Potatoes O’ Brien

You can never go wrong with good old fried potatoes. And what better than a medley of potatoes with peppers and onions to invigorate the flavor. Potatoes O’Brien is a classic American side dish, the origin of which dates to the 1900’s. This is made from diced, fried potatoes together with green, red bell peppers, onions and other seasonings. They are typically served at breakfast with eggs or sausage but they are so scrumptious that they also serve as a side dish to any lunch or dinner entrée’. The fantastic flavor and colorful ingredients make this dish palatable for all.

Health Benefits

Potatoes

• A medium-size potato contains 164 calories and 30% of recommended Vitamin B6.

• Potatoes are rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium essential for bone health.
• They don’t contain cholesterol.
• They are easy to grow and available year around.

Red Bell Peppers

• Red peppers contain over 200% of daily vitamin C intake.

• They also have folate and vitamin B 6.
• High percentage of Vitamin A in red peppers supports healthy vision.
• The combination of vitamins A and C makes this rich in anti-oxidants and a super veggie!

Green Bell Peppers

• Green peppers are the unripe form of red bell peppers. They have the following health benefits:
• They are powerful antioxidants as they contain loads of vitamin A, C, and B complex. This creates a good counterbalance in the body improving overall health.

• The anti-inflammatory properties of green peppers help in relieving arthritis pain.
• The phytonutrients in green peppers help in relaxing the respiratory passages.
• The vitamin C in green bell peppers help prevent cardiovascular diseases.

Ingredients

small to medium white or red potatoes: 2 lbs

large onion: 1

big red bell peppers: 2

big green bell peppers: 2

fresh garlic: 1 tbsp

Freshly ground pepper: 1/2 tsp

tablespoons of unsalted butter: 1 1/2

tablespoons of olive oil: 1 1/2

How To Make Potatoes O’ Brien

1. Dice the potatoes, red peppers, and green peppers into one-inch pieces. Finely chop the onions.
2. In a large skillet, heat the butter and the olive oil over medium heat.
3. When the oil reaches smoking point, add the diced peppers and onions and cook for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.
4. Add the potatoes, salt, pepper, garlic and cook covered under medium heat. Cook for 10 more minutes stirring every few minutes. Check if potatoes are cooked.
5. Remove lid, raise heat to high and add the remaining butter and oil.
6. Toss for about 2 minutes until the mixture is crispy.
7. Add more salt or pepper if needed.
8. Serve immediately.

Variations- You can alter the seasoning to anything that suits your palate.  Worcestershire sauce or beef broth are sometimes poured over the cooked vegetables to get a flavor variation.

Trivia

Potatoes O’ Brien is believed to have originated in the United States from a Boston restaurant called Jerome’s and from a Manhattan restaurant called Jack’s around 1900’s.

This dish is also said to have an Irish origin and often associated with St. Patrick’s Day and Ireland.

Did you know? The name Potatoes O’Brien was conned after an Irish cook who, being bored of regular potatoes invented this dish.