If you follow this site, you know that I seem to make a variation of Colcannon (Irish mashed potatoes) most St. Patrick’s Day — varying the potatoes (sometimes sweet potatoes) and the greens (cabbage, kale, even spinach), but this year, I stuck with transitional russett potatoes and cabbage, but make “cakes”, sort of like potato pancakes. Fried up, they are a great side dish to Irish-style sausages, or even for breakfast with bacon and eggs. Very filling!
Ingredients
for the Colcannon:
2 1/2 pounds russet potatoes, peeled and cut into large chunks
Salt
5 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 lightly packed cups chopped cabbage
1/2 cup green onion greens, chopped
1 cup milk or cream
for the Colcannon cakes:
About 3 cups colcannon
1 cup flour
1 egg
2 to 3 teaspoons salt
4 tablespoons butter or vegetable oil
Directions
Make the colcannon first, and this can be done a day ahead. Put potatoes in a pot, cover with cold, well salted water by an inch, bring to a boil, and cook until fork tender, about 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the potatoes and remove them from the pot. Melt the butter in the still warm pot, add the chopped cabbage, cook for 5-7 minutes until wilted, then add the green onions and cook for another minute. Add the potatoes, milk or cream to the pot, mash until everything is well mixed.
To make the cakes, mix the egg, flour and salt in with the colcannon. You may want to chill the mixture for 15 minutes or longer to make it easier to shape the patties. Form into little cakes of whatever size you want but make them flat so they will cook through without burning. If the mixture is too wet, add more flour until the mixture is easy to shape.
Heat the butter or vegetable oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Working in batches, place the formed patties in the pan so they are not touching. Lower the heat to medium and gently fry until golden, about 3-4 minutes. Turn and cook the other side. Let the cakes rest on a paper towel while you cook the others.
Serve as a side dish with Irish sausages and gravy, for breakfast with bacon and eggs or simply with slices of lemon.
