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Greek-Diner-Style Home Fries

By America's Test Kitchen

Published on August 22, 2007

Yield

Serves 4

Greek-Diner-Style Home Fries

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (4 medium), scrubbed and cut into ¾-inch pieces4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 onion, chopped fine2 cloves garlic, minced1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice ½ teaspoon dried oregano ½ teaspoon table salt Ground black pepper

Before You Begin

Although we prefer the sweetness of Yukon Gold potatoes, other medium-starch or waxy potatoes, such as all-purpose or red-skinned potatoes, can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. Arrange potatoes in large microwave-safe bowl, top with 1 tablespoon butter, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until edges of potatoes begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes, shaking bowl (without removing plastic) to redistribute potatoes halfway through cooking.
  2. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
  3. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in now-empty skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes and pack down with spatula. Cook, without moving, until underside of potatoes is brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn potatoes, pack down again, and continue to cook until well browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring potatoes every few minutes, until crusty, 9 to 12 minutes. Stir in onion, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve.
Greek-Diner-Style Home Fries

Greek-Diner-Style Home Fries

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By America's Test Kitchen
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Yield

Serves 4

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (4 medium), scrubbed and cut into ¾-inch pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (4 medium), scrubbed and cut into ¾-inch pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Ingredients

1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold potatoes (4 medium), scrubbed and cut into ¾-inch pieces
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 onion, chopped fine
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon table salt
Ground black pepper

Test Kitchen Techniques

Why This Recipe Works

A diner breakfast simply isn’t complete without a side of crusty, deeply browned home fries. Diner cooks start off with roasted or boiled potatoes and use plenty of fat on a broad griddle top to generate those great-tasting potatoes. To mimic this at home, we began with medium-starch or waxy potatoes that retain their shape through cooking. Our favorites include Yukon Gold, all-purpose, and red potatoes. We parcooked the cubed potatoes—tossed with butter—in the microwave before frying them, sautéed the onions separately, and stirred them into the potatoes just before serving. We found that cooking the onions with the potatoes kept the crust from crisping.

Before You Begin

Although we prefer the sweetness of Yukon Gold potatoes, other medium-starch or waxy potatoes, such as all-purpose or red-skinned potatoes, can be substituted.

Instructions

  1. Arrange potatoes in large microwave-safe bowl, top with 1 tablespoon butter, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Microwave on high until edges of potatoes begin to soften, 5 to 7 minutes, shaking bowl (without removing plastic) to redistribute potatoes halfway through cooking.
  2. Meanwhile, melt 1 tablespoon butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened and golden brown, about 8 minutes. Transfer to small bowl.
  3. Melt remaining 2 tablespoons butter in now-empty skillet over medium heat. Add potatoes and pack down with spatula. Cook, without moving, until underside of potatoes is brown, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn potatoes, pack down again, and continue to cook until well browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and continue cooking, stirring potatoes every few minutes, until crusty, 9 to 12 minutes. Stir in onion, garlic, lemon juice, oregano, salt, and pepper to taste. Serve.

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