A hearty winter dish, make Irish colcannon potatoes loaded with cabbage, bacon, and the best butter and cream you can find.
British/Irish/Scottish cuisines suffer from a generalization of blandness. Meat and potatoes is the abject disdain with which the entire landmass food is painted. Ironically, the history of Britain’s cuisine is quite indulgent, rich, borrowing influence from her neighbors as well as her conquests. Albeit, this was the luxury of the rich, who in Tudor times to Victorian through the Elizabethan dined on sumptuous courses decadently sauced and served with a temperamental French flair.
But, it is the commoner’s meal that become more associated with the cuisine, unsurprisingly given that they emigrated the most and their food is the easiest to source. Nevertheless, the issue is not about the societal strata but the perception that it is bland without the garnishes of flavorings and flamboyance of seasoning.
The first time I visited Ireland, I was warned about how much everything is cooked to obliteration in a home kitchen. It is beyond well-done. It is simply over done in many cases. I was prepared and I kept my expectations at bay. But, I was completely unprepared for how amazing it tasted despite the overzealousness of the technique. Oh and the potato… Ah the potato! The Irish are sensitive about their potatoes. Rightly so. History had the blight and the plague. But, that is in the past. They have a right to so today because their potatoes taste bloody awesome!! All you need are salt and a fat pat of Irish butter and its divine.
For a long time, I was picky about my potatoes from the supermarkets. They are bland. Then, I discovered farmers’ markets and the produce of upstate New York. I don’t think the region classifies as fine agrarian terroir but it is seriously awesome for growing root vegetables.
Since that fine discovery, the potato has been a regular staple in my pantry. In light of all of this waxing I have been doing about international cuisine, I am sharing an Irish potato dish from county Kerry in South West Ireland – Colcannon. To me, it brings the best of everything I love of Irish food – said potatoes, quality meat, savoy cabbage (THE BEST I have ever had), and, Irish dairy! Bring them together and it’s heaven! This dish is typically served as a side with boiled ham (yes, boiled! Don’t shirk it till you taste it…) or some other pork dish. I served it with fish. Broiled salmon. It was AWESOME! It is that kind of versatile!
Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?
With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.
Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake
Of the creamy, flavoured butter that your mother used to make?
Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.
And the more I think about it sure the nearer I’m to cry.
Oh, wasn’t it the happy days when troubles we had not,
And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.
Irish Colcannon Potatoes
Description
A hearty winter dish, make Irish colcannon potatoes loaded with cabbage, bacon, and the best butter and cream you can find.
Ingredients
- 4 New York red potatoes
- 2 cups tender savoy cabbage (shredded)
- 2 strips of thick cut Irish or Canadian bacon
- 6 T butter
- 1/3 cup half and half
- salt and pepper as needed
Instructions
- Steam the potatoes till really tender. Rest the potatoes and in the same steamer, soften the cabbage a little.
- When the cabbage is in the steamer, Slice the bacon into half inch cubes and fry over medium heat till the fat is rendered and meat crisped.
- Add the half cooked cabbage to the crisped bacon and sauté for a few minutes for cooking through and for flavor
- Mash the potatoes with peel and with butter. Season with salt and pepper. Loosen with half and half. Fold in the bacon and cabbage mix
- Transfer to serving plate and sprinkle with chives (optional) on top before serving and a pat of butter!
- Category: Side
- Cuisine: Irish
Thank you, Asha: For the fascinating history and your obvious personal commitment to sharing the joy of good food. I shall try this out soon when it is my turn to cook. Dave G.