If you’ve ever had a bowl or two of oatmeal before bedtime, then you know “pork hash” is pretty much the same thing.
What Are The Ingredients In Pork Hash?
Pork hash is a meal that combines ground pork (or some other meat) with mashed potatoes.
It can be found on restaurant menus across the country as well as at home in your own kitchen.
Pork hash has been around for decades but it wasn’t until recently that people started to learn more about what goes into this classic comfort food.
The main ingredient in pork hash is usually ground pork or sausage mixed with finely diced onions and other vegetables like carrots, celery, and bell peppers.
The next step up from there is to add cooked, chopped potatoes along with salt and pepper.
Finally, you mix all these together with egg yolks, milk, mayonnaise, and cheese, which gives the hash its signature creamy texture.
In addition to being tasty, pork hash is also low-calorie and filling.
You get 8 grams of protein per serving!
That means you could have one small portion of pork hash for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even dessert if you prefer.
How Do You Make Pork Hash?
Pork hash is traditionally prepared using ground pork mixed with diced potato, onions, parsley, salt, pepper, egg yolks, milk, butter, and flour.
The mixture is fried until golden brown, then topped off with an egg.
Traditionally, this dish was eaten for breakfast by children, but it also makes great leftovers for dinner! Let us explain how to make your own version of pork hash.
- Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork (or chicken)
- 4 large Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 3 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- Egg Yolk (optional)
- Butter (for frying)
- Cooked Eggs (to serve)
What Is The History Of Pork Hash?
Pork hash was first created in 1849 by an Irish immigrant named Patrick Murphy who worked as a butcher for the city of New York.
The dish caught on big time among immigrants from Ireland because it was easy to eat and digest while working long hours outdoors.
The dish became popular during the Great Depression when people were hungry but couldn’t afford meat.
You can find recipes online that call for using ground beef instead of actual pork chops, though this isn’t commonly done.
How Did Pork Hash Get Its Name?
Pork hash has been around since at least 1842 in England when it was first published as ‘A Plain English Cookery Book’ by William Kitchiner.
The book includes a recipe for “Corned Pork Hash” which is described as follows:
Take two pounds of lean corned pork, cut into small pieces, one pound of boiled potato sliced thin, half an ounce of onion chopped fine, season with pepper and salt, put all together in a deep pan, cover closely, let simmer very gently until browned on both sides, then pour off all fat, add a little gravy to moisten the hash, serve hot.
In this case, the author recommends serving the hash with fried egg (or scrambled) but also notes that if you prefer not to have any meat in your breakfast, there are plenty of other ways to prepare the hash without adding any meat ingredients.
Fast forward nearly 150 years later and we find ourselves in Texas where there isn’t exactly a shortage of great breakfast options.
And so, it makes sense that Tex-Mex would be involved here too because just about every good restaurant in America serves up something called “Breakfast Burritos” these days.
So how does breakfast burrito fit into the story of pork hash? Well, it turns out they share quite a bit in common!
As noted above, pork hash is traditionally prepared using corned beef – but if you can’t get your hands on any, you can always use canned ham instead.
The following recipe from the Food Network uses a combination of bacon, sausage, and ham to create a delicious pork hash alternative.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup butter
- 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and diced
- 6 slices thick-cut smoked ham (about 1/2 inch thick)
- 1/2 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage (I used Jimmy Dean’s)
- 8 ounces uncured bacon, cooked and crumbled
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions:
Melt butter over medium heat in a 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven.
Add potatoes and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and set aside.
Add ham strips to skillet and fry over medium heat until crisp, turning once, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
Transfer ham to paper towels to drain.
When cool enough to handle, chop coarsely.
Meanwhile, crumble sausage and return pan to low heat.
Brown well, breaking apart clumps with wooden spoon, 5 to 6 minutes.
With slotted spoon, remove sausage from pan and place on plate lined with paper towel.
Set aside.
When potatoes are done, reduce heat to medium and stir in crumbled bacon.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Divide mixture among 4 bowls, top each with equal amounts of ham, divide sausage evenly over tops, and garnish with parsley sprigs.
What Are Some Popular Pork Hash Recipes?
The original pork hash was introduced to American kitchens in the 1950s by Southern cooks who wanted to use up leftover roast pork.
The dish can be found almost anywhere from delis to cafes, but it has gained popularity throughout the years as a simple breakfast that allows for quick preparation time.
Pork hash is not only tasty — it also provides your body with all kinds of necessary nutrients like protein, vitamins B1, B3, C, iron, zinc, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
It’s also low on calories, making it perfect if you want to lose weight fast while still getting enough nutrition.
