Sweet potato hash makes a perfect healthy breakfast. Sweet potatoes and zucchini are spiced with smoked chipotle and lightly pan-fried until crisp-tender. Finished with a poached egg and fresh cilantro pesto, this simple breakfast hash is not only easy to make but it is healthy as well.
One of my favorite meals to make for breakfast is a simple hash.
A little bit of this, a little bit of that and you can have a delicious, hearty breakfast using up whatever you have on hand.
But the ultimate recipe for breakfast hash is a Southwestern Sweet Potato Hash.
This sweet potato hash is a healthy, nutrient-dense breakfast! Made with sweet potatoes, kale, zucchini, and poached eggs and finished with bright cilantro pesto, this vegetarian breakfast hash is truly a great way to fuel your day and add a little spice to your morning.
How to Make Sweet Potato Hash
Saute Veggies
- Heat oil in a nonstick or cast-iron skillet.
- Add in sweet potatoes, onions, and seasonings and saute for about 10 minutes.
- Add in chopped zucchini, bell peppers, and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes longer, or until sweet potatoes are tender.
- Add in kale or spinach and saute for 2-3 minutes, or until greens are wilted.
Poach Eggs
- While hash is cooking, bring a large saucepan of water to a rapid boil.
- Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to simmering water and swirl water together with a spoon.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, to the swirling water, and gently swirl the water once all the eggs are back in the water.
- Let cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on how runny you want your yolks.
- Remove eggs from the water with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate.
Alternatively, you can prepare Oven Poached Eggs--which is much simpler than poaching eggs on the stove.
Cilantro Pesto
- Pulse the almonds in a food processor until slightly broken down.
- Add in the parsley, cilantro, salt, pepper, avocado, and lime juice.
- Process until smooth.
- In the opening of the food processor, slowly add the olive oil with the food processor running. Process until smooth.
- This makes more pesto than what you need. Use for recipes like Sweet Potato Nachos or to top Mexican Chicken Skillet.
To Serve Southwest Sweet Potato Hash
- Divide Hash Between 4 plates.
- Top each plate with a poached egg.
- Drizzle 1-2 tablespoons of Cilantro Pesto over Hash.
- Top with hot sauce if desired.
More Sweet Potato Breakfast Recipes
- Sweet Potato Waffles
- Healthy Baked Sweet Potato Oatmeal
- Sweet Potato Smoothie
- Baked Eggs in Sweet Potatoes
- Breakfast Sweet Potato
Southwestern Sweet Potato Hash
Ingredients
Cilantro Pesto
- 1 cup cilantro
- ½ cup parsley
- 2 tablespoons almonds
- 2 tablespoons lime juice
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 avocado
- ¼ cup olive oil
Sweet Potato Hash
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled and cubed into ½ inch cubes
- 1 large green pepper diced
- 1 vidalia onion cubed into ½ inch cubes
- 2 small zucchini cubed into ½ inch cubes
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons chipolte chili powder or smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 4-8 cups kale or baby spinach or arugula
- 4 eggs
- Hot sauce optional
Instructions
Cilantro Pesto
- Pulse the almonds in a food processor until slightly broken down.
- Add in the parsley, cilantro, salt, pepper, avocado, and lime juice. Process until smooth.
- In the opening of the food processor, slowly add the olive oil with the food processor running. Process until smooth.
Sweet Potato Hash
- Heat a large skillet, or cast iron pan, to medium-high and add in the oil.
- Add the sweet potatoes, salt, pepper, chili powder, and onions to the skillet. Cook for about 15 minutes, until potatoes are browning and becoming fork tender.
- Add the garlic, bell peppers, and zucchini and saute for another 5 minutes-7 minutes. Add in greens and cook until just wilted.
Poached Eggs
- While hash is cooking, bring a large saucepan of water to a rapid boil.
- Add 2 tablespoons vinegar to simmering water and swirl water together with a spoon.
