Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (2024)

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Irish Colcannon Soup is a hearty version of a classic Irish recipe. Made with potatoes, cabbage, onions, cream and butter, this piping hot soup will keep your insides warm and your spirits high this Winter.

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (1)

This soup is a manifestation of my Ireland withdrawals. Symptoms include buying a 50 lb bag of potatoes, cooking Irish food, listening to Irish music as well as the RTE Ireland podcast. There is only one cure that I know of. I must go back. I may have left Ireland, but Ireland did not leave me.

The memories of the bucolic farms dotted with sheep will always be in my heart. The little villages where the ranchers live are like quaint pockets of Irish beauty. When you visit Ireland, the beauty and history will settle in your bones so that when you close your eyes at night, you will be transported back to that special place.

We should all go to Ireland. It’s really easy, especially if you already have a passport. If you don’t have one yet, shame on ye. For tips on how to travel to and around Ireland, check out my article on Planning a Trip to Ireland and start planning. A journey of a thousand miles… begins now.

Find out more about what you will find in an Irish Pantry.

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (2)

why i love this soup

It’s the potatoes. I’m a raving fan. There is not a potato dish that I don’t like. Buying a 50 lb bag of potatoes when it’s just me and my husband was not daunting.

This simple soup is easy to make and allows the ingredients to really shine through. There aren’t any heavy spices or overpowering ingredients that cover up the simple beauty of potatoes, onions, cabbage and butter.

This lovely soup only requires the most basic of cooking skills. Chop veggies and stir a pot. I used an immersion blender at the end, the most technical skill that is needed.

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (3)

Winters here in Utah are long and sometimes harsh. There is definitely a lot of snow and cloudy skies. Savory soups simmering away on the stove is always a welcome sight for me. The coziness of a steamy bowl of hearty soup is somehow very comforting here. I am definitely on team soup six months out of the year.

When our lovely daughter visits from Texas, we usually go skiing. The adventures on the slopes followed by a hearty bowl of soup is something that we treasure. Of course there’s hot chocolate too. I have many fond memories of skiing and soup with this kid. What are some of your favorite soup memories?

What is the Difference Between Colcannon & Champ?

Colcannon uses cabbage instead of scallions. Champ uses scallions. It you love mashed potatoes, you are going to love both Colcannon and Champ. They are the next level mashed potatoes.

What Do You Eat With Colcannon?

Savory sausage known as bangers are traditionally served with colcannon. Another great entree to eat with Colcannon is Beef and Guinness Pie, a rich and meaty savory pie that goes great with a side of potatoes.

Step-by-Step

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (4)
  1. Add butter and onions to soup pot. Cook over medium heat until soft.
  2. Add cabbage and cook until wilted.
  3. Add potatoes, broth and black pepper. Simmer for 20 minutes.
  4. Process with immersion blender. Add milk. Bring to a simmer and serve with crusty bread.

What people are saying about this recipe

“We all loved this. I did sauté the cabbage in butter and I would add even more cabbage next time. Delicious!

-Shelly

“I used about 1/2 a head of cabbage and added garlic to the potatoes. So tasty!!!

-Jenna

“That’s how my Irish grandma feed me. Everything in one bowl. Miss you grandma ☘

-Diane

“This is so yummy! I love this with ham, pork chops, for breaky too.”

-Carla

Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to rate the recipe and comment below! Take a picture and tag us @FusionCraftiness #FusionCraftiness on Instagram for a chance to be featured in our Insta Stories:)

If you are making your own broth, you will need to check out this post on How to Make Broth. It also gives you clues as to when homemade broth is a must or if you can get away with store bought broth.

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (5)

Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe

Yield: 6 Bowls

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes

Irish Colcannon Soup is a hearty version of a classic Irish recipe. Made with potatoes, cabbage, onions, cream and butter, this piping hot soup will keep your insides warm and your spirits high this Winter.

