Hearty Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes Recipe for Cozy Nights

Hearty colcannon mashed potatoes bring Irish comfort straight to your dinner table with a creamy, rustic charm.

Generations of home cooks have perfected this humble side dish in kitchens across Ireland.

Smooth potatoes blend seamlessly with tender cabbage and green onions, creating a rich and satisfying experience.

Butter melts into every crevice, infusing deep flavor throughout the classic recipe.

Unexpected touches like crispy bacon bits add a delightful crunch to each smooth bite.

Seasonal ingredients make this dish incredibly versatile for any meal or gathering.

When you serve this traditional favorite, you’ll connect with a warm culinary heritage that feels like a delicious embrace.

Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes Highlights

• Savor Comforting Irish Tradition: Colcannon brings the heartwarming flavors of traditional Irish cuisine right to your dinner table, connecting you with rich culinary heritage.
• Master Simple Cooking Techniques: This recipe teaches basic kitchen skills like boiling, sautéing, and mashing, making it perfect for beginner cooks wanting to build confidence.
• Create Crowd-Pleasing Side Dish: The creamy texture and delicious combination of potatoes, cabbage, and green onions guarantee a side that will impress family and friends at any gathering.
• Customize with Ease: Adapt the recipe by adding bacon, cheese, or herbs to match your personal taste preferences and make this classic dish uniquely yours.

Ingredients for Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

• Russet Potatoes: Starchy potatoes that create a fluffy and creamy texture for the classic Irish side dish.
• Cabbage: Provides a mild, slightly sweet flavor and tender texture to the mashed potatoes.
• Green Onions: Adds a fresh, mild onion flavor and bright color to the dish.

• Butter: Contributes rich flavor and smooth, creamy consistency to the mashed potatoes.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create an ultra-smooth and luxurious texture in the potato mixture.

• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that enhance the overall flavor of the colcannon mashed potatoes.

Step-by-Step Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

Step 1: Prepare Potatoes

Grab your Russet potatoes and slice them into quarters. Give them a quick rinse under cold water to remove any dirt or excess starch.

Step 2: Boil Potatoes

Fill a large pot with water and add a generous pinch of salt. Drop in the potato quarters and let them bubble away for 15-20 minutes.

They’re ready when a fork slides in smoothly.

Step 3: Sauté Vegetable Mix

While potatoes are cooking, heat up a skillet over medium flame.

• Shredded cabbage
• Chopped green onions

Cook these veggies until they’re soft and slightly golden, which takes about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4: Mash Potatoes

Once potatoes are cooked, drain them and return to the hot pot. Grab a masher and work those potatoes until they’re silky smooth and free of lumps.

Step 5: Create Creamy Texture

Stir in heavy cream and additional butter. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.

Mix until the potatoes become luxuriously creamy.

Step 6: Combine and Serve

Gently fold the sautéed cabbage and onions into the mashed potatoes.

Serve immediately while everything is warm and inviting.

Tips for Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

• Remove excess starch by washing potatoes under cold water, ensuring a smoother, fluffier texture in your final dish.
• Russet potatoes work best for creamy, light mashed potatoes due to their high starch content and fluffy texture.
• Drain potatoes completely and return to hot pot to prevent watery mashed potatoes and maintain optimal creaminess.
• Heat heavy cream before adding to potatoes to prevent cooling down the dish and create a more consistent, velvety texture.
• Replace butter with olive oil or plant-based butter to make this recipe suitable for vegetarian diets without compromising rich flavor.

Variations for Creamy Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

• Vegan Colcannon Delight: Replace heavy cream with coconut milk and use plant-based butter for a dairy-free version that maintains creamy texture.
• Roasted Veggie Colcannon: Swap cabbage with roasted Brussels sprouts or kale for a caramelized flavor and added nutrients.
• Herb-Infused Potato Mash: Add fresh chopped parsley, chives, or dill to enhance the herbal notes and bring brightness to the classic recipe.
• Cheesy Potato Variation: Mix in grated cheddar or Parmesan cheese for a rich, tangy dimension that complements the creamy potatoes.

