IRISH COLCANNON
An Irish dish, Colcannon is from the Gaelic cal ceannann’ which means white-headed cabbage.
This is an autumn school food service recipe for Cabbage and Potatoes.
Cooking and prep level: Complex.
Adapted from FareStart, WSDA Washington Grown Food Kit
- Prep Time1 hr 30 min
- Cook Time1 hr 30 min
- Total Time3 hr
- Yield100
- Serving Size1/2 cup
- Energy83 cal
Ingredients
- 6 lbs 11 oz Green cabbage, chopped
- 13 lbs 6 oz Potatoes, Yukon Gold, fresh, well scrubbed
- 3 lbs 5 oz Onion, yellow, fresh, finely chopped
- 1 lbs 10 oz Leek, fresh, green parts chopped
- 3½ cups Milk, 2% white
- 7 oz Margarine or Butter
- 1 Tbsp Black Pepper, ground
- 1 Tbsp Salt, kosher
- As needed, Olive or Canola Oil pan spray
Method
Boil (or steam) potatoes until just fork tender approximately 30-45 minutes.
Cool, and mash in a floor mixer until broken up.
Add butter or margarine, mixing to incorporate.
Slowly add milk and mash until creamy.
Heat a large skillet or tilt skillet, spray with pan spray. Saute cabbage until halfway cooked, approximately 10 minutes. Do not let dry out.
Add onions and cook for 3 minutes.
Add leeks and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Fold vegetable mixture, salt, and pepper into mashed potatoes to incorporate.
Taste for seasonings. Adjust, if needed.
CCP: Hold at a minimum temp of 140°F.
At one time Irish Colcannon was a cheap, year-round staple food, though nowadays it is usually eaten in autumn/winter when cabbage comes into season.
An Irish Halloween tradition is to serve colcannon with a ring and a thimble hidden in the dish. Prizes of small coins such as threepenny or sixpenny bits were also concealed inside the dish. Creating an October celebration near Halloween sharing Irish holiday traditions is a great way to draw attention to your program!
The song “Colcannon”, also called “The Skillet Pot”, is a traditional Irish song that has been recorded by numerous artists:
Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?
With the greens and scallions mingled like a picture in a dream.
Did you ever make a hole on top to hold the melting flake
Of the creamy, flavored butter that your mother used to make?
The chorus:
Yes you did, so you did, so did he and so did I.
And the more I think about it sure the nearer I’m to cry.
Oh, wasn’t it the happy days when troubles we had not,
And our mothers made Colcannon in the little skillet pot.
Nutrition Facts
- 100 servings per container
- Serving Size1/2 cup
- Amount per serving
- Calories83
- % Daily Value*
- Total Fat2 g2.56%
- Saturated Fat1 g5%
- Trans Fat0 g
- Cholesterol1 mg0.33%
- Sodium87 mg3.78%
- Total Carbohydrate15 g5.45%
- Dietary Fiber3 g10.71%
- Protein3 g6%