But what exactly does this delicious dish consist of? Here are some popular pork hash recipes that will help you make an easy decision about which one suits your taste buds best:
- Classic Pork Hash Recipe
- Sausage & Potato Hash
- Bacon & Potatoes Hash
- Slow Cooker Omelet
- Breakfast Sausage Cassoulet
- Corned Beef Hash
What Are Some Alternative Pork Hash Recipes?
Pork hash can be found in any number of restaurants around the world.
It can also be cooked at home by anyone who has access to a cast iron skillet, an oven, and a few other basic kitchen tools.
The main ingredients for this hearty meal include meaty bits from your local butcher shop (or farm), a healthy helping of sliced potatoes, and plenty of salt and pepper.
The combination of these three things makes up most of what goes into a traditional pork hash.
There isn’t really one type of pork hash out there that everyone should try because every person will have their own favorite way of preparing it.
Some people like to use bacon grease instead of oil when cooking their hash while others prefer to use beef fat.
Some people might even add a pinch of paprika if they want to make it more interesting.
You could go as far as adding diced onions, peppers, carrots, mushrooms, celery, green beans, tomatoes, or even fresh herbs to your hash.
But, since we’re talking about the basics here, let’s stick to those basics and see how different types of pork hash differ.
Traditional Pork Hash Recipe
- 1 pound ground pork shoulder
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
(Optional) 1 tablespoon chopped onion
(Optional) ½ cup shredded cheese
Crispy Bacon-Wrapped Pork Hash Recipe
- 4 slices thick cut bacon
- 1 pound ground pork shoulder
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¾ cup vegetable oil
(Optional) 1 tablespoon chopped onion
(Optional) ¼ cup shredded cheese
Cheesy Breakfast Pork Hash Recipe
- 8 ounces smoked sausage
- ½ cup diced onion
- ½ cup diced red bell pepper
- ½ cup diced green bell pepper
- 6 cups cubed potato
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups milk
Directions:
- Heat a large pan over medium heat.
- Once hot, lightly brown the sausages in the pan.
- Once done, remove them with a slotted spoon and set aside on paper towels to cool slightly.
- When ready to continue, return the pan to low heat and add the onion, bell peppers, and potatoes.
- Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper to the pan.
- As soon as everything starts sizzling, pour in both eggs and milk.
- Stir well so that all ingredients get coated with egg mixture.
- Continue stirring constantly until the bottom layer cooks through and begins to dry out.
- After another minute or two, flip the hash over and cook the other side for about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Stir occasionally during this time period.
- When the second side is done, sprinkle the reserved sausages back onto the hash and stir again.
- Serve immediately.
Bacon Wrapped Pork Chop Recipe
- 12 oz pork chops
- ⅓ cup finely diced onion
- ⅓ cup finely diced carrot
- ⅓ cup finely diced celery
- 5 strips bacon
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup white vinegar
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Preparation:
- In a small saucepan combine the onion, carrot, celery, bacon, salt, pepper, vinegar, sugar, chicken stock, bay leaf, and garlic.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce to simmering.
- Cook uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the stovetop and allow to sit for 20 minutes.
- Place the pork chops into the liquid and cover.
- Allow to marinate for 2 hours.
- Preheat the grill to high heat.
- Grill the chops for 10 minutes per side.
- Discard the liquid and place the chops on a serving platter.
- Meanwhile, bring the remaining liquid back to a simmer and reduce to half volume.
- Thicken with cornstarch and season with additional salt and pepper to taste.
- Drizzle the sauce over the pork chop and garnish with parsley leaves.
- Serve immediately.
What Are Some Common Ways To Serve Pork Hash?
Pork hash is a staple breakfast in many homes across America.
It’s easy to prepare, it tastes great, and its humble ingredients make it inexpensive too!
Here are some popular ways to serve this simple meal.
- Serve pork hash for dinner instead of pancakes on Sunday morning.
- Mix up your favorite pork hash recipe with different toppings to create new flavors.
- Make your own homemade ketchup by adding spices to your favorite pork hash recipe.
- Add fresh herbs like basil and thyme to season your pork hash.
- Use leftovers from last night’s dinner to whip up an instant batch of pork hash.
- Go ahead and add bacon to your pork hash if you want extra flavor.
1. Serve Pork Hash as Breakfast
This classic breakfast meal makes for one of the easiest meals to prep at home.
