Mashed potatoes are the ultimate side dish recipe, whether they’re cooked as a loaded mashed potato casserole, as crock pot mashed potatoes or with cabbage in this traditional Irish dish. Have you ever tried colcannon? If not, you’re missing out. This recipe is delectable blend of cabbage, potatoes and bacon, all mashed together for a creamy and satisfying dish. It’s perfect for St. Patrick’s Day or any other time of the year!
Colcannon Ingredients
Potatoes: Russet potatoes are a classic choice for this recipe. Be sure to peel your potatoes before you boil them. Cabbage: Any variety of green cabbage will work fine, and you can either thinly slice or coarsely chop it. Bacon: Feel free you use your favorite brand of bacon in this dish. Dairy: Cream and butter add richness and flavor to the potato mixture. Seasonings: I make my potatoes extra delicious with the addition of garlic, salt, black pepper and green onions (scallions).
How Do You Make Colcannon?
You can make colcannon by boiling peeled potatoes until they are fork tender. While the potatoes simmer, it’s time to cook up the rest of the dish. Bacon goes into a large saucepan and cooks until crispy and browned. Remove the bacon from the pan, and saute the cabbage in the remaining bacon fat. The potatoes are mashed with some butter and cream until smooth, then the bacon and cabbage mixture are stirred into the potatoes. Add some fresh herbs for garnish, then transfer to a serving bowl and enjoy.
Tips For The Perfect Side Dish
Cut your potatoes into similar sized pieces. This helps to make sure that all the potatoes finish cooking at the same time. You can use a potato masher, a hand mixer, or potato ricer to mash your potatoes. Don’t use a food processor, it will make the colcannon gummy. This recipe can be made up to 3 days in advance. Store the dish in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat your colcannon on the stovetop or in the oven. Use a mandoline to finely shred the cabbage. You can also buy a bag of pre-shredded cabbage to save on time.
Recipe Variations
This recipe is fabulous as written, but you can switch up the ingredients to customize this dish to your tastes.
Meat: Instead of bacon, try using pancetta or even ham for a totally different flavor profile. Greens: Skip the cabbage and substitute in sauteed kale, spinach or Swiss chard. You can also add in some thinly sliced leeks. Garlic Lover’s: Increase the amount of garlic to 1 tablespoon, or use 1/4 cup of whole roasted garlic cloves instead. Dairy: Try this recipe with sour cream or cream cheese instead of heavy cream. Cakes: You can make colcannon cakes by mixing an egg and a cup of flour into 3 cups of chilled colcannon. Form the colcannon into patties and pan fry them until they are golden brown on both sides.
Whether you’re looking for an easy and unexpected side dish, or searching for a recipe to accompany your St. Patrick’s Day corned beef, this colcannon is sure to hit the spot!
Colcannon Video
