Vegan Soy Chorizo Potato Hash

Vegan Soy Chorizo Potato Hash - big, bold, and complex flavor from soy chorizo meets tender and creamy potato to elevate your breakfast plate.

I LOVE savory breakfast. In fact, I'd take a savory breakfast over a sweet one any day! So it's a no brainer why I love this spicy hash that's creamy inside and crispy outside. Before we get to the recipe part, let's talk about chorizo. 

What is Chorizo?

Chorizo is chopped or ground pork sausage that's liberally seasoned with different spices in Mexican and Spanish cuisine. So there are mainly two different types of chorizo: Mexican chorizo and Spanish chorizo.

When most people think of chorizo in the United States, people think of Mexican chorizo first. Mexican chorizo is a raw, spicy sausage in crumble form where Spanish chorizo is smoked sausage. Paella is a dish that uses Spanish chorizo. 

What is vegan chorizo?

I believe all the vegan chorizo in the market currently (as of 2019) are Mexcian style chorizo. The main ingredient is usually soy protein or vital wheat gluten. Vegan chorizo uses the same spices as the meat chorizo to mimic the flavor. 

My personal favorite vegan chorizo is the Soy Chorizo from Trader Joe's. It is spicy, flavorful, and the texture is similar to meat chorizo. But honestly, its big bold complex flavor is better than some of the meat chorizo I've had before!

Is vegan chorizo healthy?

The short answer is NO. Vegan chorizo is a highly processed product with a high level of sodium (A little less than a quarter of the vegan chorizo from Trader Joe's has a 30% daily sodium level). Yes, it has fewer calories and fat than meat chorizo and contains some fiber but I wouldn't exactly place vegan chorizo as a healthy food category. 

But like all good things, moderation is key. Because vegan chorizo is already heavily seasoned, I was mindful not to use additional salt (except to boil the potato but you may skip this step) to make the hash. 

Now that we covered vegan chorizo, let's talk about the potato. 

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What type of potato should I use for breakfast hash?

Technically, you can use any potato you want to use. But I recommend Yukon Gold Potato. 

• Yukon gold potato: Creamy and great in holding its shape
• Russet potato: Creamy and not so great in holding its shape
• Red skin potato: Great in holding its shape but not as creamy

If you are looking for a sweet and savory combination, you can use sweet potato or even winter squash like butternut, acorn, and delicata squash. 

How to cook potato for the breakfast hash

If you were to make breakfast hash using raw potato, you will end up using quite a bit of oil. Because you will have to keep adding oil as the potato cooks and to avoid them from burning. The trick to this situation is boiling the potato first before you fry them.

I know it is an extra step but it is a worthy one. You don't feel like cutting up a potato into ½ inch size? Cut up potato in a larger size and just boil the potato a little longer until they are cooked. Problem solved, ta-da!!

Cooking Tip:

Have you wondered which vegetable should be cooked in boiling water and which vegetable should be placed in cold water then be boiled? Well, I have an answer for you!

Tips on making Vegan Soy Chorizo Potato Hash

• Are you a garlic fan? You can use fresh minced garlic instead of garlic powder. Add the minced garlic when you are cooking the diced onion.
• Bulk it up with leftover vegetables in the fridge. Kale, bell pepper, and even leftover corn make a great addition to the dish. 
• Do you have leftover roasted potato? Perfect!! You can use roasted potato instead of boiled potato. If your roasted potato is liberally seasoned, you can either:
  • Reduce the amount of soy chorizo 
  • Bulk it up with other vegetables like onion, bell pepper, and kale to balance the seasoning. 

What to serve with vegan soy chorizo potato hash

For vegan

• With quick and easy scrambled tofu and a side of toast, you have yourself a classic breakfast plate that even a non-vegan would love!
• If you are looking for an on-the-go breakfast, make yourself a delicious breakfast burrito!

For vegetarian and omnivore

• A sunny-side-up egg over the vegan soy chorizo potato hash and a side of buttery biscuit would make a perfect breakfast for anyone!

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