Simply cook some cubed potatoes, toss them into a frying pan with some salt and pepper, let them brown, then pour off any excess oil.
Once they’re cooked through but still have a little bit of crunch, add diced sautéed onions (or other veggies) and stir until everything starts getting warm.
Add a couple spoonfuls of canned tomato sauce (such as Heinz), followed by a few ounces of shredded smoked ham.
Now all that’s left to do is layer sliced eggs over top.
Cook each egg sunny side up so that the yolks turn nice and runny.
This is where you can get fancy with toppings like salsa, cheddar cheese, or sour cream.
You can also use leftover meatloaf or ground beef to mix things up even more.
All you need now is a hot cup of coffee and you’ll be ready to start your day right!
2. Make Your Own Ketchup For Pork Hash
Want to take this classic breakfast dish to the next level? Try making your own ketchup.
If you don’t already keep ketchup around, it might seem strange at first, but trust us when we say it will become part of your regular repertoire.
To make your own:
- Combine 1/4 cup cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons mustard seeds, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Let sit for about 10 minutes while you chop up 4 cloves of minced garlic and 1 tablespoon minced shallots.
- Stir together well and transfer mixture to a small pot, along with 1/2 cup apple juice, 1/2 cup water, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 cup molasses, and 1/4 cup white wine vinegar.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 25-30 minutes stirring occasionally.
- Remove lid after 20 minutes and continue cooking 5-10 minutes longer, until thickened.
- Cool completely, then refrigerate overnight to allow flavors to develop further.
- Transfer cooled mixture to a blender and blend until smooth.
- Refrigerate until cold again and store in airtight container for future use.
- To reheat, simply bring to room temperature, whisk thoroughly, and return to refrigerator.
3. Make Homemade Biscuits With Leftover Ham
Ham biscuits topped with gravy sounds delicious, but it’s not exactly healthy.
That’s why most people opt for pork hash instead.
The best way to enjoy these tasty treats though is to save them for later.
When you’re done eating, pop the rest of those biscuit pieces into a freezer bag and freeze them for another time.
4. Get Creative With Pancakes
You can easily customize your pancake batter to fit whatever kind of topping you prefer.
Just remember that you should avoid using butter or margarine because both contain trans fats which aren’t good for you.
Instead, use coconut or olive oils.
5. Use Ground Beef In Place Of Bacon
Ground beef has been used in place of bacon since the 18th century, and there are plenty of reasons why.
First of all, ground beef is cheaper than real bacon.
Second, it’s easier to throw together than sausage links.
And finally, unlike bacon, ground beef doesn’t require preservatives or nitrates.
What Are Some Creative Ways To Serve Pork Hash?
Pork hash is a traditional breakfast food in many parts of the world, including the United States.
It’s usually prepared by frying slices of potato in butter until they turn golden brown.
The resulting mixture is then combined with ground up pork and seasonings like onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and more.
The main difference between hash and other types of fried foods (like pancakes) is that it doesn’t contain any flour, so it has a very light texture when cooked.
This makes it easy to eat without getting sick from ingesting too much fat at once.
You can also make your own version of this classic American meal using leftover mashed potatoes instead of sliced fresh ones.
You might even find yourself craving something sweet after eating this dish! Check out these creative recipes below if you want to try something different.
Hash Brown Casserole
This simple casserole uses only four ingredients – hash browns, shredded cheese, sour cream, and milk.
All you have to do is layer everything together in an oven-safe baking dish.
Bake in the oven for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 Celsius).
To get started, use a box grater to shred one pound of frozen hash browns into small cubes.
Then combine them with 4 ounces of shredded sharp cheddar cheese, 1/4 cup of sour cream, and 2 cups of whole milk.
Next, pour everything into a 9 x 13 inch pan and bake for 20 minutes.
Serve warm.
Crispy Hash Browns
These crispy hash browns are super tasty but require quite a bit of work.
First, slice three large russet potatoes into thin strips.
Afterward, toss them in cold water to remove starch and soak for 15 minutes.
Remove the potatoes from the water and pat dry on paper towels.
Once they’re completely dry, heat one tablespoon of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a skillet.
Fry each strip for 3 minutes per side, turning as needed.
Repeat the process twice more to cook all the strips.
Once you’ve finished cooking them, drain off excess oil and place the hash browns back into the hot skillet.
Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/8 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper.
Cook the hash browns for another 5 to 7 minutes, stirring constantly.
Meanwhile, melt 4 ounces of unsweetened chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 60 seconds.
When the saucepan begins to boil, add half of the melted chocolate to the hash browns along with 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar.
