This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.
Colcannon ~ a traditional Irish dish made with cabbage, onions and potatoes. Colcannon is easy to make, inexpensive, delicious pure Irish comfort food!
What would a trip to Ireland be without enjoying a big scoop of Irish Colcannon? This is one of the most popular and beloved Irish recipes. It has many adaptations but the basic recipe includes potatoes, cabbage and/or kale, scallions, butter, milk and salt and pepper. Leeks and chives are also common add-ins.
I can’t believe I haven’t posted this yet – especially since it is our favorite potato dish. We usually sauté sweet onion with the cabbage and only use a small amount of scallions. But since we’re in Ireland this week on a hiking, sight-seeing, photo safari, pub-crawling, foodie adventure, I went traditional all the way!
Our garden kale is still producing so I picked a few stems to add in with the cabbage.
To make Colcannon you will need starchy potatoes like Yukon Gold, scallions, cabbage or kale, butter and milk. Simple ingredients for an amazing dish!
For this Colcannon recipe you can sauté the cabbage and kale or boil it for just a few minutes.
I like sauteing the vegetables in a small amount of vegetable oil especially when using sweet onions like Vidalia. But boiling works great and only takes a few minutes to soften the cabbage and kale.
Once the potatoes are cooked, they are mashed until smooth then mixed with butter and milk.
Stir in the cooked cabbage and scallions, then season the mixture with plenty of salt and pepper.
Traditional Colcannon is served with a pool of butter in the middle.
To serve the Colcannon scoop a serving into an small bowl, then make a well in the center. Add a pat of butter and serve. Take a scoop of potatoes on your fork and dip it in the butter and enjoy!
We vacationed in Ireland 5 years ago and are very excited to go back again!
Sister-in-law Rita is going with us and she is such fun! We spent time in Dublin, Dingle, Killarney and Doolin and places in between. Click HERE to visit all our Ireland posts.
Thanks for PINNING!
Let’s be cooking friends! When you try our recipe please feel free to leave a comment on this post. I’m sure your experience and insights will help all our readers, and it helps me too. Also, if you’re on Pinterest feel free to leave a comment and photo there if you have one! If you share on INSTAGRAM tag @savingroomfordessert so we can stop by and give your post some love. And we’d be very happy if you’d FOLLOW Saving Room for Dessert on FACEBOOK| INSTAGRAM| PINTEREST | TWITTER and subscribe to our YOUTUBE channel for all the latest recipes, videos and updates. Thank you!!!
PRINT THE RECIPE!
Colcannon
Ingredients
- 8 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halved
- 8 tablespoons unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk or light cream
- 1 small green cabbage, cored and sliced thin
- 1 -2 cups of kale, ribs removed and sliced thin
- 6-8 scallions finely chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1 teaspoon salt and the potatoes. Cook until the potatoes are fork tender. Drain in a colander then return to the pot. Mash the potatoes until smooth then add the milk and 6 tablespoons of the butter. Salt and pepper the mixture and set aside to keep warm while preparing the cabbage.
- Add the sliced kale and cabbage to a pot of boiling, salted water. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until soft. Drain well. You may also sauté the cabbage and kale in a large skillet with a little olive oil until wilted, if preferred.
- Mix the potato and cabbage together and stir in the scallions. Season with salt and pepper.
- To serve, scoop potatoes into a serving bowl and make a well in the center. Add the remaining butter and garnish with a few pieces of chopped scallion.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
We have so many favorite Irish inspired dishes it’s hard to just pick a few. We did a roundup of some amazing recipes in this Irish Recipes & Travel Posts where you can find a little bit of everything. Our classic Dublin Coddle has been super popular and it’s so easy and delicious. And don’t forget to try this amazing Guinness Chocolate Cake – it’s outstanding!
If you’re planning a trip to the beautiful Emerald Isle, be sure to check out all our posts about Our Ireland Adventures!
