Colcannon (or Irish potatoes) is pure traditional Irish comfort food at its absolute best. Nothing beats a good Irish potato recipe, especially one that combines those potatoes with lots of garlic, leeks, green cabbage, butter, and spring onions. This is one traditional Irish dish that will make it back to your family table time and time again.
For more traditional Irish food try out this Irish apple cake or this slow cooker Guiness stew.
Colcannon
I grew up in Northern Ireland, and to this day, once the rain starts pelting down, all I want is a steaming hot bowl of colcannon to eat while wrapped up in a blanket watching the rain.
Not as fun these days living in Australia and our pelting down rain days are usually in the form of a summer storm on a 30C afternoon.
But it is what it is.
Comfort food at it's best, this is the perfect bowl of potatoes to enjoy on a cold day or if you want to serve some traditional Irish food, instead of some weird green-dyed concoction.
This is best when served with some Irish Apple Cake for dessert!
How Is Colcannon Different From Mashed Potatoes?
I mean it is a big bowl of buttery potatoes....but it's also so much more.
You have the added loveliness of:
- garlic
- cabbage
- shallots
- leeks
- chopped scallions (otherwise known as spring onions or green onions)
So much flavor in one little bowl right there!
You can also add other leafy greens like curly kale, or parsley.
Try to get your hands on some good quality Irish butter if you can, it makes the world of difference.
When it comes to the potatoes you can choose from red potatoes (I use these as I love the pop of color), russet potatoes, or Yukon gold potatoes.
Anything that is good for mashing.
Colcannon's SuperPower
If you find you have celebrated a wee bit too much come St Patrick's Day, keep this recipe in your back pocket.
Or even better, make it ahead of time so you can heat it first thing in the morning for breakfast because Colcannon happens to be the best hangover cure.
I swear.
I don't know why, but it works every time.
Speaking from a lot of experience in my college years).
Serving Up and Storing Leftovers
I love nothing more than a big bowl of Colcannon all by itself, and will happily eat it as a main dish with some of this Irish apple cake for dessert.
However, if you want to have yourself a big Irish feast, then serve the Colcannon as a side dish with some corned beef, Irish stew, or some lovely grilled lamb chops for a satisfying main course.
Who has leftover Colcannon?
I mean seriously?
If you do somehow manage to have any leftovers, they will store well in the fridge for about 3 days if kept in an airtight container.
Simply use a little bit of milk to loosen them up a bit when you reheat them in the microwave and you will be good to go.
They can also be frozen, however, I find the texture of the cabbage can be a little soggy once thawed and reheated, so keep that in mind if you are weird about textures.
You can also use your leftovers to make some of these Colcannon Tater Tots or flatten them for some colcannon cakes (like a potato cake but different), or as a topping on some shepherd's pie.
They are a quick and easy way to use up those leftovers and I can guarantee that the whole family will devour them straight from the oven.
A real crowd-pleaser with the kids.
I hope you love this classic Irish dish!
Looking for some more Irish food inspiration for your celebrations? Check out these recipes:
- Creamy Irish Mushroom and Potato Soup;
- Instant Pot Potato Soup with Cheddar and Leek;
- Pillowy Potato Biscuits using Leftover Mashed Potatoes
Do you have any plans for St Patrick’s Day this year?
Make sure you enjoy some creamy Colcannon and a Guinness for the occasion 🙂
Happy eating
Recipe
Colcannon Irish Potatoes
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Ingredients
- 2 lbs potatoes of choice washed well and cut into large chunks
- 2 whole cloves of garlic peeled, not minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large leek white and light green parts only, sliced thinly
- ½ head cabbage sliced thinly
- 3 spring onions sliced thinly
- salt to taste
- 4 tablespoons good quality butter cubed. Plus more for serving
- ½ cup milk plus extra as needed
- extra butter to serve
Instructions
- Put the cubed potatoes and whole garlic cloves in a medium pot and cover with cold water by at least an inch. Add 1 tablespoon of salt, and bring to a boil. Boil at medium-high heat until tender, about 15-20 mins (see notes).2 lbs potatoes of choice, 2 whole cloves of garlic
- Once cooked, drain over the sink in a colander.
- While the potatoes are cooking, heat the olive oil in a medium saucepan. Once hot, add in the leeks and cabbage and cook until wilted, and most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 4 mins. Remove from heat and set aside.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 large leek, ½ head cabbage
- Pop the drained potatoes back into the medium pot, add in the cubed butter, and mash the potatoes with a potato masher, slowly adding the milk until the potato mix is really smooth and creamy.3 spring onions, salt, 4 tablespoons good quality butter, ½ cup milk
- Add in the cooked greens, and the spring onions and salt to taste and mix well.
