Colcannon Mash – Creamy Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage

We have this saying in our family, that it’s not dinner without two kilos of potatoes. I’ve been assured it’s an Irish thing. But seriously, if colcannon mash was on the menu every night, for me, that would go some way as to why we need so many potatoes. I mean, is there anything more comforting than a mashed potato dish? Especially Irish mashed potatoes with cabbage and other bits in it?

What you need for this Irish colcannon recipe

• Good mashing potatoes. In Australia, the best mashing potatoes are King Edward or Dutch creams, although they can be a little hard to find as they are not usually in the supermarkets. You most commonly find in the supermarkets, Sebago (the dirt-covered ones), Desiree (the pink skin ones), or Colibans potatoes. All of which are good all-rounder potatoes and mash well. Don’t live in Australia? Look for floury potatoes with more starch, less water like yukon gold potatoes or russet potatoes – both are cracking mashing potatoes and make the best Irish mashed potatoes.
  
  
• Full cream whole milk While you can totally substitute lite or skim milk, I’m a full cream kinda girl.
  
  
• Butter, unsalted always. Lurpak is my butter of choice but any good quality butter is great. If you prefer salted butter, go for it. Because I bake a lot, I’ve always got unsalted butter on hand in the fridge. Just be sure to taste before seasoning so you don’t overdo it with the salt. Irish butter isn’t readily available in Australian grocery stores, but sometimes you get lucky! If you see Kerry Gold butter, it’s a great option for this traditional Irish colcannon
  
  
• Leafy greens – White cabbage, English spinach and green onions (spring onions).
  
  
• Bay leaves. I have a small bay leaf tree in the garden and it’s totally worth it’s weight in gold. I swear it’s saved me a small fortune in bay leaves over the years
  
  
• Sea salt flakes and freshly ground pepper for seasoning. I normally use a couple of tablespoons of salt for my creamy mashed potatoes. While this may seem like a lot, this is a big batch with 1kg of potatoes alone. In this case, correct seasoning makes all the difference.

Equipment you’ll need

A good-sized saucepan. My potato pot is a 24cm stainless steel casserole pot. It’s a really good, medium pot size to use when boiling pasta or making large quantities (1kg plus) of potatoes for mash, salads, etc. Plus a large skillet (or another saucepan) for sauteing the greens.

A potato masher or potato press is essential. To get a fluffier mash, look for a potato masher that you can mash and whip the potatoes with. This one works a treat! You’ll definitely notice the difference in your homemade colcannon.

Plus all the usual utensils like a cook’s knife, chopping board, and a stirring spoon.

The details…

1. Cut all the potatoes into roughly the same size. (I normally aim for a 4cm square rough chop.) In a large pot, place the potatoes and enough cold water to cover them. Pop on the stove and bring to a boil. Continue to boil until potatoes are fork tender, cooked through
   
   
   
2. In a small saucepan, over medium heat, warm the milk and the bay leaf til hot, but not boiling. Discard the bay leaf and pop it aside.
   
   
   
3. To cook the greens… In a frypan, sweat the cabbage in half of the butter. When the cabbage has softened, add the spinach and season with salt and pepper. Don’t overcook the spinach. It will wilt quite quickly once it hits the heat. I find any excess moisture quickly disappears from the pan. Remove from heat and pop aside.
   
   
   
4. Remove the potatoes from the stove and drain of water. Mash the potatoes and add the remaining knob of butter. Stir it through till melted and incorporate it into the potato along with the hot milk. Stir until the potato has absorbed the milk. Add cabbage mix and spring onions to the potato mixture. Combine. Season the colcannon mash with salt and freshly ground black pepper to your taste. 
   

What do I serve with Colcannon Irish Mash?

Pork belly, and meat roasts like this Herbs de Provence Roast Chicken, all work a treat with this Irish staple.

Given that colcannon is a traditional Irish dish, pair it with a good Irish Stew. Dreamy comfort food on a cool day.

Slow cooked beef cheeks in red wine with colcannon mashed potatoes is a favorite in our house!




Here’s a post on what to serve with colcannon. It’s full of good dinner ideas if your stuck!

Traditionally, Irish colcannon mash is served on Halloween or St. Patrick’s Day alongside corned beef, baked ham, bacon, or lamb chops. But go nuts, It pretty much lends itself as a tasty side dish, every day of the year!

Save it for another day

Given how delicious colcannon potatoes are, I sometimes cook a little extra for the next day. Once cool, store leftover colcannon in an airtight container and pop it into the fridge. It will last for up to 2 days. To reheat, pop it back into a small pot with a little milk or cream and cook gently on a low heat, stirring occassionally so it doesn’t stick to the bottom.

Let me know in the comments your favourite dish to serve Colcannon Irish potatoes with

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A few more hearty recipes to serve alongside this colcannon mash recipe

• An Irishman’s Wife’s Irish Stew
• Bacon Cheese & Chive Soda Bread
• Persian Lentil Sweet Potato Soup
• Beef and Red Wine Ragu
• Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Herbs de Provence

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