Servings: 4 to 8
This most celebrated of Irish potato dishes exists in numerous variations, depending on the season, the region of the country, and of course personal taste. It is often made with just butter, milk, and kale, but the scholar P. W. Joyce defines “caulcannon” as “potatoes mashed with butter and milk, with chopped up cabbage and pot-herbs.” Mary Ward, when she makes colcannon at her house in Nenagh, County Tipperary, starts with a trip to the kitchen garden, armed with a basket and a pair of shears. This is her recipe.
This recipe is excerpted from The Country Cooking of Ireland. Read our review.
Melt 4 Tbs. of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the kale or assorted greens and cook until just wilted, about 5 minutes.
Combine the milk, scallions, and remaining butter in a medium pot and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 2 minutes, then add the greens and stir in well. Remove the pot from the heat, cover, and set aside.
Drain and carefully peel the potatoes, then return them to the pot. Add the greens and their liquid and mash until smooth, leaving a few small lumps in the potatoes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
To serve in the traditional Irish manner, push the back of a large soup spoon down in the middle of each portion to make a crater, then put a large pat of room-temperature butter into each one to make a “lake.” Diners dip each forkful of colcannon into the butter until its walls are breached.
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Wow, Touchy readers. Did you rate it after reading or cooking? I'm of Irish descent and this tastes just as good as any my mothers family makes. I found this recipe by looking for a Colcannon with kale and green onions which was how I remembered it. I used a slightly different method using the same ingredients. I used the method I remember my mom using. making mashed potatoes with butter and half and half, then sauteed the scallions in butter then added the kale and a little water and let it steam for 5 minutes then mixed them all together .To serve I made the well in the center and added the melted butter. I garnished with bacon bits after reading about it other recipes, but it would have been just as delicious without it. I think it's one of those dishes that you can make with any number of variations, it's a great way to get your greens in .
Isn't it funny how the "traditional" recipe for anything is not the tradition in every family? The author essentially says in the introduction that there are as many recipes for Colcannon as there are people who make it. This is just ONE variation and I am sure that anyone who makes it will be one dish happier than they were before they try it.
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