Ingredients

  • 3 Tbs salted butter
  • 1 large onion, peeled & diced (2 cups)
  • 1/2 lb chopped cabbage
  • 4 medium starchy potatoes (1 1/2 lb) peeled & chopped
  • 5 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk or half & half
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • salt to taste

Instructions

  1. In large pot add butter and onions. Cook over medium heat until soft. Add cabbage and cook until cabbage wilts.
  2. Add potatoes, broth & black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes.
  3. With an immersion blender, process soup until thick but slightly chunky. You may use a food processor instead. If you have a small food processor, you may need to do this in batches.
  4. Add milk to pot, bring to simmer and serve with Irish Soda Bread.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 121Total Fat: 8gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 22mgSodium: 729mgCarbohydrates: 9gFiber: 1gSugar: 6gProtein: 3g

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Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (8)
Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (9)
Irish Colcannon Soup Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Irish colcannon made of? ›

Colcannon is an Irish dish that's made of mashed potatoes, shredded cabbage or kale, green onions and tons of butter and whole milk. Sometimes crumbled bacon is added for an extra-succulent, salty flavor.

What is the Irish word for colcannon? ›

Colcannon (Irish: cál ceannann, meaning 'white-headed cabbage') is a traditional Irish dish of mashed potatoes with cabbage.

What does colcannon taste like? ›

Colcannon is full of flavor. If you like mashed potatoes, you'll most likely love this dish. The mashed potatoes get tons of flavor from the green onions and a nice texture from the chopped kale. We all love butter and milk in our potatoes, so that is also in this colcannon recipe with salt and pepper to taste!

What's the difference between Colcannon and Champ? ›

What is the difference between Colcannon and Champ? Both Irish dishes, Champ is mashed potatoes with chopped spring onions (scallions) and milk. Colcannon is Champ with the addition of cabbage and sometimes some herbs.

What did the Irish eat instead of potatoes? ›

Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.

What is a potato called in Irish? ›

práta » Potato. áirí » Ground manured in previous year; ground from which potatoes have been cropped.

Is colcannon the same as bubble and squeak? ›

He comments that although the basic ingredients of bubble and squeak and colcannon are similar, the two are very different dishes, the former being traditionally made from left-overs and fried to give a brown crust, and the latter "a completely separate dish of potato, spring onion and cabbage, served almost as creamed ...

What is hamburger in Irish? ›

nounburgar masc1 c m uburgar mairteola c m u.

Why is Colcannon important in Ireland? ›

Colcannon is a hearty dish that has been eaten on Halloween night for years. Traditionally, a ring was hidden in the dish, and whoever was to find it would be likely to marry in the upcoming year! Colcannon was even paired with a little poem: Did you ever eat Colcannon, made from lovely pickled cream?

How do you say mashed potatoes in Irish? ›

English–Irish Dictionary (de Bhaldraithe): Potato-mash. Potato-mash, brúitín m (prátaí). Mashed potatoes, brúitín m. Mashed potatoes, brúitín m, prátaí brúite.

How do you say bacon and cabbage in Irish? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with England and Ireland. The dish consists of sliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes.

Is colcannon Irish or Scottish? ›

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish made with cabbage or kale and potatoes. The name comes from the Gaelic phrase “cal ceannan,” which means “white-headed cabbage”.

What is Ireland's famous dish? ›

To many across the country, Irish stew is the national dish of Ireland. The methods and flavour of an Irish stew vary from person to person and have evolved over the years. Previously, it all depended on which ingredients were cheaper and more common at that time.

Do Irish people like mashed potatoes? ›

The classic white potato originates from the South Americas and made its way to Ireland via Europe! Nevertheless, we love them in all shapes, sizes and forms. Boiled, roasted, mashed, turned into Champ with milk, butter and spring onions, or fried into Boxty.

Is Colcannon the same as Bubble and Squeak? ›

He comments that although the basic ingredients of bubble and squeak and colcannon are similar, the two are very different dishes, the former being traditionally made from left-overs and fried to give a brown crust, and the latter "a completely separate dish of potato, spring onion and cabbage, served almost as creamed ...

What do the Irish eat instead of corned beef? ›

According to Regina Sexton, food and culinary historian and programme manager, Postgraduate Diploma in Irish Food Culture, University College Cork, corned beef and cabbage is not a dish much known in Ireland. What the Irish actually eat is bacon and cabbage. "A traditional dinner is bacon, potatoes, and cabbage.

What is the Irish word for mashed potatoes? ›

English–Irish Dictionary (de Bhaldraithe): Potato-mash. Potato-mash, brúitín m (prátaí). Mashed potatoes, brúitín m. Mashed potatoes, brúitín m, prátaí brúite.

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