Traditional Colcannon recipe, AKA Irish Mashed Potatoes! These are easy to make with kale or cabbage and bacon, ready in 25 minutes.
What is Colcannon?
Colcannon (prounounced “coal-can-in”) is a traditional Irish dish made with mashed potatoes and either cabbage or kale. Usually butter is poured on top before serving.
The word colcannon is from the Gaelic word “cal ceannann” which literally means “white-headed cabbage.”
Easy to Make Irish ColCannnon Recipe
Colcannon is easy to make and ready in 25 minutes. Here’s a video I made to show you truly how simple it is! If you can make mashed potatoes, then you can make this recipe!
This classic dish is perfect for a St. Patrick’s Day meal but honestly my family loves them anytime of the year! Also did you know that Colcannon is often served on Halloween in Ireland with charms (like buttons, thimbles and rings) hidden in it?
What ingredients do you need?
These are the ingredients you’ll need: potatoes, milk and salt & pepper to first make the potatoes. Then you’ll need bacon, kale, an onion, olive oil and melted butter.
How to Make Traditional Irish Colcannon Step By Step:
Peel and cube 2.5 pounds of potatoes, and then boil them in a medium sized pot until a fork can easily slide through.
The best potatoes for mashed potatoes are Yukon Gold Potatoes or Belmonda Potatoes (we grow these in our garden specifically for mashed potatoes!).
Add milk, salt and pepper and mash until they’re creamy. I do this with a potato masher because they’re pretty soft already, but you can also use a electric hand mixer like my Mom always does.
Cook 6 slices of bacon in a frying pan until both sides are browned. Remove the bacon from pan and crumble, set it aside for a couple of minutes.
Add chopped kale and onion to the frying pan, along with olive oil and cook until the kale is tender.
Add bacon, kale and onion mixture into the potato pot and stir completely to make sure the kale is equally distributed all over. It’s up to you if you want to serve the potatoes straight from the pot or add to a serving bowl for family style.
Finally, make a well in the middle of the potatoes and pour in melted butter. When you serve colcannon, everyone gets a little butter to enjoy with it! I hope you enjoy this recipe!
Can I use cabbage instead of kale?
Absolutely, Colcannon is often made with either cabbage or kale. Use whatever vegetable you prefer or have on hand. Follow the recipe exactly as stated for both kale and cabbage.
What do you serve with Colcannon?
You can serve Colcannon as a main dish or side dish. For a side dish, serve with corned beef or an oven roasted chicken with cabbage and roasteded carrots. For a fun dessert check out my Irish Potato Candy!
Pin for later:
Irish Colcannon With Kale
PrintIngredients
- 2.5 pounds potatoes peeled and cubed
- 1/2 cup milk
- salt and pepper to taste
- 6 slices bacon
- 3 cups kale chopped
- 1 medium onion finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup butter melted
Instructions
- Place potatoes in a medium-sized pot, covering them with water. Bring to a boil and cook for about 15 minutes, or until a fork easily slides through them. Drain and place potatoes back into pot.
- Add milk, salt and pepper to pot and mash until creamy. You can use a potato masher or electric hand mixer to mash.
- Heat up a skillet over medium high heat, add bacon and cook until browned on both sides, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon, crumble it and set it aside.
- Add kale and onion to the skillet, along with 2 tablespoons olive oil and cook until onion is translucent and kale is tender, about 10 minutes.
- Add bacon, kale, and onions into potato pot, stirring to combine everything. Make a well in the middle of the potatoes and pour in melted butter. Serve and enjoy!
Video:
Check out my Irish Colcannon Recipe Web Story!
Sue says
I’m through & through Irish… my father’s folks immigrated from Ireland. They (dairy) farmed in Wisconsin. There was no kale in their lives, but plenty of cabbage! 😄. The Onions & coursely chopped cabbage were sautéed really well in bacon grease. What a comfort food 💕…(to this day, I might add). Just bought the ingredients… mouth watering reading your recipe 😋. I hope every one of your readers tries this. Happy St. Paddy’s day, Pam ☘️