Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage)
Local name: Cál ceannann
In short: Buttery mashed potatoes folded with soft cabbage or kale and spring onions, served in a heap with a well of melted butter in the middle. It takes about 45 min in total and makes 6 servings.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 45 min
- Servings
- 6
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 260 kcal
Colcannon is Irish mashed potato mixed with soft cabbage or kale and spring onions, served in a heap with a well of melted butter in the middle. It is cold-weather comfort food, traditionally eaten at Halloween, when small charms were once hidden in the bowl. Floury potatoes and warm milk keep the mash light, and cooking the greens briefly keeps them bright.
Instructions
- Put the potatoes in a large pot of cold salted water, bring to a boil and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, until a knife slides in easily.
- Meanwhile, cook the cabbage in a small pot of boiling salted water for 4 to 5 minutes until tender. Drain well and press out the water.
- Warm the milk with the spring onions in a small pan for 3 minutes, without boiling.
- Drain the potatoes and let them steam dry for 2 minutes. Mash with 40 g (3 tbsp) of the butter until smooth.
- Beat in the hot milk and spring onions, then fold in the cabbage. Season with the salt and white pepper.
- Pile the colcannon into a warm bowl, make a well in the center, and melt the remaining butter into it. Serve right away.
Tips
- Keep the milk warm and mash the potatoes while they are hot and dry. Cold milk or wet potatoes make the mash gluey.
- Leftover colcannon makes good patties. Shape it into cakes, dust with flour and fry in butter until golden on both sides.
Questions and answers
What is the difference between colcannon and champ?
Champ is mashed potato with spring onions and butter. Colcannon adds cabbage or kale to the same base.
Can I make colcannon ahead of time?
Yes. Make it up to 2 days ahead, cool and refrigerate, then reheat in a covered dish at 180°C (350°F) with a splash of milk until hot in the center.
Should I use cabbage or kale in colcannon?
Both are traditional. Cabbage is milder and softer, while kale is earthier and a little chewier. Savoy cabbage is a good middle ground.
How long does it take to make Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage)?
About 45 min in total: 15 min of preparation and 30 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Colcannon (Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage)?
About 260 kcal per serving, with 5 g of protein, 33 g of carbohydrates and 12 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 260 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 5 g |
| Carbohydrates | 33 g |
| Fat | 12 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 4 g |
| Sodium | 480 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
