With handful of ingredients and smart technique, sweet potato hash is ready in 20 minutes

In the pantheon of using-up-leftovers dishes, hash is at or near the top alongside fried rice and the frittata. Do I need to even state the obvious, that you shouldn’t limit hash to breakfast or brunch? I didn’t think so.

It’s flexible, too: Saute whatever allium you like, add cubed potatoes or sweet potatoes, fry them all up, fold in leftover vegetables and/or meat, top with an egg if you like, serve, eat.

This version by vegan writer and YouTube star Jenné Claiborne, author of “Sweet Potato Soul,” is a little more intentional, but it’s super-quick to make.

In her e-book “5-Ingredient Vegan,” she takes a bit of a departure from the typical hash recipe: Rather than pan-frying cubes of sweet potatoes until they’re crisp, she has you thinly slice the root vegetable, layer the medallions in a skillet (alternating with onions and bell peppers) and cook it covered. The sweet potatoes brown on the bottom while they lightly steam. You fold in chopped collard greens for more nutrition and texture, and the whole thing is ready in minutes.

Claiborne serves the hash with patties she makes from crumbled tempeh, but store-bought tempeh “bacon” would be good, too. If you’re not into either, there’s nothing stopping you from cracking in an egg or frying it up separately and serving it on top – or serving the hash as a side. If the idea of the tempeh patties does call to you, consider it another reason to buy Claiborne’s book.

Southern Collard and Sweet Potato Hash

Adapted from Jenné Claiborne’s “5-Ingredient Vegan,” an e-book available on her website at sweetpotatosoul.com.

2 tablespoons grapeseed or another neutral oil

2 medium sweet potatoes (1 ½ pounds total), peeled and thinly sliced

1 yellow onion (12 ounces), halved and thinly sliced

1 red bell pepper (8 ounces), stemmed, seeded and cut into ½-inch dice

Fine sea salt

1 bunch (12 ounces) collard greens, ribs removed and leaves chopped

Freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons nutritional yeast (optional)

In a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat, heat the oil until shimmering. Place a layer of sweet potatoes on the bottom of the skillet, overlapping them slightly. Sprinkle a layer of onions and peppers over that and season lightly with salt. Add another layer of potatoes, onions, peppers and salt, and repeat until you’ve used all the vegetables.

Cover the skillet and cook the mixture until the sweet potatoes brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Using a spatula, flip the mixture (in pieces – don’t worry about keeping it intact), cover and cook until the sweet potatoes brown on the bottom, about 5 minutes.

Fold in the collard greens and cook the mixture, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until all the vegetables are tender, 5 to 10 minutes.

Season lightly with the pepper and stir in the nutritional yeast, if using. Taste and season with more salt and pepper, if needed. Serve hot.

Yield: 4 servings