Side Dish Recipes

Colcannon

Colcannon is a very traditional Irish recipe and a particular St Patrick’s Day favourite. As you can see from this Colcannon recipe, it is quick, easy and simple to make and tastes fantastic with a pie.

Did you know that Colcannon was traditionally used for predicting marriage on Halloween. Charms were hidden in the Colcannon and any unmarried girl who found one would place socks with spoonfuls of Colcannon and the charms on their front door handle. The first man to enter the house was the man that they would marry!

Ingredients:
  • 1lb 6oz/675g floury potatoes, peeled and quartered
  • 4oz/100g curly kale, chopped (use cabbage if kale not available))
  • 1/2 cup spring onions, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup spring onions, finely chopped
  • 115g 4 oz butter
  • salt and pepper
Directions:
  1. Simmer the potatoes in lightly salted water until cooked – when pierced with a sharp knife the potato is soft in the middle.
  2. Blanch the curly kale or cabbage in boiling water for one minute. Drain and reserve.
  3. Chop half of the spring onions roughly and the other half finely. Add the roughly chopped spring onions to the drained kale and pulse in a blender for 10 seconds.
  4. Drain the potatoes and add the butter. When the butter has melted, mash the potatoes until smooth and creamy. Add the kale mixture and mix.
  5. Finally, add the finely chopped spring onions and season to taste and serve up with a tasty Lamb, Fennel & Rosemary Pie.

Minted Mushy Peas

This is a fantastic recipe that is so quick and so simple and uses our reliable friends the frozen peas, which work really well here

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 bunch spring onions, chopped
  • 1 handful fresh mint, leaves picked
  • 1 pound (500 grams) frozen peas
  • 2 large knobs butter
  • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

  1. Heat the oil in a pan and add the chopped onions, mint, and peas.
  2. Cover and leave for a few minutes to steam.
  3. Mash with a potato masher. You can do this with a food processor as well, just pulse it until smooth.
  4. Whether mashing or pulsing, when it’s done add the butter and season very carefully, to taste and serve up with a yummy Mini Cottage Pie