it would be fine to do that, and then reheat in the oven 🙂