Colcannon - St Patrick's Day Recipe

Colcannon is a delightful hardy dish of potatoes and cabbage often served to families at holidays.
Colcannon - St Patrick's Day picture

Summary

Preparation Time10 MinCooking Time45 Min
Ready In55 MinServings6
CuisineEuropeanCourseSide Dish
SpecialityKidsMain IngredientVegetable
Interest GroupEveryday

Recipe Story

Now that St. Patrick's Day is upon us, tis time to get he menu planned, and a perfect side dish is Colcannon. Colcannon is a wonderful combination of cabbage and potatoes. It can contain other ingredients such as milk, cream, leeks, onions, chives, garlic, boiled ham or Irish bacon. There are many similiar dishes in various countries. There is an English dish called Bubble and Squeak. Rumbledethumps is a similiar dish from the Scottish Borders. The main ingredients are potato, cabbage and onion. Similar to Irish Colcannon, and English Bubble and Squeak Champ is another Irish dish, made by combining mashed potatoes and chopped scallions (spring onions) with butter and milk, and optionally, salt and pepper. In Atlantic Canada , a local version of the dish is popular among those raised in rural communities and brought to the provinces by Irish and Scottish settlers, the recipe consists of potatoes, milk, butter, diced carrots and turnip mashed together. This gives it a distinct orange and white colour (as opposed to the green of the Irish version). Some also add onions, garlic and even chopped up bacon. The Dutch also have a dish that is similar called stamppot boerenkool, made from potatoes and kale mashed together with milk, butter, salt, and pepper, and often served or cooked with a large sausage. A condiment of pickled pearl onions is common. The Welsh "cawl cenhinen" pronounced colcannon means "leek soup". In German they make a dish called "snouze" that is cabbage and potatoes usually with ham or speck. Pyttipanna - literally a hotchpotch of food in a pan - is a Swedish food similar and traditionally consisting of potatoes, onions, and sausage or ham, diced and then pan fried. In India there is a spicey cabbage and potato dish that is very popular as well. So you see many such combinataions.

Ingredients

 
3 pounds potatoes, scrubbed
 
2 sticks butter
 
1 1/4 cups hot milk
 
Freshly ground black pepper
 
1 head cabbage, cored and finely shredded
 
1 (1-pound) piece ham or Irish bacon, cooked the day before
 
4 scallions, finely chopped
 
Chopped parsley leaves, for garnish
 
*optional 1 pinch ground mace which is used in ounty Mayo where some of my husband's family hail from.

Directions

Steam the potatoes in their skins for 30 minutes. Peel them using a knife and fork. Chop with a knife before mashing. Mash thoroughly to remove all the lumps. Add 1 stick of butter in pieces. Gradually add hot milk, stirring all the time. Season with a few grinds of black pepper.

Boil the cabbage in unsalted water until it turns a darker color. Add 2 tablespoons butter to tenderize it. Cover with lid for 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly before returning it to the pan. Chop into small pieces.

Put the ham in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 minutes until tender. Drain. Remove any fat and chop into small pieces.

Add cabbage, scallions, and ham to mashed potatoes, stirring them in gently.
Serve in individual soup plates. Make an indentation on the top by swirling a wooden spoon. Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each indentation. Sprinkle with parsley.

Comments

shantihhh says :

Tis almost St Paddy's Day --- time for Colcannon!
Posted on: 23 February 2010 - 3:49pm

bethluvzcoldplay says :

i am making this for my hospitality exam with is awsome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! x
Posted on: 21 September 2009 - 7:07am

Wapite says :

lovely, such a good old time dish.
Posted on: 17 May 2008 - 8:29pm

aisa62379 says :

looks good im going to try this recipe :D
Posted on: 12 April 2008 - 6:13pm

chefmilani says :

I love potatoes and this sounds like a good recipe!!!!!! Let u know later
Posted on: 18 March 2008 - 6:33pm

browneyes says :

This is soooo good! I remember as a child my mother making this with the leftover corned beef, cabbage and potatoes from St. Patricks day. Add butter and it's heaven on a plate.
Posted on: 17 March 2008 - 2:12pm

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