Bring a bit of the Irish to your soup bowl! This potato and cabbage soup is inspired by Irish Colcannon for a hearty bowl any time.
I know St. Patrick's Day is a few weeks a way yet. You can certainly tuck this recipe away until then, if you like. I wanted to share now though, because it's a really delicious bowl of soup and perfectly comforting for these last few winter days. I'd hate for you to have to wait for weeks to try this!
Inspired by Irish Colcannon, which is mashed potatoes and cabbage, this soup features cabbage, leeks and big chunks of red potatoes, garnished with some bacon and green onion. It's lovely and creamy, even though it doesn't have a ton of cream in it.
Ingredient Notes
Heavy cream - aka whipping cream (35% b.f.) or you can use a lighter cream/milk mixed with 1 tsp. cornstarch
Cook's Notes
Be sure to taste test your cabbage to make sure it's tender before adding the flour. It may take longer than 10 minutes.
I used mini red potatoes, cut into quarters or sixths, depending on their size. You could use a diced russet (baking) potato, if you don't have or want to get red potatoes. The splash of red in the soup is very pretty though, if those things matter to you :)
Be sure to taste and season well with salt and pepper at the end of cooking and before serving. A well-seasoned soup is a delicious soup!!
Recipe
Irish Colcannon Soup
Ingredients
- 3 sliced bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 2 cups leeks, prepared per instructions below
- 3 cups cabbage, prepared per instructions below
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp all purpose flour
- 3 cups red potatoes, diced
- 4 - 4 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or lighter cream/milk mixed with 1 tsp. cornstarch
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- green onion, diced, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the leeks: Cut the root end from the leek and discard. Cut off the dark green tops and reserve to use for another purpose. With the remaining white and light green piece, cut down the leek lengthwise, into two parts. With each part, slice into thin slices. Place into a fine-mesh strainer and using your fingers, separate the leek slices into individual pieces, then rinse well with cold water. Set aside to drain until needed. You will need one or two leeks, depending on their size.
- Prepare the cabbage: Cut cabbage into quarters and remove the core. With each quarter, slice into thin slices, and then in half again if necessary, into thin slices no longer than 2 inches long. Remove any tough pieces. You will only need about 1/2 a head of cabbage. Set aside until needed.
- In a large pot, over medium heat, cook the bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove bacon to a paper-towel lined bowl, leaving the rendered fat in the pot and the heat on under the pot.
- Add the onions, leeks and cabbage to the pot and cook, stirring regularly, over medium heat until the vegetables are tender, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, an additional 30 seconds or so. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring, for 1 minute.
- Add the chicken broth and potatoes and bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. If soup seems like it doesn't have enough liquid, add a bit more chicken broth.
- When potatoes are tender, remove pot from heat and stir in heavy cream. Taste, season with salt and pepper, as needed. Spoon soup into bowls and garnish with bacon and green onion.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.
Hi! I'm Jennifer, a home-cook of many years and a lifelong seeker of delicious food! I'm an equal opportunity eater. I enjoy eating all the foods!
Amber says
This was fantastic! I used a low sodium chicken broth which worked well. I'm not Irish, but it's always fun to try an Irish recipe on St Patrick's Day. This went well with a salad and salmon with rosemary and garlic.
Looking forward to leftover soup for dinner tonight!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Amber :) Thanks so much!
Ann says
This was great! I added a lot of fresh ground pepper & doubled the bacon (because, bacon) but otherwise made exactly as written. It was creamy & delicious & very flavorful. The cabbage & leeks just melted away. 👍
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it Ann and yes, more bacon is never a bad idea :) Thanks so much!
Jen says
Omg! So amazing! Absolutely delicious!!! Just learned my Irish heritage and wanted to give this a try. Perfect in every way!
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed it, Jen :) Thanks so much!
Kevin says
Loved it! Fantastic soup we very much enjoyed. I used the immersion blender in it for a few seconds and wow it is good!
