How To Make Classic Irish Colcannon

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The Coziest Comfort Food You'll Ever Eat

I've been eager to learn about Irish Colcannon for a long time. I worked in food service for a local University for four years. I was in a very challenging position, but I have learned that even the toughest job leaves you with knowledge that someday you'll find helpful.

I learned a tremendous amount from the Executive Director, who was a professional chef and an educator. He could be difficult to work with for some people, but we somehow hit it off. He once told me that Irish chefs are among the best in the world, and I developed a fascination for Irish food.

What Exactly Is Colcannon?

Irish Colcannon is a classic comfort food that's cheap to make. Irish Chef Richard Corrigan maintains, "There's no such thing as a recipe for Colcannon, really. It's something that is put together with love, not precise measurements."

Generally speaking, that's the way I cook, which is why the hardest part of writing about food is to provide specific measurements. It's a potato-based dish, and my full-blooded German husband never met a potato he didn't like. I thought it would be good to try something new, but it wasn't a tough audience. We both devoured it!

I joke about my husband's German ancestry (he can't help it) and his affinity for spuds, but there was a time in Ireland when potatoes weren't just a thing; they were everything to a certain population sector.

Potatoes were the staple of their very existence. They were the difference between sickness and health, almost to the point of life or death, among the poor in early Ireland. Here is a fascinating article about the importance of the potato in nineteenth-century Ireland.

How To Make Authentic Irish Colcannon

Remember the words of Irish chef Richard Corrigan, "there's no such thing as a recipe for Colcannon, really. It's something that is put together with love, not measurements." Colcannon does not require precision. Which, for this girl, is always a very good thing.😉

Begin by boiling some "floury" potatoes, like Russets. After 50 years of marriage to Papa, I thought I knew everything there was to know about potatoes. Still, the term "floury" is a relatively new bit of potato terminology for me.

Floury potatoes have a low water content; most of their sugar has been converted to starch by the time they are harvested. This quality results in a dry, fluffy, cooked texture, accentuated by baking and mashing. 

The dry, starchy consistency of Russet potatoes enhances their ability to absorb all the wonderful butter, cream, or bacon drippings that give Colcannon such massive flavor.

Put Your Irish Colcannon Together

Some suggest cooking the potatoes in their skin, peeling them, and then mashing them for added flavor. I peeled mine first because I hate to burn my fingers. Cut the potatoes into chunks and boil them in enough salted water to cover them.

Shred some cabbage rather finely. I always buy a head of fresh cabbage because it's cheap, but you could also use a bag of shredded cabbage. Chop the onion and the green onion, and set them both aside while you fry the bacon.

While the potatoes are boiling, cut the bacon into small pieces and fry them until crisp. Set the bacon aside on paper towels to drain. Reserve the drippings for the next step.

Then, saute the shredded cabbage and chopped onion in the bacon drippings until they are soft and transparent.

Drain and mash the potatoes, but leave them a little chunky and rustic. Colcannon isn't the place for whipped potatoes. Now, fold the green onions, cabbage-onion-bacon mixture, and every bit of the drippings into the mashed potatoes.

Sprinkle the bacon bits over the top, dot with more butter, sprinkle with parsley for pretty, and serve it piping hot!

We had some wonderful beef Polska kielbasa with our Irish Colcannon. I had charred it a bit, so it looked really tasty. It was a good-looking plate, but imagine what you could do with a wee bit more effort! The humble food of potatoes, cabbage, onion, carrot, and sausage in the photo below makes a feast for a king!

Have you ever had Irish Colcannon? It would be a perfect dish for St. Patrick's Day, but any day when you need something cozy to eat is the right time for Colcannon! I hope you try it, and if you do, send me a picture!! I would be thrilled!

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

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Yield: 6 servings

Colcannon

Print

The ultimate Irish comfort food

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 pounds of Russet or other floury potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
• I tsp salt
• 2 sticks of butter
• 1 cup of milk or light cream
• I small head of white cabbage, cored and finely shredded
• 1/2 pound of good quality bacon, cut into pieces about 1" long
• 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
• 4 green onions, thinly sliced, including part of the green.
• Parsley for garnish, optional
• Fresh ground pepper

Instructions

1. Put potatoes in a pot with salt and just enough water to barely cover them.
2. Put potatoes on the stove to boil.
3. Put bacon pieces in a skillet and fry over medium heat until crisp, then set bacon aside.
4. Put chopped onion and shredded cabbage in the skillet with bacon drippings and two tablespoons of butter and fry until cabbage is soft and wilted and onions are transparent and fragrant.
5. Drain and mash the potatoes with the milk or cream, and one stick of butter cut into pats. Potatoes should be mashed, leaving some texture. Don't whip the potatoes.
6. Fold the cabbage-onion mixture into the potatoes and sprinkle with bacon and parsley if desired. Put one tablespoon pat of butter on each serving. Serve piping hot.
   

Notes

You can use leeks, green onions, Savoy cabbage, or kale in place of all or part of the onions or cabbage.

You can use ham in place of part or all of the bacon if you prefer.

We are potato eaters at our house, and I am a lightning-fast peeler of spuds! Here are some potato recipes we love the most: Crispy Oven-Baked Potatoes, Easy Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, and No-Hassle Hasselback Potatoes!

But since we're talking about Irish food, here are a few more of my favorites that I think you will enjoy too! Corned Beef Made Easy in an Instant Pot, Irish Stew With Guinness, Irish Soda Bread, and Bailey's Irish Cream!

If you liked this Irish Colcannon recipe, you are my people! If you did, please share it on your social media accounts, such as Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and Twitter! It would sure tickle me, and I would be ever so grateful!

If you haven't already, please look for me on Facebook and Pinterest, where I will share easy, delicious, family-friendly recipes every week!

If you enjoyed a post, I'd love it if you would leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review or a comment. It really helps my little business. ❤❤

Love GB (Betty Streff)

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