Stir well to coat evenly.
Use a spatula to transfer the hash browns onto greased baking sheets.
Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 C) for 10 minutes.
Easy Pork Hash Recipe
This recipe calls for just five ingredients: cubed pork shoulder, onion, bell peppers, green chilies, and bacon bits.
To begin, chop one yellow onion into tiny pieces and sautee it in olive oil for 8 minutes.
While the onions are cooking, dice three red and orange bell peppers and set aside.
Finally, mince six cloves of minced garlic and mix it with the diced onion along with 1 tablespoon of paprika, 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
Season the mixture with sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste.
Next, sear the pork shoulder in a Dutch Oven for 45 minutes.
Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let it cool slightly.
Using a fork, break apart the pork chunks and discard any large bones or sinew.
Once the pork is cooled enough to handle, roughly grind the meat into a coarse paste.
Mix the pork and vegetables together with the seasoning blend and refrigerate overnight.
When ready to prepare the hash, preheat the oven to 425 F (220 C).
Heat the remaining two tablespoons of olive oil in a cast iron skillet and fry the seasoned pork mixture for 30 minutes.
In the meantime, cut eight thick slices of bacon and crumble the bacon into bite sized pieces.
Place the crumbled bacon into the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish and top with the hash mixture.
Finish by sprinkling the bacon pieces across the top.
Bake for 40 minutes at 425 F (220 C), then reduce the temperature to 375 F (190 C) and continue baking for an additional 35 minutes.
What Are Some Tips For Making The Perfect Pork Hash?
The most important tip for any breakfast food is that it should be easy enough to eat while still being tasty, nutritious, and satisfying.
Pork hash fits all three of those boxes perfectly.
It’s also very versatile in terms of what kind of toppings work best with it — from classic scrambled egg whites to avocado slices, cheddar cheese cubes, and more! You can even try adding fresh herbs like basil, parsley, rosemary, and thyme if you have them on hand (but don’t use too many).
How long does pork hash cook?
Pork hash cooks quickly because there aren’t a lot of ingredients involved.
The main ingredient here is bacon, which cooks up in just about 30 seconds per slice.
Then you add your potatoes, which take roughly 10 minutes to soften.
Add an egg and about 5 minutes later, you’re done.
Is pork hash good cold?
Yes, absolutely! If you want to keep things simple, you can easily reheat leftover pork hash by popping it into a pan over medium heat until warmed through.
Or, if you prefer something a little fancier, you can pop individual pieces of pork hash into a microwave-safe container and nuke them for less than 60 seconds.
What Are Some Common Mistakes People Make When Making Pork Hash?
The most important tip to remember when cooking this breakfast staple is that it should be cooked until tender.
You can use your preferred method of preparation – pan-frying, baking in the oven, grilling, or even slow-cooking on the stovetop.
Don’t overcook the meat
This may seem like an obvious piece of advice but if you cook it too long, it will fall apart.
The main reason why pork hash falls apart so easily is because it contains both hard and soft parts of the pig.
If it cooks longer than necessary, these parts toughen up and become dry.
Use enough fat
Pork hash needs ample amounts of oil to keep everything moist.
This means more butter (or other fats) than usual as well as extra bacon bits and/or cracklins.
As a general rule of thumb, 1 tablespoon per serving is plenty.
Keep your ingredients cold
Cooked pork has a tendency to get very hot once it hits the pan or plate, which causes it to break down quickly.
To avoid this, put all your ingredients in the fridge beforehand and let them chill out while you prep the rest of the meal.
It’s not only easier, but also cuts back on the amount of time needed to complete the task at hand.
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound ground pork
- 1/2 pound shrimp peeled and diced
- 1 egg
- 8 ounces water chestnuts diced
- 2 stalks green onions chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 package round dumpling skins
Instructions
- Make the filling first! In a mixing bowl, combine pork, shrimp, egg, water chestnuts, green onions, garlic cornstarch, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and white pepper.
- Assemble the pork hash now. Fill the center of the dumpling skin with a small spoonful of the filling. Fold the edges up and wrap them around the filling, leaving the top open/exposed. Rep this step until all of the filling has been used up.
- For 20 minutes, steam.
- To serve, drizzle the pork hash with soy sauce…or, as we do in Hawaii, a mixture of soy sauce and hot mustard. Eat quickly and enjoy_
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My blog is all about creating delicious meals with ingredients that are easy to find in your local grocery store. I’m passionate about making yummy meals that I can share with my friends and family.