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.

What should I serve with Colcannon?

Anything with a rich sauce, but I like to serve it with this Traditional Irish Lamb Stew made without the potatoes.

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 Irish word for colcannon? ›

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

Why do they call it colcannon? ›

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. It's often served alongside Irish meats, and is made by combining potatoes and greens (usually cabbage, but kale and other leafy greens are sometimes used).

What does colcannon mean in English? ›

colcannon in American English

(kəlˈkænən, ˈkɔlkæn-) noun. an Irish dish made of cabbage, kale, or other greens, and potatoes boiled and mashed together. [1765–75; ‹ Ir cál ceannann, equiv.

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 bubble and squeak the same as colcannon? ›

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 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.

Who invented colcannon? ›

The name comes from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannan,” which means “white-headed cabbage”. One of the earliest written references to colcannon comes from the diary of William Bulkeley, who wrote on October 31, 1735 while on a visit to Dublin: “Dined at Coz. Wm.

What is potato slang for in Irish? ›

Spuds” is another word for potatoes.

What is a potato called in Irish? ›

The Irish language is very descriptive the common word for potato in Irish is práta (pl. prátaí), hence the origin of Praties for Potatoes, There are literally 50 Irish words and descriptive phrases relating to the potato.

What is the Irish word for bacon and cabbage? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with Ireland.

What is the Irish word for mashed potatoes? ›

Potato-mash, brúitín m (prátaí). Mashed potatoes, brúitín m. Mashed potatoes, brúitín m, prátaí brúite.

Why do Irish eat colcannon? ›

The ingredients joined ancient and modern Ireland; the ancestral diet in the country was heavy on kale and cabbage, and colcannon combined them with the more modern potato to create something hearty and filling that would keep the workingman satiated for a decent stretch of time.

What is the posh word for mashed potato? ›

Pomme Puree - a fancy way to say mashed potatoes.

Is colcannon the same as bubble and squeak? ›

He comments that although the basic ingredients of bubble and squeak and colcannon are similar, the two are very different dishes, the former being traditionally made from left-overs and fried to give a brown crust, and the latter "a completely separate dish of potato, spring onion and cabbage, served almost as creamed ...

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!

What is colcannon mash made of? ›

I ate plenty of colcannon on travels through Ireland and it has a special place on an Irish dinner table. It's a hearty side dish made of creamy mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage, kale, chard or other greens, and a generous slab of butter. And while it's commonly associated with St.

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.

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