For 10X More Flavorful Cabbage, Give It An Irish-Style Twist With Mashed Potatoes

Cabbage is one of the tastier, heartier, and more nutrient-dense greens. Unfortunately, it can feel all too easy to slip into a cabbage rut — it's a great dinnertime staple, but there are only so many times you can serve up these boiled or roasted greens. Fortunately, there's a whole delicious dish to discover that will breathe fresh, rich, creamy life into your cabbage: colcannon.

Colcannon is a classic Irish dish popular for St. Patrick's Day but mouthwatering and satisfying all year round. For a simple colcannon recipe, all you need to do is mix cabbage and mashed potatoes. It's as easy as mashing your potatoes as you normally would, sautéing your cabbage, and then combining it all. You get the starchy, creamy richness of the potatoes, plus the fresh, herbaceous, earthy bite of the cabbage leaves. It's a feast of flavor and texture that's both comforting and filling — and it couldn't be easier to put together.

Cabbage and potatoes have long been staples of the Irish diet, so it's no wonder that colcannon became such a common recipe. The dish was so widely loved that there were songs written about it, and it was considered a Halloween staple for a while. Colcannon would be prepared with items like coins, rags, or sticks inside. Whatever someone found when spooning in revealed a fortune-telling message. Coins, for example, were harbingers of wealth.

We may not use colcannon to gaze into our futures anymore, but a plan to make the dish is a promise that your future self will enjoy a cozy, tasty meal. It all starts with spuds, which you can make smooth or chunky, however you prefer — you can even use one of your favorite store-bought mashed potato brands for added speed and convenience. When you sauté the cabbage, use butter, salt, and pepper for richness and spice. Right there, you've got a delicious combo, though colcannon is often upgraded and riffed on.

It starts with the greens. To your cabbage, you can add cooked kale and/or Swiss chard. To the colcannon mixture, stir in leeks, onions, or garlic, as well as bacon — if you do add bacon, up the decadence for this dish by sautéing the cabbage with some reserved bacon drippings. All these options are still pretty traditional for this Irish favorite, but feel free to get creative.

You can turn this side into an entrée or use it to make the best of leftover vegetables. Add broccoli, spinach, shredded Brussels sprouts, or even bok choy or collard greens. If you prefer to skip meat, try mushrooms instead or, alternatively, toss in chopped sausage pieces. When serving, garnish with chives or parsley, and take another traditional Irish colcannon cue by making a little well in the center of the potatoes and pouring melted butter.