Follow these simple steps to achieve a perfectly cooked, flavourful hash every time. Patience during the cooking process allows the flavours to meld beautifully.

1. Prepare Your Ingredients: Start by prepping all your vegetables as this makes the cooking process much smoother. Peel and dice the sweet potatoes into uniform ½-inch cubes. Finely chop the yellow onion. Mince the garlic cloves. Wash the kale thoroughly, remove the thick inner stems, and roughly chop the leaves. Having everything ready (“mise en place”) is key for a stress-free cooking experience.
2. Sauté the Aromatics: Heat the olive oil (or avocado oil) in a large skillet or cast-iron pan over medium heat. Once the oil shimmers slightly, add the chopped onion. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes translucent and starts to soften. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn it. This initial step builds the foundational flavour layer for the hash.
3. Cook the Sweet Potatoes: Add the diced sweet potatoes to the skillet. Stir well to coat them with the oil, onions, and garlic. Spread them out in an even layer as much as possible to encourage browning. Cook for about 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes begin to soften and get slightly caramelized edges. You want them tender but not mushy – they should still hold their shape. A fork should pierce them with slight resistance. Don’t rush this step; allowing the sweet potatoes to get some colour adds significant flavour.
4. Add Spices: Sprinkle the smoked paprika, cumin powder, optional red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper over the sweet potatoes. Stir everything together thoroughly to ensure the potatoes are evenly coated with the spices. Cook for another 1-2 minutes, allowing the spices to toast slightly and become fragrant. This blooming of the spices enhances their flavour profile.
5. Wilt the Kale: Add the chopped kale to the skillet. It might seem like a lot at first, but it will wilt down significantly. Pour the 2 tablespoons of water or vegetable broth over the kale. This helps create steam to wilt the greens and also helps scrape up any flavourful browned bits from the bottom of the pan (deglazing).
6. Combine and Finish Cooking: Stir the kale into the sweet potato mixture. Cover the skillet and cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until the kale is wilted and tender to your liking. Stir occasionally. If the hash seems dry, you can add another tablespoon of water or broth.
7. Taste and Adjust: Once the kale is tender, taste the hash and adjust the seasonings if necessary. You might want a bit more salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes depending on your preference.
8. Serve: Remove the skillet from the heat. Your delicious Sweet Potato Kale Hash is ready to be served immediately! See the “How to Serve” section for ideas.