Chicken Sweet Potato Hash with Poached Eggs

Topping a dish with a poached egg is like putting a bright red bow on top of a package - it's a sure sign that something special has arrived.

Photo: Maya Visnyei

By Laura Walsh

Serves: 4
Hands-on time: 45 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• Pinch sea salt
• 16 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts or boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 1/4 lb sweet potatoes, peeled and diced 1/4-inch
• 1 cup halved and thinly sliced red onion
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika, plus additional for garnish
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro
• 4 eggs, poached

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Season a large pot of water with salt and bring to a simmer. Add chicken, cover and simmer until an instant-read thermometer registers 165F when inserted in center of chicken, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from pot and set aside until cool enough to handle. With 2 forks, shred chicken.
2. Meanwhile, in a large, wide nonstick skillet, heat oil on medium. Add potatoes and onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until potato is just tender, about 15 minutes.
3. Gently fold chicken into potato mixture and cook, stirring occasionally, until potatoes and chicken are browned, 5 to 10 minutes. Stir in paprika, cumin, salt and cilantro. To serve, top with eggs and additional paprika (if using). Serve immediately.

Nutrients per serving (1 1/4 cups sweet potato hash mixture and 1 poached egg): Calories: 294, Total Fat: 10 g, Sat. Fat: 3 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2 g, Carbs: 14 g, Fiber: 3 g, Sugars: 5 g, Protein: 35 g, Sodium: 368 mg, Cholesterol: 285 mg

Egg-cellent Yolks:
Egg yolks have gotten a bad rap for being the unhealthful part of the egg, but they’re an integral part the egg-nutrition package. Egg yolks provide vitamins and essential fatty acids needed for weight management, muscle strength, healthy pregnancy and brain function. They’re an important food for cardiovascular health. Choline – a nutrient found in yolks – helps rid the liver of fat and regulates homocysteine, a compound that can increase risk of heart disease
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