Colcannon Is The Perfect Irish Side Dish

I make no bones about the fact that I love carbs, especially potatoes in pretty much any form. With St. Patrick’s Day just a few days away, I figured why not indulge in some potato goodness with an Irish twist. I love the fact that the Irish have a plethora of potato recipes. You can’t really go wrong with any of them. One of my new favorites is Colcannon, a mixture of mashed potatoes and cabbage.

The name Colcannon (pronounced coal-can-in) is from a Gaelic word that translates as white-headed cabbage. The recipe has humble origins as a peasant dish. And, there are regional variations that swap kale in for the cabbage, or that combine potato and parsnip. I kept things fairly straightforward in my version with potatoes, cabbage, and a touch of bacon.

It’s a hearty, comforting side dish that pairs perfectly with a roast. Now from what I understand, it’s technically a dish served more in the Fall around Halloween, as opposed to in March, but it’s still an iconic dish of Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day seems like the perfect chance to enjoy it.

Colcannon

An Irish twist to mashed potato goodness with bacon, cabbage, and melty butter.

Servings 4 people

Ingredients

• 1 ½ lbs red potatoes
• 2 pieces thick-cut bacon, diced
• 2 tablespoons butter plus more for serving
• 1 small onion chopped
• ½ medium-sized head of cabbage chopped
• 1 cup milk
• 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley minced
• Salt to taste

Instructions

• Quarter the potatoes and place them in a large pot with water. Place on stove over medium-high heat. Bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender. Remove from heat. Drain and set aside.
• While the potatoes cook, in a large sauté pan cook the diced bacon. Scoop out the pieces, keeping the fat in the pan.
• Add two tablespoons of butter to the bacon fat and add the onion. Saute until translucent. Add in the chopped cabbage. Cook until very tender, about 20 minutes.
• Remove pan from heat. Add in the cooked potatoes, nutmeg, and milk. Mash until the potatoes are smooth and the cabbage and onions well combined with the potatoes.
• Season with salt to taste.
• Serve immediately. For each portion, Scoop into individual portions. Make a well in the center of each and place in a pat of butter. Sprinkle with some of the bacon pieces and fresh parsley.

Calories: 204kcal

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

Calories: 204kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 84mg | Potassium: 1122mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 404IU | Vitamin C: 61mg | Calcium: 156mg | Iron: 2mg

Photos by Renato Ghio