Colcannon Potato Cakes Catherine Fulvio Food

COLCANNON CAKES

Steps:

• Make the colcannon: Make the colcannon first (see our colcannon recipe .) 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 greens, cook for 3-4 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.
• Mix with egg, flour, salt, and chill: 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 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.

COLCANNON

Steps:

• Steam the potatoes in their skins for 30 minutes. Peel them using a knife and fork. Chop with a knife before mashing. Mash thoroughly to remove all the lumps. Add 1 stick of butter in pieces. Gradually add hot milk, stirring all the time. Season with a few grinds of black pepper.
• Boil the cabbage in unsalted water until it turns a darker color. Add 2 tablespoons butter to tenderize it. Cover with lid for 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly before returning it to the pan. Chop into small pieces.
• Put the ham in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to the boil and simmer for 45 minutes until tender. Drain. Remove any fat and chop into small pieces.
• Add cabbage, scallions, and ham to mashed potatoes, stirring them in gently.
• Serve in individual soup plates. Make an indentation on the top by swirling a wooden spoon. Put 1 tablespoon of butter into each indentation. Sprinkle with parsley.

COLCANNON

Steps:

• Tip the potatoes into a large saucepan of water. Bring to the boil, then simmer for 15-20 mins, or until the flesh is tender when pierced.
• Meanwhile, heat quarter of the butter in a saucepan, then fry the bacon and half the cabbage for 5 mins (see Kevin's tip, below, for how to use remaining cabbage). Turn off the heat and set aside. Drain potatoes in a colander and peel while still hot.
• Mash potato until smooth. Heat cream with remaining butter and, when almost boiling, beat into the potato. Add bacon and cabbage to potato and mix. Season if you want.

BRAISED BACON WITH COLCANNON CAKES

Steps:

• Put the bacon joint in a flameproof casserole dish or heavy-based saucepan and cover with water. Pop on a lid, bring to the boil, then simmer gently for 45 mins until cooked. Meanwhile, boil the potatoes in a pan of salted water for 20 mins. five mins before the end of cooking, add the cabbage. Drain well, return to the pan for 1-2 mins to dry out, then mash together.
• Add 1 tbsp of the oil to a frying pan with the onion and cook over a medium heat for 5 mins. add this to the potatoes and cabbage, and mix together with a little seasoning. Set aside. Meanwhile, drain the bacon and leave to rest for 10 mins.
• Put the flour on a plate. Shape the potato and cabbage mixture into 8 cakes, then roll them lightly in the flour, tapping off any excess. Add 1 tbsp oil to the frying pan and fry the cakes in 2 batches for 3-4 mins on each side until golden.
• Cover the potato cakes with foil and set aside. Wipe the frying pan with kitchen paper, then add the remaining oil. Crack in the eggs and cook until the white is set and the yolk is still runny.
• Slice the bacon and serve with the potato cakes, eggs and ketchup.