Hope you’re having a great week. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tricia
Carmel
Sadly, you lost me at kale…yuk! I guess I could use more cabbage, savoy cabbage or spinach? Will try them.
Tricia Buice
Hi Carmel. Yes you can use more cabbage or spinach. Enjoy!
Katerina @ diethood .com
The perfect comfort food!! I would love to try this!
Tricia Buice
Hope you get the chance to make it Katerina – so easy and so good! Thanks 🙂
Kim
Love colcannon! I have an old recipe that I found and it calls for ham or bacon. I have used both and both are extremely delicious, especially left over smoked ham. Dingle and doolin are my favorite places.
Tricia Buice
Nothing beats a classic dish like Colcannon! Such a beautiful country, I hope to go back again one day. Thanks so much for the inspiration 🙂
Ildikó Ridley
This is a lovely recipe. I am vegan so I used all vegan alternatives, but it worked like a treat! I served it with (vegan) sausages, and the result was much appreciated by all. Will definitely make it again. Thnak you very much for making this recipe available.
Tricia Buice
Thank you so much for the feedback and glad you liked it. Such perfect comfort food especially this time of year. Thanks again.
Eugenia Lutes
This reminds me of a German dish we make in our family. We do the mashed potatoes but use lettuce uncooked, boiled eggs cut up, bacon fried and crumbled and a little of the bacon grease. The hot and the cold are then slightly tossed together and then some of us add a few drops of vinegar. You have hot, cold, soft and crunchy. Yum We use a lot of mashed potatoes, head of lettuce, pound of bacon, nearly a dozen eggs.We do not use butter but would be good.
Tricia Buice
That sounds delicious Eugenia. Thanks for sharing!
Ashlee
I’m going to use red skins, because I have so many right now. I’d also like to make it in advance and freeze. Any advice on these two variations?
Tricia Buice
Hi Ashlee! I think red skin potatoes will be delicious – but just a little different in texture. I don’t know about freezing as I’ve never tried it. I think fresh would be best but frozen will certainly be convenient. Good luck and hope you enjoy 🙂
Cpoulos
i add some freshly ground nutmeg just before serving. The aroma is awesome.
T
tanna
Tricia… I’ve never heard of Colcannon before, but I think I’m in love. Every ingredient is on my personal comfort-food-list! Travel safely and ENJOY! I will LOOK FORWARD to seeing your photos. blessings and hugs ~ tanna
Tricia Buice
You WILL love it Tanna. Completely satisfying dish. I will apologize now for the 4 million Ireland photos coming soon!
Dom
I adore colcannon and will always make it over just plain old mash… so good served with big fat sausages!
Tricia Buice
My husband adores the big fat sausages too – a perfect man meal!
Angie@Angie's Recipes
It looks so CREAMY and SMOOTH! I could eat the whole bowl, Tricia.
Tricia Buice
We could eat this everyday Angie! Thanks
cheri
Hi Tricia, my mother in-law makes a dish similar to this that’s a big hit on the holidays! have a wonderful time in Ireland, such a beautiful place.
Tricia Buice
Thanks Cheri – we got home late last night and will start going through the thousands of photos soon. I’m going to need another bowl of this Colcannon! Delicious
Becky Green
OH MY! This would be GREAT on our Thanksgiving Table this year…! 😉 My hubby likes it too! HAVE A SUPER TIME IN IRELAND!!!!! HOW EXCITING!!!! CAN’T WAIT to see your pictures! 😀
Tricia Buice
Thanks Becky – it would be a great way to sneak in some greens with the spuds 🙂 Glad you’re looking forward to the photos – I think I took at least 1,000!!!
sue/the view from great island
My husband and I learned to make this in England and it’s one of our favorites! Have a blast, Tricia!
Tricia Buice
How fun! I haven’t been to England but hope to one day. Thanks Sue!
Kari@Loaves n Dishes
I don’t think there could be anything more comforting than this dish, I could eat a big ol’ bowl all to myself!
Tricia Buice
It is absolutely comfort food – all the way! Thanks Kari