Traditional Colcannon Recipe (2024)

Published | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

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Mix in a handful of green onions and sliced Savoy cabbage into your buttery mashed potatoes for a serving of the traditional Irish colcannon, then top with our onion gravy! Simple food that is far from plain and is absolutely perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!

Serve this creamy mash on a side of our delicious Ham or Irish Beef Stew.

Traditional Colcannon Recipe (1)

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.

Traditional Colcannon Recipe (2)

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!

Traditional Colcannon Recipe (3)

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.

Traditional Colcannon Recipe (4)

Traditional Colcannon Recipe

Julia Frey of Vikalinka

Mix in a handful of green onions and sliced Savoy cabbage into your buttery mashed potatoes for a serving of the traditional Irish colcannon.

5 from 4 votes

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Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Course Side Dish

Cuisine Irish

Servings 4

Calories 426 kcal

Ingredients

  • 6 medium potatoes see notes on what potatoes to use
  • 50ml/1/4 cup milk
  • 6-8 green onions green parts only
  • 100g/1/2 cup butter unsalted
  • 150g/2 cups Savoy cabbage sliced
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Boil the peeled and quartered potatoes in salted water until very tender.

  • While the potatoes are boiling, add sliced green onions to milk and bring to a boil at low heat, take off the heat and let the green onions infuse the milk.

  • Melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter in a deep frying pan and saute the sliced Savoy cabbage over low heat till wilted and tender for about 5 minutes. Alternatively, you can steam the cabbage instead.

  • Drain the potatoes and steam dry them to get rid of the excess of water. Return them to the pot and add hot milk together with the sliced green onions, start mashing with a potato masher until mostly smooth, then add butter and keep mashing. Stir in the cooked cabbage and season well with salt and pepper.

Notes

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 426kcalCarbohydrates: 55gProtein: 8gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 55mgSodium: 836mgPotassium: 1612mgFiber: 7gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 1222IUVitamin C: 42mgCalcium: 79mgIron: 3mg

Keyword colcannon

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Side dishes

  • Irish Potato Farls
  • Irish Mashed Potatoes (Champ Recipe)
  • Miso Butter Roasted Cabbage Wedges
  • Baked Potato Toppings

About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
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Traditional Colcannon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the Irish colcannon made of? ›

Colcannon is an Irish dish that's made of mashed potatoes, shredded cabbage or kale, green onions and tons of butter and whole milk. Sometimes crumbled bacon is added for an extra-succulent, salty flavor.

What's the difference between colcannon and champ? ›

What is the difference between Colcannon and Champ? Both Irish dishes, Champ is mashed potatoes with chopped spring onions (scallions) and milk. Colcannon is Champ with the addition of cabbage and sometimes some herbs.

What is the tradition of colcannon? ›

Colcannon is a hearty dish that has been eaten on Halloween night for years. Traditionally, a ring was hidden in the dish, and whoever was to find it would be likely to marry in the upcoming year! Colcannon was even paired with a little poem: Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

Is colcannon the same as Bubble and Squeak? ›

Colcannon is mashed potatoes and chopped cabbage and usually chopped ham or bacon. Bubble and squeak is mashed leftover potatoes and chopped cabbage mixed up and fried as single round cake, and then sliced and served usually at breakfast.

What is the Irish word for colcannon? ›

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning 'white-headed cabbage') is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage.

What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›

Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.

What is the national dish in Ireland? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland.

What does colcannon taste like? ›

Colcannon is full of flavor. If you like mashed potatoes, you'll most likely love this dish. The mashed potatoes get tons of flavor from the green onions and a nice texture from the chopped kale. We all love butter and milk in our potatoes, so that is also in this colcannon recipe with salt and pepper to taste!

Why do Irish Americans eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

The Irish immigrants also realized that cabbage was a more readily available vegetable in America than in Ireland, where it was traditionally a fall and winter vegetable. So they combined the corned beef with cabbage to create a hearty, filling meal that was reminiscent of their homeland.

How did the Irish eat potatoes? ›

Irish people have traditionally preferred floury potatoes to waxy varieties. Whilst silversmiths in Georgian Ireland made potato rings for the Anglo-Irish ascendancy, the poor cottiers cooked in a cauldron and ate their potatoes 'with and without the moon', using a long thumb nail to peel the skin.

Which country would you be in if you ended up eating colcannon and champ? ›

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with cabbage or kale and potatoes. The name comes from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannan,” which means “white-headed cabbage”.

What do they call mashed potatoes in England? ›

Mashed potato or mashed potatoes (American, Canadian and Australian English), colloquially known as mash (British English), is a dish made by mashing boiled or steamed potatoes, usually with added milk, butter, salt and pepper.

What do they call potato cakes in England? ›

Potato scallops/Potato cakes

In Australia and England, potato scallops are thin slices of potato that have been battered and deep-fried. The terminology used in Australia differs from state to state. In Victoria, Tasmania, and the Murray River regions of New South Wales, they are referred to as potato cakes.

What is colcannon mash made of? ›

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish consisting of mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale. This budget-friendly dish can be served as an entrée or side dish, often alongside boiled ham or corned beef.

Why do the Irish eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

The Irish immigrants also realized that cabbage was a more readily available vegetable in America than in Ireland, where it was traditionally a fall and winter vegetable. So they combined the corned beef with cabbage to create a hearty, filling meal that was reminiscent of their homeland.

What is the Irish word for mashed potatoes? ›

Mashed potatoes, brúitín m. Mashed potatoes, brúitín m, prátaí brúite.

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