Orgasmic Chef

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Colcannon Croquettes

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I know we all do it.  We visit a restaurant and eat something wonderful and think to ourselves, that seems easy to make.  Last week I went out with the girls and my meal came with colcannon croquettes and when I saw them on the menu I though, “ewww.”  Colcannon has never been a favorite of mine but when I took the first forkful my mouth was singing.  That’s when I said, “I’m going to try making these myself.”

Now I had no recipe but I figured, “how hard can it be?”  I suppose without that sort of attitude none of us would give new things a try.  Armed with my aunt’s colcannon recipe, my memory and a fridge full of food, I gave it a go.

Was it perfect?  No.  Was it just like the restaurant?  No.  Would I make them again?  In an instant!  They tasted even better than the restaurant and I think it’s because I put just a bit of grated cheddar in my potatoes and after I formed them into croquettes I rolled them in panko crumbs before frying.

cooked potatoes

First I put the potatoes on to boil and while they were getting all soft and delicious I chopped and sauteed an onion.  To get into the colcannon theme I needed cabbage but it was the one thing I didn’t have in the fridge and I wasn’t going to the store.  I had a ready solution.  Hubs had bought some crispy salad in a bag that was nothing but chopped up cabbage and a bit of carrot and the odd piece of celery. I chopped it up and sliced some leeks and steamed them before tossing them in with the onions. I did a bit more chopping after they were steamed but next time I’d chop more finely.

mixed vegetables to go into colcannon croquettes

When the onion and leeks were finished sweating off I tossed in the cabbage and cooked the mixture til soft.  By this time the potatoes were done.  I drained the potatoes, mashed them and added some sour cream, grated cheddar, an egg and then whipped them up.  I added the sauteed onion, leek and cabbage mixture and I was nearly done.

colcannon croquettes mixture

To form the croquettes I put a large spoonful of the potato mixture into my hand and formed into a sort of cylindrical shape.  I think I put too much sour cream or too much egg or not enough potato because the mixture was wetter than I would have preferred but I wasn’t going to stop and cook more potato.

colcannon croquettes ready to fry

Rather than roll the croquettes in panko crumbs, I took the crumbs to the croquettes.  When the croquette was formed in my hand I grabbed a handful of panko crumbs and did one side and then flipped it over and did the other side.

frying colcannon croquettes

I fried them in about an inch of oil and called John to have a taste.  He didn’t have anything to compare to because he wasn’t invited to ladies night dinner.  I served them with some sour cream and chives and he loved them!  He did think they were a bit delicate and maybe next time I should make a stiffer potato mixture.

frying colcannon croquettes

We ate about 4 between us and the rest I popped in the freezer formed but not fried.  When they were frozen I put them in a vacuum sealer and back into the freezer.  Next time we want some I’ll take them from the freezer and pop them in the hot oil.  It will be snap crackle and pop but they’ll be fantastic!

colcannon croquettes

To be honest, I had no idea what to call these things because I didn’t roll them in egg before the bread crumbs.  They’d have fallen apart in the egg!  Next time, however, it will be a true croquette.  I know some of you try your recipes 3 or 4 times before posting them and that makes me envious.  I hope to do that soon.  I have a problem with tossing food out and there’s just so much food that will fit in a freezer for just the two of us.  You can only give away so much food before people look at you like you’re the woman who has too many zucchini growing in her garden.

 

4.9 from 13 reviews
Colcannon Croquettes
 
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I had the most wonderful potatoes at a local restaurant and came home and tried to make them myself. It worked!
Author:
Recipe type: Side Dish
Cuisine: Irish
Serves: 8
Ingredients
  • 3 large potatoes or 4 small ones
  • 6 tbs butter, cut into small pieces (one tbs for frying veg)
  • ½ cup sour cream
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 leeks chopped rather finely
  • 3 cups shredded cabbage (or use a crispy salad mix like I did)
  • 2 chicken boullion cubes
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups panko crumbs (or dry bread crumbs)
  • salt and pepper
Instructions
  1. Cook the potatoes in boiling salted water until tender. Probably 20 minutes.
  2. Drain and mash with 5 tbs butter, sour cream, egg and a bit of milk if they seem too dry.
  3. Steam all but the onions for about 10 minutes - so you won't get too much color from frying.
  4. Saute the onion in the butter in a skillet. Add a pinch of salt so they will release their liquid and won't turn brown.
  5. When the onion is nearly done, crush the two chicken boullion cubes and place in the skillet with the onions.
  6. Toss in the steamed veggies and mix well. Add more butter or oil if it looks too dry.
  7. Add the veggies to the mashed potatoes and you're ready to form your croquettes.
  8. Whisk the egg and place the panko or bread crumbs on a plate.
  9. Take a large spoonful of the potato mixture and form croquettes.
  10. Dip in egg and then roll in panko and place on a piece of baking paper.
  11. Heat oil to 350F or 170C and using a deep fat frying works great
  12. Place the croquettes into the oil and remove when golden brown.
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Comments

  7. These are making my mouth water – they look fabulous and I think I could eat them for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

    Reply

  12. Croquettes? You’re a brave woman! LOL A couple of weeks ago I published something on German potato noodles, just recently it had dawned on me what the “trick” was. I know how hard these are, and their not-quite-like-restaurant look makes them even more appealing. I bet they were DELICIOUS.

