Crispy colcannon cakes – made from mashed potatoes, cabbage and cheddar cheese – will be your new favorite side dish! They’re perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
As much as I love to experiment with new recipes, I’m super traditional when it comes to holiday meals. This year I thought I’d try to break out of my corned beef and cabbage in the crockpot rut and try some new recipes for St. Patrick’s Day – starting with these cheesy colcannon cakes and some Reuben soup.
Colcannon is a traditional Irish recipe made from potatoes that are mashed with cabbage or kale. It’s one of those recipes that’s way more delicious than you would ever expect it to be – the cabbage is subtle but adds a great texture that really makes the potatoes special. I decided to take some colcannon to the next level by using it to make potato pancakes. I also added some GO Veggie! lactose-free cheddar shreds, since I’ve never met a potato dish that isn’t better with a little cheese.
These cheesy colcannon cakes were an instant hit! They’re crispy and salty on the outside, with creamy, cheesy mashed potatoes in the middle. If you’re planning to celebrate the holiday with a beer or two, these potato cakes are the perfect accompaniment.
There are a few things to keep in mind when making these colcannon cakes. You can use whatever nondairy milk you’d like. You only need a splash to make the potatoes creamy, so the flavor doesn’t really come through. I used almond milk since that’s what I have in my fridge at the moment, but soy milk or even unsweetened coconut milk would be fine. If you don’t need them to be lactose-free, you can also use skim. (The Go Veggie! cheddar that I used is lactose-free, but I also love that it has fewer calories and half the fat of regular cheese, which makes me feel less guilty about frying them.)
Be sure to chill the potatoes for at least 15 minutes before forming the patties. It will help them firm up a little, making them easier to shape. They’ll also hold up better while they’re cooking. 15 minutes is just the minimum though – you can make them a full day ahead if you want to!
These colcannon cakes are best served hot, but you do to let them cool for a few minutes when you pull them from the pan. In order to keep the nice a crisp, cool them on a rack set on a rimmed baking sheet. This will allow any excess oil to drain away and will let air circulate around the cakes so the bottoms don’t steam and get soggy.
Cheesy Colcannon Cakes
Ingredients
- 4 large Russet potatoes, peeled and diced (about 4 cups)
- 1/2 small green cabbage, shredded (about 2 cups)
- 4 green onions, white and green parts chopped
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 cup GO Veggie! lactose-free cheddar shreds
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 3/4 cup flour
- 1 egg, beaten
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Add the potatoes to a large pot and cover with cold water. Stir in a generous pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook 15-20 minutes, or until soft. Drain and return the potatoes to the pot.
- Use a potato masher to mash the potatoes. Add the cabbage, green onion, and almond milk; stir with a sturdy wooden spoon until smooth. Stir in the cheese; season with salt and pepper.
- Chill the mashed potatoes for at least 15 minutes. Stir in the flour and egg.
- Use a medium cookie scoop (2 tablespoons) to divide the potato mixture. Form into patties about 1/2 inch thick.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a nonstick skillet. Add several potato cakes, working in batches if needed, and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden and crisp
- Blot off excess oil with a towel and transfer to a cooling rack set over a cookie sheet. Serve hot.
I created this recipe for my client, GO Veggie! Thank you for supporting the brands that keep me inspired in the kitchen.
Rebecca says
I am vegan so I can’t use egg. Any suggestions for a binder.
Lauren Keating says
I’d try chia or flax “egg.” If you try it, let me know how they turn out!
Marsha Gainey says
This was sick delish! I made it twice to use up cabbage left from another recipe. Once I didn’t have green onions so I subbed two teaspoons of onion powder. Both times, I used sharp cheddar made from cow’s milk as well as lowfat cow’s milk instead of the types in the recipe. It takes a bit of prep time because of factoring in the chilling time, and I chilled mine overnight. These cakes were good at every meal and were quite addictive. I ate about three each time while cooking them up. A definite keeper!
Naomi Teeter says
Looks so delicious! My mouth is watering a little bit. I will certainly need to make a version of these for myself (gluten-free & real cheese).
Liz @ The Lemon Bowl says
Oh my gosh I love this spin on the classic!!! YUM!
Nicole says
So delicious. I could just eat a platter full of these!
Alida says
What fun little potato pancakes! So creative and perfect for St Pat’s Day!
fabiola@notjustbaked says
I’ve never made colcannon cakes. Add cheese and I am so making these tomorrow, thanks for the inspiration!
kellie @ The Suburban Soapbox says
I’ve never had colcannon but really…the combination sells itself. These will be happening this week for sure!
Nutmeg Nanny says
I have never had colcannon but every year I tell myself I will make it around St. Patrick’s Day. It sounds awesome and who doesn’t love potatoes, cabbage and cheese?
Heather | girlichef says
As far as I’m concerned, you can’t go wrong with anything that includes potatoes, “cheese”, and fried all in the same dish. These sound fantastic, I’m glad you tried something besides your norm!