Serve this creamy mash on a side of our delicious Ham or Irish Beef Stew.
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 the 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 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.
One of my favourite ways to enjoy spuds is to make Colcannon.
What is Colcannon?
A traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with milk, butter and most importantly an addition of either cabbage or kale and green onions. 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 the 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!
Top Recipe Tips
For the best fluffy texture use the correct potatoes, which are labeled floury or starchy. Yukon Gold or Russet 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 colander. 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. Mash with a potatoes masher, then stir in butter and hot milk infused with green onions. Add in cooked Savoy cabbage last. Season well with salt and black or white pepper.