Jennifer says
Happy to hear, Kevin :) Thanks so much!
Irene says
No Irish ancestry here but had cabbage & potatoes that needed to be used up! Haven't used leeks in quite awhile & forgot how much flavour they add. The soup was very good. Since we're bacon fans will add more next time.
Jennifer says
Glad you enjoyed it and yes, more bacon is never a bad idea :)
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners says
Oh, I would just love this soup. Any dish topped with bacon is special. I love the flavors in this and I wil make it for St. Patrick's Day because I'm embarrassed to admit I've never done an Irish dish on that day and I am of Irish ancestry, lol. It's time! Thanks for a great recipe, Jennifer.
All ready for the storm tonight? Did you have that wild afternoon of snow and wind yesterday? Wow!
Jennifer says
Thanks Robyn and this soup is a great place to start with a celebratory Irish dish on St. Pat's. Wonderful with a loaf of crusty bread and it will still be cool enough in our area to enjoy a warm, hearty soup :) And yes, we did get that snow and wind. Caught me off guard as it wasn't in the forecast (I watch the forecast faithfully, so I know when I'm about to get snowed in!). Honkering down for tonight's weather event.
Diane (Created by Diane) says
This soup looks hearty and delicious, pass me a spoon!
Jennifer says
Thanks Diane :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
What a cozy and comforting soup, it looks beyond tasty!
Jennifer says
Thanks Laura :)
Linda | The Baker Who Kerns says
Mmm I am so happy you shared this recipe! I have been really missing my mom's potato and vegetable stew and it looks just like this! I definitely want to give this a go before spring comes!
Jennifer says
I think you'll love it, Linda. A very comforting bowl :)
Sarah says
Uhm this has to be the perfect St. Patrick's Day recipe. I am definitely filing this one away. :)
Jennifer says
Thanks Sarah :)
Jennifer says
Thanks Sue and yes, he would love this. It's a great take on the original!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
Colcannon is such classic comfort food --- I love that you've converted it to soup! Colcannon is one of the very few dishes my husband makes, so I'm going to forward this to him --- I see a wonderful meal in my future :)
Chris Scheuer says
We're having warm sunshine today which makes me want salads and all things fresh but I know there are cooler days around the corner. Love your adaptation of Colcannon, it's brilliant and fun!
Jennifer says
Thanks Chris and even in your area, there's sure to be a last blast of winter, I'm sure (she never goes quietly ;)
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Tom's mom always made colcannon! He is going to love this soup!!
Jennifer says
He will, Mary Ann. Loved this soup. A hearty, comforting bowl :)
Cheyanne @ No Spoon Necessary says
Omg, a soup spin on Irish Colcannon?! Count me in! Loving this soup, Jennifer! Looks creamy, comforting and like it's begging me to slurp it up! Definitely not waiting till St. Patty's day to make this dreamy soup! Cheers, friend!
Jennifer says
Thanks Cheyanne :)
Dalila G. says
What a wonderful soup!
I happen to have all the ingredients listed, lucky me.
I generally do not have bacon, but hubby wanted bacon this past weekend so I bought 3 lbs!!
Good thing our grocers had it on sale. ?
I really like any soup, I haven't had one yet that I turned away.
This one will be made soon, thanks Jennifer for another fabulous recipe!
Super pictures, you always do such a nice layout. ☺
Have a nice day!
Pinned!
Jennifer says
Thanks so much, Dalila :) I'm the same way ... never met a soup I didn't like. This one was fabulous though and I'll be making it again and again!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
You KNOW I would love this soup! Brilliant adaptation of one of my favorite dishes. Our weather experts are calling for a little wintry mix later this week - gotta love spring weather. So it's not to late for me to make a creamy hearty soup. Thanks Jennifer!
Jennifer says
Yes I knew you would :) I loved this soup and I'd eat it any time of year, not just for St. Pat's. We're in for a bit more winter this week, too, so definitely a bit more soup weather here.