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Mix in a handful of green onions and sliced Savoy cabbage into your buttery mashed potatoes for a serving of the traditional Irish colcannon, then top with our onion gravy! Simple food that is far from plain and is absolutely perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
Stick with the Irish theme with these satisfying Potato Farls!
With St. Patrick’s Day quickly approaching I wanted to share an authentic Irish recipe and not simply green-coloured stuff. It’s difficult to separate the Irish from potatoes, the vegetable so loved by the entire nation.
If I am honest, I can’t imagine not eating potatoes at least a couple of days a week. They are so versatile and I don’t need to sell you on the delicious factor!
Roasted, fried or mashed potatoes are potato recipes that will always reign supreme. If you want to take them up a notch, you can always bake them with cream in this delicious gratin recipe or layer them with caramelised onions and mushrooms in a cozy casserole.
But one of my favourite ways to enjoy spuds is to make Colcannon.
What is Colcannon?
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with milk, butter and most importantly an addition of cabbage or kale and green onions. Sometimes leeks, scallions or onions can be added as well, for more flavour.
For my recipe I decided to use Savoy cabbage for a couple of reasons. I absolutely love the crinkled texture of the Savoy cabbage leaves. I also find it to be more tender than white cabbage, which lends itself well to the creamy consistency of the mash.
Some colcannon recipes also feature garlic or bacon. Those are all great additions!
Recipe Tips and Notes
- For the best fluffy texture use the correct potatoes, which are labeled floury or starchy. Russet or Yukon Gold potatoes in the US or Maris Piper, King Edward, Vivaldi and Desiree in the UK.
- Peel and cut the potatoes in the similar-sized pieces, boil in salted water and drain in a This is an affiliate link.colander. The total time they take will depend on the size you cut them to, but make sure they are fork-tender.
- Let the cooked potatoes steam dry!! This step is important in ensuring your potatoes will turn into a fluffy mash and not a glue-like mess. A lovely creamy texture is everything when it comes to mashed potatoes!
- Mash with a This is an affiliate link.potato masher, then stir in butter and hot milk infused with green onions. Add in cooked Savoy cabbage last.
- Season the potato mixture well with salt and white or black pepper. Mashed potatoes that are under-salted are never exciting!
Serving suggestions
Colcannon is a side dish that can be used any time you would normally serve mashed potatoes. Which means there are a near infinite number of meals where this recipe will be a fantastic addition.
I especially love it with Roast Chicken or alongside our delicious Ham or Irish Beef Stew. And of course it is amazing with Steak and Ale Pie!
Storage and leftovers
Leftovers can be stored in an This is an affiliate link.airtight container for 3-4 days in a refrigerator and in a freezer for 2-3 months. They can be reheated in a microwave but will come out best when placed covered in an oven preheated to 180C/350F for 15-20 minutes, or until they are hot throughout.
More potato side dish recipes
- Hasselback Potatoes with Gremolata
- Crispy Air Fryer Potatoes
- Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes
- Parmesan Truffle Fries
Traditional Colcannon Recipe
Equipment
- This is an affiliate link.KitchenAid potato masher
- This is an affiliate link.Large pot
- This is an affiliate link.Enamel colander
Ingredients
- 6 medium potatoes, see notes on what potatoes to use
- 50ml / 1/4 cup milk
- 6-8 green onions, green parts only
- 100g / 1/2 cup butter, unsalted
- 150g / 2 cups Savoy cabbage, sliced
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until very tender.
- While the potatoes are boiling, add sliced green onions to milk and bring to a boil at low heat, take off the heat and let the green onions infuse the milk.
- Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter in a deep frying pan and saute the sliced Savoy cabbage over low heat till wilted and tender for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can steam the cabbage instead.
- Drain the potatoes and steam dry them to get rid of the excess of water. Return them to the pot and add hot milk together with the sliced green onions, start mashing with a potato masher until mostly smooth, then add butter and keep mashing. Stir in the cooked cabbage and season well with salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This is a delicious potato dish that is so easy to make! I’ve made it more than a few times because it’s so yummy!
Delicious, love potatoes and cabbage separate but together with onions WOW so comforting served it with a pork shoulder roast perfection. It was fast and easy once my roast was ready.. A real hit even with my very picky husband. Will make this often big bowl of this on a cold winters nite yummy.
One of my most favorite comfort food recipes ever!!
Mine too, Jennifer!
So creamy and delicious! This has got to be the best comfort around for St. Patty’s day, or any day really!
I love that it is so easy to make and only uses a few ingredients!