Our colcannon recipe features kale and bacon folded into creamy mashed potatoes that are mixed with generous amounts of butter and milk! This traditional Irish dish is particularly satisfying when served alongside a big plate of corned beef and cabbage!
St. Patrick’s Day will be here in a few short weeks and, having lived in Boston, we couldn’t let the month pass without a few Irish-inspired recipes. While corned beef is definitely on the menu, it’s really only associated with the holiday in America, so we thought we’d start off with one of our favorite traditional Irish dishes: colcannon! Creamy mashed potatoes mixed with kale (or cabbage if you prefer) and dairy, this side is incredibly hearty and budget friendly.
making irish mashed potatoes
To get started, peel and roughly chop the potatoes and then boil in salted water until they can be easily mashed. This usually takes about 20 minutes for me, which is just enough time to prepare the mix-ins (bacon, leeks and kale) so that they’re ready with the potatoes.
Begin by frying the bacon in a large skillet and then removing to a paper towel lined plate to absorb any excess oil. Then drain all but one tablespoon of the fat rendered and add the leeks. If you’re not familiar with leeks, you’ll need just the white and light green parts for this recipe, which you’ll slice into thin half circles. But definitely don’t throw away your leek tops! I like to keep them in the freezer and pull them out to add an oniony flavor when making homemade stocks. Once your leeks are tender, add the kale and a pinch of salt and cook until wilted.
By this time, your potatoes should be just about ready. Drain them of water, add the milk and butter and use a potato masher (or really whatever you can find) to mash everything together. Crumble in the bacon and fold in the leek and kale mixture. Season with salt and pepper and your colcannon is ready to go!
what to serve with colcannon
Colcannon is really a great addition to anything that you would serve with regular mashed potatoes! It’s especially delicious served alongside stews and anything saucy that can be spooned over the top almost like a gravy. And of course it would make an excellent side dish to your corned beef and cabbage!
Since it’s only the two of us, we generally wind up with a lot of leftovers. Luckily, colcannon is one of the easiest foods to repurpose. Its consistency is absolutely perfect for making croquettes and it’s also excellent when used as a topping for homemade shepherd’s pie!
For more great side dish inspiration, check out these recipes!
- Swabian Potato Salad
- Cheesy Scalloped Potatoes
- Roasted Radishes and Potatoes + Creamy Dill Kefir Dressing
- Brussels Sprouts with Bacon
Colcannon – Irish Mashed Potatoes with Kale and Bacon
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds (1 kg) russet potatoes
- 8 ounces (220 grams) bacon
- 2 leeks, white and light green parts only
- 1 bunch (300 grams) kale
- 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
- 5 tablespoons (70 grams) unsalted butter
- kosher salt to taste
Instructions
- Wash and peel the potatoes. Cut them into 2-inch (5 cm) cubes. Slice the white and light green portion of the leeks into thin half circles and rinse to remove any dirt. Coarsely chop the kale leaves, discarding the tough stems.
- Place the chopped potatoes into a large pot and cover them with water. Generously salt, bring to a boil and cook for 20-25 minutes or until fork tender.
- While the potatoes are cooking, heat a large pan over medium heat and cook the bacon until slightly crispy. Remove and set aside.
- Drain the skillet of all but one tablespoon of fat rendered from the bacon. Add the leeks and cook until tender (about 4 minutes).
- Add the chopped kale along with a pinch of salt and cook until wilted (about 5 minutes).
- When the potatoes have finished cooking, drain and use a potato masher to combine with the milk and butter until smooth. Stir in the kale mixture and crumble in the bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve with an extra pat of butter if desired.
Keywords: colcannon recipe
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