Want an Irish mashed potato recipe? Try Colcannon.
Made with potatoes and, traditionally, kale, Colcannon is often made with cabbage. This Irish mashed potato recipe has been a staple dish for hundreds of years.
This recipe of the classic dish adds a few ingredients to the two main vegetables to create a warm, creamy delight. Serve with your favorite choice of meat – ham, pork roast, or corned beef. Add a round of Irish Soda Bread, and finish off the meal with a Lemon Curd Cake for dessert, and you’re in for a fantastic Irish feast!
Here’s how to make Colcannon – an authentic Irish mashed potato recipe:
Ingredients:
- 2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
- 1/2 small head of cabbage, chopped (Note: If you want a more traditional Irish mashed potato recipe, then use about 2 cups of chopped kale)
- 1 onion, chopped (or use 4-6 scallions or green onions, sliced)
- water
- 1/2 c. milk
- 1/4 c. butter, divided
- salt and pepper to taste
Directions:
- Chop the potatoes, cabbage or kale, and the onion.
- Place the potatoes in a medium pot and cover with cold water. Salt to taste. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and continue to boil until potatoes are tender when pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes. Drain well and return to the pot.
- Meanwhile, in a separate pot, add 1/2 of the butter. Heat over a medium-high burner. Once the butter is hot, add the chopped kale (or cabbage) and chopped onion (or scallions/green onions). Cook the greens until slightly tender, about 6-7 minutes.
- Add the milk and remaining butter to the potatoes and mash with a potato masher, fork, or hand mixer.
- Using a fork, stir the cabbage/kale mixture into the potato mixture.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Garnish with sliced scallions and a dollop of butter.
This authentic Irish mashed potato recipe is such a favorite, it has had a song written about it: Colcannon (or The Skillet Pot). It is typically served in the fall, when kale comes into season, but you can enjoy it year-round.
If you enjoy traditional Irish cuisine, you can download a free copy of my cookbook, Taste of the Irish, when you join my email community. You’ll find a variety of authentic Irish dishes, including Colcannon, the traditional Irish mashed potato recipe.
