Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe (2024)

Irish Recipes | RECIPES | Sides | St. Patrick's Day

ByStephanie Wilson

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Colcannon is a traditional Irish mashed potato dish with cabbage that also happens to be a hearty, comfort food classic in Ireland. If you love mashed potatoes and cabbage, this is a simple-to make-dish you will want to try. It makes the perfect side dish for St. Patrick’s Day, or just because!

Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe (1)

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Colcannon is a year-round staple, although it also makes special appearances at holidays, including St. Patrick’s Day, and most especially at Halloween where sneaky chefs conceal lucky charms or coins within its body.

Traditionally, Colcannon incorporates cabbage or kale into the mashed potatoes.

Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe (2)

So loved is Colcannon that it has inspired a traditional Irish song by its own name or by the name, “The Skillet Pot,” and has been recorded by many artists.

LYRICS

“Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?
With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.
Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake
Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?”

The chorus:

“Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.
And the more I think about it sure the nearer I’m to cry.
Oh, wasn’t it the happy days when troubles we had not,
And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.”

Click here to hear Mary Black sing this tune onYouTube.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I use cabbage or kale in my Colcannon?

Both are traditional, so use whichever you prefer or whichever you have on hand.

Can I make this recipe vegan?

Sure, just substitute the butter and milk with your favorite plant based alternatives.

Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe (3)

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Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe (4)

Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe

Colcannon is a traditional Irish mashed potato dish, and is a hearty and comfort food classic in Ireland.

5 from 3 votes

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Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 -6 servings

Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

  • 4 russet potatoes Yukon Gold potatoes work well too
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 2/3 cup whole milk or half and half
  • 1/2 small green cabbage or small bunch kale shredded
  • 4 scallions sliced diagonally
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Peel the potatoes and cut them into large chunks and place into a large saucepan. Cover with water and add salt. Bring the potatoes to a boil and then reduce to a simmer and allow to cook about 15 or 20 minutes or until fork tender.

  • Remove potatoes from the simmering water and put into a bowl, and add the shredded cabbage and scallions to the simmering water. Allow it to simmer for 1 to 2 minutes, or until tender.

  • Meanwhile, mash potatoes with a hand masher, add salt, pepper (to taste), butter and milk until desired consistency. Then add drained cabbage or kale and scallions. Stir well until light and fluffy. Serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 263kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 116mg | Potassium: 1005mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 563IU | Vitamin C: 77mg | Calcium: 127mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.

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Course: Sides

Cuisine: Irish

Keyword: colcannon, colcannon recipe, Irish Colcannon, potatoes and cabbage

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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 is 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 difference between colcannon and 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.

Why is colcannon important in Ireland? ›

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?

What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›

Grains, either as bread or porridge, were the other mainstay of the pre-potato Irish diet, and the most common was the humble oat, usually made into oatcakes and griddled (ovens hadn't really taken off yet).

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 an Irish potato called? ›

Solanum tuberosum (Irish Potato, Irish Potatoes, Pomme de Terre, Potato, Potatoes, White Potato, White Potatoes) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox.

What did the Irish eat during the potato famine? ›

The analysis revealed that the diet during the Irish potato famine involved corn (maize), oats, potato, wheat, and milk foodstuffs. Analysis of teeth of famine victims disclosed a great deal about their diet.

What is Boxty made of? ›

Boxty is a thick pancake of mashed and shredded potatoes, flour, baking soda, and buttermilk fried in butter or lard. These are traditionally formed into a circle and cut into quarters or triangles and are usually served as a side dish or appetizer. These are a great way to use up any leftover mashed potatoes.

What do they call mashed potatoes in England? ›

Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 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 is the meaning of the word colcannon? ›

Colcannon is a mixture of cooked and shredded cabbage and mashed potatoes. The word colcannon is derived from the Gaelic term cal ceannann, which means "white-headed cabbage" — the vegetable most commonly mixed with potatoes in this dish.

What do they call potato cakes in England? ›

It seems the Irish call them Potato bread, the English call them potato cakes (Lancashire), Scottish call them potato scones (tottie scones).

Why do Irish people eat so many potatoes? ›

The Irish often used the good land to grow things like wheat and corn that they would sell to pay their rent. This left the farmers with a small piece of land to grow their own food. Potatoes took up very little space and were very nutritious. One acre of potatoes could feed a family of four for a year.

What are the coins in the colcannon? ›

Clean coins wrapped in baking paper are placed in the potato for children to find. Considered the future telling mashed potato, finding a coin in your dinner meant good wealth for the coming year. Older generations would also place a rag, stick and other items in the colcannon to predict the future.

What is the Irish word for mashed potatoes? ›

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

What is the Irish dish of mashed potato and cabbage 9? ›

Colcannon is an Irish dish made from potatoes and greens. Kale or cabbage are most often used in partnership with green onions or leeks.

What is Irish champ made of? ›

Champ (brúitín in Irish) is an Irish dish of mashed potatoes with scallions, butter and milk.

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