Idaho Hash Brown Baskets with Baked Quail Eggs are an impressive appetizer made of Idaho potatoes, pesto & quail eggs and is perfect for your Easter brunch or next party.
Did you know February is potato-lover’s month? Well, that was news to me as well (as if I need a reason to eat more potatoes). I learned about this at the 2015 Potato Palooza Party sponsored by Don Odiorne of the Idaho Potato Commission and hosted by Erika Kerekes of In Erika’s Kitchen & Judy Lyness of Two Broads Abroad.
There, potatoes were smashed, shredded, whipped, roasted, smothered & decorated from savory to sweet. More than 30 Southern California food bloggers were present, each swooning with delight. Individual dishes were cleverly coordinated with a holiday, reminding us of the potato’s year-round availability.
Praiseworthy Potatoes
I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like potatoes in some form. Potatoes are grown in more than 125 countries and eaten by more than a billion people daily, facts which pretty much paints the whole picture. Potatoes are universally loved. Why? Their price, versatility, flavors, and the fact that potatoes have more potassium than a banana, more vitamin C than an orange, and more fiber than an apple. Not only that, they’re a lean cuisine’s dream – the average potato has only about 100 calories and is 80% water.
Since the potato is so healthy, it was easy to justify making a whole meal of fabulous potato bites at the Potato Palooza Party. Here are a few of my favorites:
Idaho Potato Tacos for Cinco de Mayo presented by hostess Erika.
Herbed Idaho Potato Parfaits for St. Patrick’s Day
Bacon-Wrapped Idaho Potato Skewers for Labor Day
Co-host Judy from Two Broads Abroad created this wonderful appetizer which is simple to make. Simply boil fingerlings for about 10 minutes. Drain & cool. Slice potatoes in half and wrap with bacon. Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes. Once potatoes have cooled insert skewers. Just before serving place on a griddle or grill and cook until golden. Drizzle with Cherry Chipotle Not Ketchup and serve immediately. As you can imagine there weren’t any leftovers of this delectable treat.
It was fun watching each dish being created.
Judy was skillfully teaching our youngest food blogger Simone here to crack quail eggs, a lesson I quickly honed in on since I had never done it. Simone quickly mastered the skill and our appetizers were soon within reach of eager tastebuds.
Putting the pesto in a ziplock bag with one corner snipped off makes filling the hash brown nests easy.
Simone proudly served these delightful bite-sized breakfast-inspired appetizers of hash browns with pesto and quail eggs, which are perfect for Easter or any other brunch/party. They are also addictive. Seriously, I could have eaten the whole tray myself.
Note: Quail eggs can be found in most Asian markets, higher-end grocery stores & online.
Idaho Hash Brown Baskets with Baked Quail Eggs
Ingredients
- 2 medium Idaho Russet potatoes
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ teaspoon salt plus additional for serving
- ⅛ teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted (I always use Kerrygold)
- ¼ cup prepared pesto try Trader Joe's pesto
- 12 quail eggs
- Equipment: mini muffin tin
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
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Wash the potatoes and prick each a few times with a fork. Bake the potatoes until they start to soften but are definitely not completely done, about 20 minutes. Let cool about half an hour. (This can be done a day ahead of time.) Leave the oven on.
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Grate the semi-baked potatoes with a hand-held grater - peel them first if you like, although it’s not necessary. In a medium bowl put the grated potatoes, cheese, salt, pepper, and butter; toss well to combine.
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Spray the mini muffin tin with nonstick spray. Using about 2 tablespoons of the potato mixture for each mini muffin cup, press the potato mixture into the muffin cups, making a well in the center and pushing the potatoes up and over the sides of the cup (they will shrink in the oven).
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Bake the hash brown “baskets” 20-30 minutes, until the undersides are deep golden brown and the tops are at least light golden and starting to crisp around the edges. Again, leave the oven on.
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Remove the baskets from the oven. Put a small dollop of pesto into each cup, then crack a quail egg on top of the pesto. Put the baskets back in the oven for exactly 5 minutes; you want the whites of the quail eggs cooked but the yolks still very runny.
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Use an offset spatula to put the hash brown baskets on a serving plate. Sprinkle with salt and serve immediately.
Lots of spudtacular fun was had at the Potato Palalooza 2015. Check out this video from fellow blogger Sara O’Donnell of Average Betty Blog.
I would like to thank Don Odiorne and the Idaho Potato Commission for sponsoring #IdahoPotatoPalooza. For more inspiring recipes using Idaho Potatoes, check out the Idaho Potato Commission Website.
Oscar Wilde said, “Potatoes are meant to be loved, not to be understood.”
I say “Once you understand them, there is nothing not to love.”
…and then, she paused for thought.
What fun! Those little quail eggs in their potatoe nests with pesto are adorable! And your photographs are always so fun to see! Thanks for the recipe. I’m so all over this! I think I just also might eat the whole myself!
Leslie, they are that good which makes them hard to share.
This is a wonderful write up. As always your photos are simply marvelous.
Thanks Judy, you recipes were fabulous!
Those little baskets were delicious. It was great seeing you at Potato Palooza . GREG
They were so good. Great seeing you too Greg!
I’m wondering of you can’t do almost the same thing if you DON’T have quail eggs. Perhaps beat regular eggs a bit and pour a little in where you’d use the quail egg. Would that work? i got the pesto covered!!
LOL Rona, I am not sure about regular eggs, unless you used regular muffin tins. Then it could work if you baked it longer. I know can buy quail eggs in your neighborhood. Give them a try.
Potato Month – who knew? I love potatoes. When I was little, my mom used to call me “The Potato Kid.” your dish is beautiful and so very elegant. Brava!
Potato Month was news to me as well. I am assuming your mom called you the Potato Kid because you loved potatoes so much? Thanks for stopping by.
I think I could eat a tray of these right now, Cathy! Gorgeous photos, and looks so appetizing.
Thanks Susan. I think I did eat the tray of them. 🙂
Beautiful! I’d love to have one for breakfast. FYI – quail eggs are available at almost any Asian market.
Thanks Nan, I hope you try this one.
Wonderful recount of a very fun evening! As always, you hit it out of the park.
Thanks Dorothy! It was easy to do with all the great food.
Those potato nests were fab even without the egg! And Oscar would’ve been Wilde about your twist on his quote!
I agree, Adair!
Yes they were. You could eat the baskets alone and be happy or fill them with other things. The possibilities are endless.
Potato Palooza was purely potato joy! Loved this synopsis of the event and as usual your photos are incredibly beautiful! My theory is if someone says they don’t like potatoes, don’t trust them! Has to be something not right there! 🙂
Thanks Christina. You can’t go wrong with potatoes.
These look great!!! I’m sad to have missed the event! <3
Natalie, you would have loved it and we missed your beautiful face there.
What a fun event! and love the recipe, can’t wait to try it! Mwah!
It was such a fun day. It is a fun and delicious recipe. Enjoy.