    Reply

  16. I laughed out loud at your comment about your friends looking at you like you are the woman with too many zucchini in her garden. I’m that woman! I love to experiment in the kitchen, but can only eat so much myself and can only seem to give so much away before people start giving me “that look”.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    RMW

    Reply

    • Hi Patty and thanks for visiting. No, sorry, I don’t have nutrition breakdown. I’m thinking about it and I’m talking with my darling husband about automating that. So far he’s downloaded the USDA food database. We’re considering adding the nutrition feature to our Easy Recipe plugin for wordpress.

      Reply

  20. These look incredible! I have not tried these ever, but I really think I need too! The leeks look so delicious!

    Reply

  22. omg… These look fantastic. I love croquettes so much, I haven’t actually had any in years! I really need to sort that out… you inspired me to try and make some in the week.

    Thanks for sharing these – they look amazing, and thanks for dropping by my site earlier 🙂

    Reply

  24. I do the same thing! I get so much inspiration when I’m eating out and can’t wait to get back home and try out my favorites! These sound really good! I like how you put your own twist to this with what you had on hand!

    Reply

  25. I have to try these! Potato croquettes are one of my favorite comfort foods and this incarnation looks amazing (and, yes, I always have cabbage in my fridge:)

    Reply

  26. You seriously have my attention with this recipe! Especially with how you fried it, oh yes please:-) They really do sound delicious! Hugs, Terra

    Reply

  27. I also do the same thing Maureen. And I get excited when I hit the mark or even better haha.

    I love croquettes and would definitely do the same as you did.

    thanks for the blog love maureen… i truly appreciate it.
    malou

    Reply

  34. The croquettes look gorgeous! I also am alway very proud when I manage copying something I enjoyed in a restaurant without any precise recipe. Congratulations!

    Reply

  35. I have been wanting to make colcannon, but now I am ready to make them like this-I am sure that this tastes amazing. It is fun trying to replicate items you get at restaurants and it looks like you aced the replication. I am definitely saving this-delicious post!

    Reply

  40. :-). There are so many things I can say amen to/aye/I agree – tasting something at a restaurant and recreating them at home….even before you leave; Making things from head and heart and tossing things in panko :-). They look delish

    Reply

  43. These look awesome! I adore anything involving hot oil + vegetables, and will always choose things like this on menu’s!

    The outer looks so deliciously crisp and the filling sounds lush with the cheese added in! Mmmm! Want!

    Reply

  45. I would call them Maureen Croquettes – a brand new original recipe that should go down in culinary history for its wonderful flavor and texture.

    I want some now!! Can you send me some? Pretty please with butter on it.

    Reply

  46. Greg: Colcannon is mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale. It’s from the UK – Irish I think and maybe Scotland

    Katherine: see above 🙂 You’d love it.

    Sneh: Absolutely – mashed potatoes mixed with anything, dipped in egg, rolled in panko and deep fried sings my song.

    Reply

  48. Believe it or not, I’ve actually made colcannon once before in my life, but it was so long ago that I can’t remember what it tasted like. These little croquettes of yours, or whatever you care to call them,llook simply amazing!!

    Reply

  53. Maureen, I can see I have a LOT of catching up to do with your blog — SOOOO glad you’re back at it again! I just subscribed by RSS feed and I’m looking forward to each and every post! (These croquettes look GREAT and I loved how you winged it as you went!) 😉

    Reply

  56. Who has time to try making a recipe 4 times before posting…too many recipes too little time. Well, maybe it’s happened that a recipe got made three times through a longggg period of time ;o) Your first try seems to have hit the spot…even if they were slightly delicate.

    I like the way you think Maureen. Great first visit. Now you’ve made me hungry for these snacks too.

    Flavourful wishes,
    Claudia

    Reply

  57. Haven’t had colcannon in ages but you’ve inspired me with your croquettes. 4 times? Heavens. You’ve done a brilliant job first time around but if you’re looking for an excuse to make them again, count me in as a taster. Wish my girls’ nights out were full of inspiring dishes like this. Last time round I regretted the vinegar in the carafe. Boom-boom.

    Reply

  58. I have actually never heard of colcannon but now I am intrigued. Your recipe contains everything I like and nothing I don’t and looks fabulous so on the to try board it goes!

    Reply

  61. These look great! It’s always fun to try to recreate dishes from restaurants. And I really need to try croquettes at some point… I feel like I’m missing out!

    Reply

  71. I love croquettes and it’s my #1 favorite comfort food (really #1), and I almost post my mom’s croquette recipe today but changed at the end. =) Maybe I’ll post it soon. I love yours with lots of veggies. I always think about kids’ nutrition, and this is actually great croquette recipe!

    Reply

  78. I think these look and sound amazing. The bf would definitely eat them too, he is a fan of fried food 🙂 I too am envious of those people that can test a recipe a few times before posting… I do not have enough time or money for that (yet)!

    Reply

  81. I LOVE this dish!! I am going to try it this weekend. I love croquettes, of any kind.

    And I love your website! Yummy recipes :))

    Reply

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