Savory Bacon and Potato Stir-fry: Simple Side Dish Recipe
Savory Bacon and Potato Stir-fry: Simple Side Dish Recipe
Savory Bacon and Potato Stir-fry
Introducing a simple and delicious Bacon and Potato Stir-fry recipe, perfect for a quick side dish using ingredients from your fridge. It’s great as a side for rice or even as a popular snack for kids. The creamy texture of potatoes and the savory saltiness of bacon create a harmonious flavor that’s hard to resist!
Main Ingredients- 3 medium potatoes
- 4 strips thick-cut bacon
- 1/2 medium onion
- A small amount of green onions or scallions (to taste)
- A pinch of MSG-based salt (or regular salt)
- A pinch of black pepper
- A sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds
- Generous amount of grapeseed oil (or cooking oil)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, let’s prepare the main ingredient: potatoes. Wash them thoroughly under running water. Then, use a potato peeler to carefully remove the skin. Be careful not to peel too thickly.
Step 2
Potatoes tend to turn brown quickly when peeled due to exposure to air. To prevent this, it’s best to immediately soak the peeled potatoes in clean water. This helps maintain their fresh, pale color.
Step 3
Now, it’s time to slice the potatoes. First, slice them lengthwise into thin pieces, about 0.3 cm thick. Slicing them thinly ensures they cook quickly and have a pleasant texture.
Step 4
We’ll cut the sliced potatoes into matchsticks. Slice them into strips about 0.4 cm thick. Cutting them to a consistent thickness will help them cook evenly and make the dish look neat. Try to cut them to a uniform width.
Step 5
It’s important to remove the excess starch from the cut potato sticks. First, rinse the potato sticks under cold water. Then, soak them in clean cold water for about 10 minutes. Change the water once or twice during this soaking period to help release more starch.
Step 6
After soaking for about 10 minutes, rinse the potato sticks again under running water. Continue rinsing until the water runs clear. This step helps prevent the potatoes from becoming too sticky when stir-fried, resulting in a cleaner taste.
Step 7
Drain the rinsed potato sticks thoroughly using a colander. If there’s remaining water, the oil can splatter vigorously when stir-frying, which can be dangerous. Make sure to drain them as much as possible.
Step 8
Next, prepare the bacon. Cut the bacon into bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 cm wide. If they are too long, they might be difficult to stir-fry.
Step 9
Peel and thinly julienne the onion. Trim and finely chop the green onions (or scallions) to prepare them. The scallions will add aroma and color at the end.
Step 10
Now, let’s start stir-frying! Heat a frying pan and add a generous amount of grapeseed oil. Add the drained potato sticks and begin stir-frying over medium heat. Using enough oil will coat the potato sticks, preventing them from sticking together and ensuring they fry up nicely.
Step 11
Continue stir-frying the potatoes over medium heat until their surface starts to turn slightly translucent. Then, add the thinly sliced onion and stir-fry them together with the potatoes. Cook until the onions become translucent.
Step 12
It’s time to season the dish. Add a pinch of MSG-based salt and season everything evenly. Avoid adding too much salt at the beginning; it’s better to adjust the seasoning later if needed. MSG-based salt adds a savory depth.
Step 13
When the potatoes are almost cooked, add the sliced bacon and continue stir-frying over medium heat. The addition of bacon will significantly enhance the flavor and aroma of the dish.
Step 14
Lightly sprinkle black pepper over the entire dish. Pepper helps to eliminate any gamey smell from the bacon and adds a pleasant aroma. Adjust the amount according to your preference.
Step 15
Bacon cooks quickly because it’s thin, so continue stir-frying it with the potatoes until the potatoes are completely tender. If the mixture seems too dry while cooking, add a little more cooking oil. Finally, taste a piece of potato to check for seasoning. Add more MSG-based salt or regular salt if needed to reach your desired taste.
Step 16
We’re almost done! Just before turning off the heat, add the chopped green onions (or scallions) and toasted sesame seeds. Give it a gentle stir to combine everything. The scallions and sesame seeds add visual appeal and a fresh aroma.
Step 17
And there you have it – a delicious Bacon and Potato Stir-fry! Enjoy it with a warm bowl of rice.
