ChefsLine chef, Paulette Lovitz, is spending some time answering calls on the culinary hotline today and I asked her - “What are you having for the St. Patty’s Day holiday?” What she offers is a fantastic last minute dish idea to try, a Vegetarian Irish Colcannon. Justa quick trip to the store and you can comfortably pick up some prepared corned beef and rye bread, make this recipe, and be set. The portions and flavors are great - alone for lunch, to go along with a corned beef sandwich for dinner … as leftovers. The dish’s mix of potatos, cabbage, and kale takes the ‘boiled variety’ of typical home cooked meals and turns that tradition on it’s head! paulette.jpgThe short time your Colcannon spends baking is also your special time to celebrate an at home toast to St. Patrick’s Day. I asked Chef Paulette her reason for making this dish and sharing it with all of us and she writes:

I never have anything for ME on St. Patrick’s Day. I cook an entire meat meal for my family and I usually just have some cabbage. I’m vegetarian. A vegetarian Irish colcannon is a brilliant dish. And I am really looking forward to the holiday. I’m making a really neat meal and am going to throw in some brats from Morningstar Farms. Yum! and Erin go braugh!

Vegetarian Irish Colcannon Recipe

Chef Paulette Lovitz
Servings: 6-8
Ingredients
2 lbs yukon gold potatoes peeled and quartered
1 tbs butter
1/2 tbs butter
2 onions chopped
2 cloves garlic mashed
4 cups washed, shredded savoy cabbage or regular cabbage
2 1/2 cups water
3-4 cups green kale washed, stalks removed and shredded
salt and pepper to taste

Method
1 Boil the potatoes until tender.
2 Remove from water and save 1 cup of liquid.
3 Mash the potatoes, add salt and pepper and as much liquid to make them fluffy.
4 Put 1 tbs butter in a large saute pan. Saute onions and garlic.
5 Add cabbage and 1/2 cup water.
6 Cook until the cabbage is tender.
7 In another skillet, saute kale with 2 cups of water and cook until tender.
8 Pre-heat oven to 350.
9 Mix everything together and season well. 10 Place in a 13×9x2 inch casserole and top with 1/2 tsp of butter.
11 Bake for about 15-20 minutes or until hot.

adapted from:RecipeZaar.com, Recipe by Bergy.