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5.0 from 3 votes

Colcannon

Colcannon is an Irish tradition made of creamy mashed potatoes and colorful greens. This delicious dish is perfect for St. Patrick's day or a new Halloween tradition!

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 391 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: Irish

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ lb Russet potatoes peeled and cubed
  • 2 large garlic cloves peeled and sliced thinly
  • 4 oz green kale leaves of kale removed from the stem and chopped
  • 5 pieces uncooked bacon
  • 6 tbsp unsalted butter cubed
  • ¼ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 4 talks scallions chopped (both white and green parts)
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp olive oil optional
  • ½ tsp sea salt optional

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. In a large pot, add the 2.5 lb cubed potatoes. Fill the pot with enough water to cover the potatoes. Salt the water, then place a lid on the pot. Turn the heat to high, bringing the water to a boil.
  2. Boil the potatoes for 20-25 minutes until fork tender.
  3. While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the kale and bacon.
  4. [Optional but Recommended Step] To soften your kale, do the following: Place the 4 oz kale in a large colander and rinse it until it is clean. Drizzle the 1 tbsp of olive oil and the ½ tsp of sea salt onto the kale. Use your hands to massage and squeeze the kale for about 2-3 minutes until you can feel it soften.
  5. Use a knife to mince the kale, chopping it into tiny pieces.
  6. In a skillet, cook 5 oz bacon until it is crispy. Remove the bacon from the heat to a paper-towel lined plate. Keep the remaining grease in the pan.
  7. Turn the heat to low. Once the bacon grease has cooled a bit, add 2 sliced garlic cloves into the pan and saute for about 30-60 seconds, until fragrant.
  8. Then, add the minced kale into the bacon grease with the garlic. Saute for 3-4 minutes until the kale has turned a bright green color and has cooked down a bit. Remove from the heat and set aside.
  9. Chop the now-cooled bacon into small bacon bits.
  10. Once the potatoes are cooked, drain the excess water off of them. Return the potatoes to their warm pot, and add the 6 tbsp butter and ¼ cup heavy whipping cream in with the potatoes.
  11. Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes until smooth. Next, add the bacon, kale, and 4 stalks chopped scallions into the pot. Stir to combine. Then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  12. Serve and enjoy!

Notes

  • Recipe Copyright The Foreign Fork. For educational or personal use only.
  • Potatoes: Russet potatoes have just the right amount of starch and water to produce a nice, fluffy mash, but you could also use yukon gold potatoes or red potatoes.
  • Kale: Remove the stems and take a little extra time to massage your kale before cooking it. If you want to make a more traditional version of this recipe you could use green cabbage instead of kale. You could also substitute Swiss chard, leeks or green onions.
  • Bacon: Bacon is not always included in colcannon, but some more modern recipes include it. I love it and encourage it!
  • Heavy Whipping Cream: Whipping cream is also optional but if you decide to skip it it’s a good idea to substitute butter or whole milk for the best flavor. The cream does make for a fluffier mash.
  • Some recipes do not include bacon or cream. You can omit these if you’d like.
  • If you cannot find kale, green cabbage or Swiss chard would work as a substitute.
  • This dish is great when served alongside sausage, lamb or beef.
  • Make sure to cool the bacon grease before adding the garlic. If not, the garlic will burn and crisp instead of becoming fragrant.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1serving Calories 391kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 36g (12%) Protein 8g (16%) Fat 25g (38%) Saturated Fat 12g (60%) Polyunsaturated Fat 2g Monounsaturated Fat 9g Trans Fat 1g Cholesterol 53mg (18%) Sodium 340mg (14%) Potassium 929mg (27%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 2g (4%) Vitamin A 2472IU (49%) Vitamin C 30mg (33%) Calcium 91mg (9%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 6Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 391

% Daily Value*

Serving 1serving
Calories 391kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Protein 8g 16%
Fat 25g 38%
Saturated Fat 12g 60%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g 12%
Monounsaturated Fat 9g 45%
Trans Fat 1g 50%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 340mg 14%
Potassium 929mg 20%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 2g 4%
Vitamin A 2472IU 49%
Vitamin C 30mg 33%
Calcium 91mg 9%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.