- Serve hot. Use a spoon to make a small hollow on top and add a knob of butter.extra butter to serve
Natasha says
Have you tried Makin this with Sweet potatoes? I am trying really hard to live light shade free and regular potatoes are a huge no no for me. Really want to make this for my husband and the family dinners if I can make it work. Have to find a way to hide the leeks lol
Donna1 says
I haven't tried with sweet potatoes, but I can bet it would taste just as delicious!! Let me know how it turns out, I would love to know!
Heather says
Over the last few years I have been trying to incorporate traditional Irish foods in our St. Patrick's Day dinners and I came across this recipe on Pinterest. We just finished dinner and they were a huge hit! Definitely will be making them again, thanks for sharing 🙂
Donna1 says
Oh I am so glad to hear that Heather, it makes me so happy to think of other's enjoying my recipes on special days! Thanks so much for taking the time to pop back and let me know, and I hope you had a lovely St Patrick's Day 🙂
Nancy says
My Nana (whose parents were from Ireland) and my Mum would make these every year for St. Patrick's Day, and I do now too. One tradition we had was to put a coin in the colcannon, and whoever found the coin would have good luck for the next year. I never heard of any other family doing this, so it may have been just our tradition? Love your photos.
Donna1 says
Oh thats a lovely tradition 🙂 We always did the same thing in our apple pie for Halloween, and a special bread my mum would make for New Years Day, but never in the Colcannon! I will have to ask her and see if that's something she did growing up. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Elizabeth says
I love colcannon! I cannot wait to try your recipe.
Donna1 says
Oh I hope you love it Elizabeth!!
CourtneyLynne says
Omg these potatoes look so yummy!!!! I definitely need to give these a try! Definitely pinning!
Donna1 says
Yay, hope you love them CourtneyLynne!
Stacey says
Oh, I miss Ireland! I visited there two summers ago. I am pinning this and making them for St. Patty's day! Thank you.
Donna1 says
It's a beautiful place hey! I so want to get back there with the kids some day, it's been a while! Enjoy St Paddy's day 🙂
Birttany says
These look really delicious! I love anything that has potatoes in it!
Southern Soul
Donna1 says
Thanks Brittany!
Kim says
Those look so yummy! A st. party's day dinner might be fun.
Sarah says
This looks so delicious! Adding it to our St. Patrick's Day dinner menu!
Shelly @ Behind Blue Eyes says
Yum, this dish reminds me so much of home. My grandma always made this, but I never knew how she did it. She past away before I was really cooking for myself so I never had a chance to ask her. Thank you for sharing the recipe! I know what I'm making for dinner tonight!!
Donna1 says
Oh thank you for sharing memories of your grandma Shelly, that makes me happy 🙂 I love how food can trigger such lovely emotions from our past! I hope this version lives up to your grandmas!
Aloma says
I just returned from Ireland ands fell in love with it and it's people. One thing we ate over there everytime we could find it was Irish mushroom soup. Do you have a good recipe for that soup. It was so delicious. Made with potato too. Thx
Donna1 says
How fun, I have been dying to get back to Ireland with the kids...one day!! You know what, I actually do have a great recipe for mushroom soup which we make ALL the time, but I have never thought to put on the blog!! I will whip up a batch and post it for you in the coming weeks 🙂
tp keane says
As a fellow Irish person all I can say is... yum. I love colcannon as do my kids and my husband. I haven't made it in so long though. Thanks for reminding me of it.
Donna1 says
Oh you are so welcome! I hadn't made it in years either, and now I think I am getting to the point of over-making it 🙂 So good though!
Amanda Love says
I've never heard of this dish before. Now I want to try it. I'm all up for trying anything that's different.
Claire says
I've never made anything like this before. Look delicious, can't wait to try!
Debra says
I have actually never heard of this before, but it looks absolutely amazing! I am going to have to try it soon!
Tanya @ Mom's Small Victories says
I think my Indian mother and I must be part Irish, we both LOVE potatoes. This sounds delicious, I'm going to pin it and give it a try for St. Patrick's Day this year. Thanks for sharing!
Charlotte says
I don't think I have tried anything like this before?! but it looks really good (and I love potatoes so I am willing to try anything to do with them :p) and just in time for St Patricks day (since they are irish!)
Robin Rue (@massholemommy) says
I have never had anything like this before, but these potatoes sound awesome. I can't wait to try them.
Ana De- Jesus says
I love every kind of potato possible and this sounds heavenly. I would add some fried Quorn chicken as a side dish and some olive oil salad.
Eileen says
I am an Irish gal! Your recipe is yummy! My nanna would love it!
Donna1 says
Haha I am glad your nanna would approve 🙂
Blair says
My kids aren't typically potato fans either (unless they're fried!!!), so maybe I should give this a try for them! It sounds delicious, and I'm sure my Irish-blooded husband would approve!
Donna1 says
Oh yeah, my kids will eat them if they are in the shape of french fries 🙂 But with these, they just guzzled them - no idea! I was skeptical given the green bits in there, but apparently they didn't even notice!