Colcannon is a tasty Irish side dish that’s great to serve for St. Brigid’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, or any day you want something that is a little bit different. It’s ideal for taking to a potluck and is always a hit! Simple to make, it’s like mashed potatoes kicked up a notch.
Not all regions of Ireland add meat to Colcannon, so you can easily omit this and turn it into a vegetarian recipe. Instead of the bacon, try using leftover ham or pork roast.
Irish Colcannon Potato Recipe
Irish Colcannon Recipe
Colcannon is a simple tasty Irish potato side dish that's great to serve for for Irish holidays or any day! Ideal for taking to a potluck & always a hit!
Ingredients
- 3 lb potatoes
- 1 1/4 cups milk milk should be hot
- 2 sticks butter
- 1 head cabbage shredded
- 1 lb bacon cooked and diced
- 4 scallions chopped
Instructions
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Boil or steam the potatoes until tender.
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Meanwhile, boil the cabbage until mostly tender (it will darken in colour).
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Peel and mash the potatoes adding in a stick of butter and the hot milk. (Note: I often leave the skin on the potatoes. I like the extra flavor and nutrients from it but that's not traditional for this recipe. Use your own personal preference.)
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Season potatoes with salt and pepper to taste.
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Once the cabbage is mostly tender, add 2 T. of butter, put the lid on the pan, and continue to boil for another 2 minutes until completely tender.
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Drain the cabbage and stir it into the mashed potatoes along with the bacon and scallions.
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A tasty way of serving this is to place a serving on each plate, make a well in the potato mixture, and pop a tablespoon of butter into each well. Some like to then garnish this with a sprinkling of parsley.
Not only is this a delicious recipe, but it’s a budget-friendly one as well. It can be a great way to use up leftovers and extend portions with the addition of the cabbage and meat. While it’s mostly served as a side dish, it can certainly be used as a hearty main dish as well.
These Honey Maple Bourbon Glazed Carrots would be a great complement to this yummy potato dish.
[…] Want a delicious Irish recipe to serve on St. Brigid’s Day? There’s a recipe for Colcannon over on my cooking blog, The Red Apple Tearoom: http://islandtearoom.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/colcannon/ […]