Colcannon

Submitted by Ferng

"This is my ultimate comfort food! Colcannon is a traditional Irish potato dish which normally contains potato and spring onions. This is my decadent and calorific version, perfect for a cold day, or if you are feeling under the weather. This serves about 6 as a side dish, but I have served larger portions with veg on the side too."

 

• Ready In: 50mins
• Ingredients: 8
• Serves: 6

ingredients

• 8 large potatoes, peeled
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 6 slice bacon, chopped in strips
• 200 g green cabbage, shredded
• 100 ml milk, heated
• butter
• cheddar cheese

directions

1. Fry the garlic, onion and bacon together until the onion is cooked, but not browned. Set to one side.
2. Boil the cabbage in boiling salted water until tender. Drain and set to one side.
3. Boil the potatoes in salted water until tender. Drain and mash to remove all lumps. Add butter to taste. Add the hot milk- the milk being hot makes the mash lovely and fluffy.
4. Combine the mash, cabbage and onion/bacon mix in a large pot. Check for seasoning- it may not need much salt due to the bacon.
5. Place the entire mixture into an oiled oven dish and top with some grated cheese.
6. Pop in an oven which has been pre-heated to 180°C.
7. Everything is cooked and hot, so just leave in the oven until the cheese is melted to your taste- for me about 10 minutes.
8. Serve as a side, or eat the whole thing yourself!

Reviews

[cheron]

This is an excellent recipe. Although I did change it a bit reverting back to family tradition. First boil the potatoes and reserve the hot potato water back into the same pot to cook the cabbage in the potato water until it darkens in color; then add 1 or 2 tablespoons butter to tenderize and cover with lid for a few minutes before draining. Saute the garlic, onion, and bacon (or cooked chopped ham) together. Combine all, and yes, add 3 or 4 fresh chopped scallions (spring onions)! Traditionally, instead of combining and cooking in the oven, we would combine all and serve in individual soup bowls. Traditionally, make a small indentation on top to add a small pat of butter and sprinkle all over with parsley. With the meat potato cabbage mixure, this is a complete meal all by itself! My family's favorite comfort food.

 

[thepurpleturtle]

I hadn't even heard of colcannon until recently but the idea sounded good and I thought your recipe for it sounded appealing, especially with the cheese on top. I wasn't disappointed and hubby loved it too! In fact he asked me if it was easy enough to make often :o) Oh and he even mentioned it on his facebook status, LOL. Only thing I changed was to cook the bacon separately from the onions and garlic so that I could get it nice an crispy. I served this with Recipe #24291 and mixed veggies. Made for Spring Pick A Chef 2009. Thanks Ferng!