Corned Beef and Sweet Potato Hash with Red Wine–Caramelized Onions
Updated February 23, 2016 
If you are one of those people who has always found traditional corned beef hash to be delicious but too salty, try this version; the sweet potatoes have a way of countering the saltiness of the corned beef. Since hash is basically a creative use of leftovers, this dish starts out with two items that have already been cooked, the corned beef and the sweet potatoes. If you don’t feel like cooking the corned beef, you can use canned, which is really pretty good. You can also make the onions ahead of time—in fact, you may want to make a double recipe, since they are fantastic on sandwiches or crostini or served with grilled meats. This hash makes a great brunch dish for company or a simple supper dish for the family. Do not rush its cooking: It needs some time in the skillet to develop its crust.
Serves4 to 5
Cooking Methodpan-frying
CostModerate
Total Timeunder 2 hours
Make Ahead RecipeYes
Kid FriendlyYes
One Pot MealYes
OccasionFamily Get-together
Recipe Coursemain course
Dietary Considerationkosher
Five Ingredients or LessYes
Mealbrunch, dinner
Taste and Texturecrisp, meaty, savory
Ingredients
- 1½ pounds corned beef (or substitute about 5 cups canned corned beef)
- 2 large sweet potatoes
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 medium red onions, peeled, halved, and very thinly sliced
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 cup dry red wine
- ½ cup balsamic vinegar
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste
- ½ cup currants (or substitute ¼ cup dark raisins)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
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If using fresh corned beef, do the advance prep: Place the corned beef in a large pot, add water to cover, and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and cook at a bare simmer until a sharp knife will pass all the way through without much resistance, about 2½ hours. Drain well, then, as soon as the meat is cool enough to handle, chop it fine. Set aside.
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Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350°F. Pierce the sweet potatoes in a few places with a fork and bake until just tender, about 50 minutes. As soon as they are cool enough to handle, peel and dice small. Set aside.
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Make the onions: In a large sauté pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the onions, sugar, wine, and vinegar and cook, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the onions are golden brown, 30 to 40 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper, stir in the currants, and set aside.
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In a large bowl, combine the corned beef, sweet potatoes, and salt and pepper (use plenty). In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until very hot but not smoking. Add the meat mixture, spreading it out to cover the entire bottom of the pan. Press the hash down evenly with a large metal spatula, reduce the heat to medium, cover the pan, and let the hash cook undisturbed for 15 minutes. Uncover the pan, turn the hash over in sections with the spatula, and raise the heat to high. Cook for 5 more minutes, turning the hash every once in a while with the spatula.
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Serve the hash hot, covering each portion with a generous layer of the caramelized onions.
2000 Christopher Schlesinger and John Willoughby
