Colcannon

 

Colcannon is a traditional Irish potato dish.  It is made by mixing kale, cabbage, or both with mashed potatoes and served with a well of butter in the center.  Although it usually eaten in the fall and winter and especially at Halloween in Ireland, we Americans tend to jump on anything Irish for St. Patrick’s Day, so you see quite a bit colcannon being served at restaurants and pubs this week in celebration.  And, it really is delicious, so any reason to eat it sounds like a good one to me.

I made this colcannon using kale, but you could use cabbage or a combination of the two.  I am going to give you my recipe, but your own recipe for mashed potatoes mixed with cooked kale or cabbage will work just as well.  I used about 3 cups boiled kale and 5 cups mashed potatoes.  

Colcannon

Traditional Irish mashed potatoes with kale

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Ingredients

• 6 large red potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks
• 4 to 5 cups raw kale
• 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter plus more for serving
• 1/2 cup heavy cream
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Boil potatoes in water until tender. Drain.
2. Boil kale in water until tender. Drain.
3. Mash potatoes with a potato masher.
4. Stir in butter, cream, and kale.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. To serve, make a well in the center of each serving and add a pat of butter to the well.