Crispy potato cakes made from leftover mashed potatoes, cabbage and cheddar cheese will be your new favorite side dish! They’re inspired by the classic Irish recipe colcannon, so they’re perfect for St. Patrick’s Day.
Colcannon Potato Cakes
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-inspired mashed potato cakes and some Reuben soup.
What is colcannon?
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 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.
What you’ll need:
To make these leftover potato cakes, you’ll need:
Leftover mashed potatoes. Use homemade potatoes or buy a tub of premade potatoes at the store.
Shredded green cabbage. Shred your own, grab a bag of coleslaw mix, or even use Brussels sprouts!
Green Onions. For extra flavor!
Milk or non-dairy milk of your choice. You’ll need just enough to loosen up the mashed potatoes.
Shredded cheddar cheese.
Flour.
Egg.
Neutral oil for frying.
Tips for making leftover mashed potato cakes
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.
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 need 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 wire 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.
More side dish recipes to love:
- Cheesy Baked Scalloped Potatoes
- Horseradish Mashed Potatoes With Crispy Shallots
- Honey Chipotle Roast Acorn Squash
- Grilled Zucchini
- Easy Grilled Carrots With Basil Vinaigrette
- Roasted Beet And Citrus Salad With Cilantro-Lime Dressing
- Spicy Broccoli Sauté
- Fresh Green Bean Casserole
- Strawberry Cucumber Salad With Feta And Mint
Ingredients
- 4 cups mashed potatoes
- ½ small green cabbage shredded (about 2 cups)
- 4 green onions white and green parts chopped
- ½ cup almond milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- ¾ cup flour
- 1 large egg beaten
- oil for frying
Instructions
- Add the potatoes, cabbage, green onions, and milk to a large mixing bowl. Stir until smooth. Fold in the cheese and 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 ½-inch thick.
- Heat a thin layer of oil in a nonstick skillet. Add several potato cakes in a single layer, 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.
If you make the recipe using CABBAGE and spuds, then it’s called CHAMP in Ireland. (And as an aside: when making Champ, you can use either cabbage or spring onion with spuds.)
If you make the recipe using KALE and spuds, only then is it called COLCANNON in Ireland.