Creamy Traditional Irish Colcannon Recipe Easy Homemade Comfort Food
A cozy, creamy traditional Irish colcannon recipe featuring buttery mashed potatoes blended with sautéed cabbage and scallions. Perfect for comforting family dinners and St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Irish
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
- 4 cups green cabbage, finely shredded
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced (green and white parts)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided, softened
- ½ cup whole milk or heavy cream
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Optional: A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Instructions
- Place the peeled and quartered potatoes in a large pot of cold, salted water. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 15-20 minutes.
- Drain the potatoes well in a colander. Return them to the pot or a warm bowl. Using a potato masher or ricer, mash until smooth with 4 tablespoons of softened butter and the milk or cream. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add more milk if mash feels dry.
- While potatoes cook, heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the shredded cabbage and sliced scallions. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5-7 minutes until the cabbage softens and just starts to caramelize. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Gently fold the sautéed cabbage and scallions into the mashed potatoes. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt, pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg if using.
- Spoon into a serving dish and serve warm, optionally adding a small pat of butter on top.
Notes
Start sautéing the cabbage just as your potatoes start boiling so everything finishes around the same time. Use room temperature butter and milk for easier mashing. Don’t overmix potatoes to avoid gluey texture. For a lighter version, swap some butter for olive oil and use low-fat milk. Reheat leftovers slowly with a splash of milk or cream to restore creaminess.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 4
Keywords: colcannon, Irish recipe, mashed potatoes, cabbage, scallions, comfort food, traditional Irish, creamy colcannon