Pairings That Go with Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

• Rich, dark Guinness complements the creamy potatoes with its roasted malt flavors, creating a classic Irish culinary experience that celebrates traditional comfort food.
• Tender roasted chicken with rosemary and thyme provides a perfect protein partner, balancing the potato's richness while adding a complementary herbal note to the dish.
• Tangy, fresh apple slaw cuts through the colcannon's creaminess, offering a bright, crunchy contrast that refreshes the palate and adds a light, zesty dimension to the hearty potato dish.

How to Store Colcannon Mashed Potatoes

• Transfer leftover colcannon to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Cover tightly to prevent moisture loss and absorption of other food odors.
• Seal colcannon in freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, removing as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 2 months. Label with the date to track freshness.
• Place cold colcannon in a microwave-safe dish. Add a splash of milk or cream to restore moisture. Cover and heat on medium power in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval until heated through.

FAQs

• What are colcannon mashed potatoes?

A traditional Irish potato dish that combines creamy mashed potatoes with sauteed cabbage and green onions, creating a rich and flavorful side dish with a comforting texture.

• Can I use a different type of potato?

Russet potatoes work best because they’re starchy and create a fluffy texture, but you can also use Yukon Gold potatoes for a slightly creamier result.

• Is this dish healthy?

While delicious, colcannon is a rich side dish with butter and cream. It’s best enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, offering some nutrients from the vegetables and potatoes.

• Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Yes, simply use plant-based butter and a non-dairy cream alternative like cashew cream or oat milk to keep the creamy consistency while making it vegetarian-friendly.

Colcannon Mashed Potatoes Recipe

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4.5 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Irish comfort food reaches new heights with classic colcannon mashed potatoes, blending creamy potatoes and tender cabbage into a hearty side dish. Potato lovers savor this traditional Irish recipe that brings warmth and rustic charm to any meal you’ll want to devour.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 2 pounds (907 grams) russet potatoes, peeled and quartered
• 1 cup fresh green cabbage, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup green onions, sliced

Dairy Components:

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (plus more for serving)
• 1/2 cup heavy cream

Seasoning:

• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste
• Fresh chives (optional, for garnish)

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Instructions

1. Meticulously peel Russet potatoes and slice into uniform quarters, then thoroughly rinse under cold running water to remove excess starch.
2. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil, carefully submerge potato quarters and cook for 15-20 minutes until potatoes easily yield to a fork’s gentle pressure.
3. Meanwhile, select a skillet and place over medium heat, allowing butter to melt and shimmer before introducing finely chopped cabbage and green onions, sautéing until vegetables become tender and slightly translucent, approximately 5-7 minutes.
4. Once potatoes reach optimal tenderness, drain completely and return to the hot cooking pot, using a potato masher to transform into a smooth, velvety texture.
5. Introduce heavy cream and additional butter into the mashed potatoes, stirring vigorously until achieving a luxurious, creamy consistency, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance flavor profile.
6. Delicately incorporate the sautéed cabbage and green onion mixture into the creamy potato base, gently folding to distribute vegetables evenly without compromising the potatoes’ delicate texture.
7. Transfer to a serving dish and present immediately while piping hot, allowing diners to appreciate the rich, comforting essence of this traditional Irish side dish.

Notes

• Potato Selection Matters: Choose starchy Russet potatoes for the fluffiest, most velvety texture that absorbs cream and butter beautifully.
• Salting Water Technique: Add plenty of salt to the boiling water to season potatoes deeply from the inside out, enhancing overall flavor.
• Vegetarian Adaptation: Swap butter with olive oil or plant-based butter to create a dairy-free version without compromising rich, creamy consistency.
• Temperature Control: Keep potatoes hot when mashing to prevent lumps and ensure smooth, silky results that blend seamlessly with sautéed vegetables.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
• Method: Boiling
• Cuisine: Irish

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 236 kcal
• Sugar: 2 g
• Sodium: 115 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0.1 g
• Carbohydrates: 29 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 35 mg