- Add the eggs, one at a time, to the swirling water, and gently swirl the water once all the eggs are back in the water. Let cook for 3-5 minutes, depending on how runny you want your yolks. Remove eggs from water with a slotted spoon onto a paper towel-lined plate.
To Serve Southwestern Hash
- Place a quarter of the hash onto each plate. Top the hash with an egg and drizzle over 1 tablespoon of pesto. Hot sauce is optional.
Notes
- Use whatever veggies you have on hand. I love zucchini, onions, and kale with sweet potatoes. But spinach, yellow squash, peppers, tomatoes, and even white potatoes work (just then it won't be Paleo.)
- To get this breakfast on the table quicker, use leftover Baked Sweet Potatoes. Dice up the leftover cold potatoes and this hash will be ready in faster.
- An egg on top is a great way to bump up the protein and moisture to this dish. However if a fried or poach egg is not your thing, scramble in some eggs into the hash at the last 5 minutes or Oven Poach Eggs for a faster version of a poached egg.
- If you don't happen to have fresh spinach or kale, use frozen and add to the hash when you add in zucchini and peppers to skillet.
- This cilantro pesto is great served on chicken or burrito bowls as well.
Marye
I love sweet potatoes - and this hash definitely looks like something I'd love. 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
You will LOVE it!!
Alyssa @ Simply Quinoa
This sounds like the most perfect breakfast ever! I love sweet potatoes and eggs together, but topping it with that pesto is just genius!
Kristen Chidsey
I have to say Alyssa, it is one of my new favorites for sure!
Erica
Ahhh I love hash dishes! Making this one with sweet potatoes sounds yummy, and I adore cilantro pestos! Such a nice Spanish twist to a lovely topping!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Erica!
Abigail
Dairy-free and gluten-free, this is the kind of dish my husband will enjoy! I love the Cilantro Pesto smothered all over the potatoes - makes it so yummy! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey
YEA! Gotta love when you can make the husband happy!
Lauren @ Wicked Spatula
Huge hash lover here! That pesto sounds phenomenal!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks girl!
Dini @ Giramuk's Kitchen
This sounds amazing Kristen!! I love potato hash, but never tried it with sweet potatoes 🙂 Sounds SO good!
Kristen Chidsey
Well, you must now try sweet potato hash! I think you will be happy.
pam (Sidewalk Shoes)
This is an impressive put together breakfast!!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Pam! I am truly in love with it and could eat it daily!
Michelle @ Giraffes Can Bake
I love love love hash and I love sweet potato even more! Put southwestern in front and I'm in heaven!! Gotta try this one!
Kristen Chidsey
Yes you do NEED this in your life Michelle!
Denise Wright
This looks like the perfect hearty (yet healthy) breakfast that you could also eat for dinner. I love the addition of arugula. Pinning for sure!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Denise. I can get this dish for breakfast, lunch, dinner, midnight snack--you name it 🙂
Judy@ImBoredLetsGo
Yummmm! Just put the word Southwestern in front of any recipe and I already know I will love it! This recipe sounds fantastic and the cilantro pesto is a perfect touch!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Judy. The pesto is AH-MAZING!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
I think this would probably be pretty popular here because my kids like sweet potatoes and pesto! I think we are going to have to try it!
Kristen Chidsey
Oh yes, Michelle, they will love it!
Sam @ PancakeWarriors
Oh wow I can't wait to try this dish - love making sweet potato hash and the pesto sounds amazing with it!! Perfect way to start the day or for brinner!!
Christie
I would adore this for brunch - breakfast, lunch and dinner too.
Kristen Chidsey
I have made it several times now and love it!!!
Nichole
I don't eat strictly paleo, but I tend to veer that way for meal planning and make a similar hash for breakfast - but Cilantro Pesto totally brings this to a whole new level!! So much flavor!
Kristen Chidsey
I am not Paleo myself, but this is one Paleo dish I could eat daily!
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor
I love breakfast hash and often make it for dinner during the week too! Love the cilantro pesto and that egg looks perfect!
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks Ashley.
Linz @ Itz Linz
yum! you make ALL meals look so pretty!