TRADITIONAL IRISH COLCANNON
8 ingredients
Meat
6 slices Crispy cooked bacon
Produce
1/2 head Green cabbage
1 Onion, medium
Baking & Spices
1 Salt and pepper
Dairy
7 tbsp Butter
1/2 cup Heavy cream
Other
3 Large russet potatoes peeled and chunked
3 Large yukon gold potatoes peeled and chunked
This traditional Irish Colcannon side dish is made with creamy mashed potatoes, swirled with fried cabbage, onions, crisp bacon and simply seasoned with salt and pepper. It's the perfect addition to any comfort food meal.
Method:
Peel and put them in a pot to boil.
While the potatoes are cooking, remove the core from the cabbage, slice the leaves thinly, and put into a large saucepan. Cover with boiling water from the kettle and keep at a slow rolling boil until the cabbage is just wilted and has turned a darker green. This can take anything from 3-5 minutes, depending on the cabbage. Test it and don’t let it overcook - if anything it should be slightly undercooked.
When the cabbage is cooked, drain it well, squeeze to get any excess moisture out, then return to the saucepan. Add one-third of the butter and cover. Leave it covered and in a warm place, but not on a burner, with the butter melting gently into it while you continue.
When the potatoes are soft, drain the water and return the potatoes to the saucepan. With the drained potatoes in, set the burner to low, leaving the lid off so that any excess moisture can evaporate. When they are perfectly dry, add the milk to the saucepan, along with a third of the butter and the chopped scallions (if you are using them). Allow the milk to warm but not boil – it is about right when the butter has fully melted and the pot is starting to steam.
With a potato masher or a fork, mash the potatoes thoroughly into the butter/milk mixture. Do NOT pass through a ricer or, worse, beat in a mixer as it will make the potatoes gluey and disgusting.