Irish Mashed Potatoes

Sackville's Note:

In Ireland, this dish is known as Champ. It has many variations -- you might try it with cabbage, soft garlic, leeks, parsley, chives, peas or even dulse -- but it is always served with melted butter. The best fun is dipping your potatoes into the melted butter.

• Total Time: 55 mins
• Prep Time: 20 mins
• Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 2 large onions, finely sliced
• 100 g butter
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 8 large potatoes (Irish or King Edward are best)
• salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 100 g spring onions
• 225 ml milk

Directions:

1. Heat 1/2 the butter and one tablespoon of the cooking oil in a frying pan over a high heat.
2. When the butter starts to bubble, add in the onions and cook, stirring constantly, for five minutes or until the onions start to wilt.
3. Turn the heat down very low and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are evenly browned and wilted, but not crisp.
4. In Ireland, potatoes are always boiled in their skins, drained and then left in the hot pan for the skins to dry and crack before they are peeled and mashed.
5. If you like, though, you can also peel the potatoes beforehand, wash the starch off, then boil in salted water until tender.
6. Drain and mash.
7. Meanwhile, trim and slice the spring onions, including all the dark green bits.
8. Place in a pan with the milk and simmer until tender.
9. Tip the milk and onion and 25g of butter into the mash and beat with a wooden spoon until light and fluffy.
10. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Melt the remaining butter.
12. Serve the mash in a mound on each plate, making a well in the centre of each mound to fill with the remaining melted butter.
13. Top with the onions.
14. Serve immediately and encourage your diners to dip their spoonfuls of mashed potato into the pools of butter.

Reviews

[HotPepperRosemaryJelly]

Wonderful mashed potatoes! We really loved the browned onions...they really added a nice flavor and texture! I used chives as I didn't have any green onions. We really loved this recipe! I made this for Farm Women Cooking with Andi of Long Meadow Farm. Thank you! Jelly :)

[Missy Wombat]

Good comfort food! I really enjoyed this version of champ and it was also popular with my toddler which is always appreciated.