What’s Inside: Paleo Mashed Cauliflower and Parsnip Colcannon is a tasty lower-carb option for Traditional Mashed Potato Colcannon. It’s a perfect addition to your St. Patty’s Day table.
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I love a good mashed potato dish but truth be told, my blood sugar is not quite in alignment with that sentiment most of the time. So here I am, with St. Patty’s approaching, craving a huge bowl of mashed potatoes studded with glistening crispy bacon and kale. And my wheels start turning. Would it be possible to make a copycat, lower carb mashed cauliflower Irish Colcannon instead? One with a similar texture to potatoes?
Of course! The only thing that’s impossible is for a dish cooked in bacon fat to fall short. So clearly we’re up for a win-win here.
When considering the swaps, obviously trusty cauliflower comes to the rescue but I wanted some starchiness, so blending the cauliflower with parsnips gives it a little more oomph… this simple one-pot colcannon mash has it going on.
This copycat version of Irish Colcannon is:
A traditional Irish dish that consists of creamy mashed potatoes mixed with green onions and kale. Ham or bacon is a common addition (and I couldn’t help myself). Finished off with a pat of butter or in this case ghee or olive oil… it makes the perfect side dish for St. Patrick’s Day or any feast you’d like it for!
P.S. Let’s not forget we have KALE in here, people! That’s 3 veggies in one dish. And hey, if parsnips aren’t your thing… feel free to just make this a cauliflower mash situation. Here’s my recipe for that!
…wait, are potatoes “bad”? Unless they’ve insulted you or your mother in some way, I’m gonna say NO. Potatoes are vegetables just like parsnips and cauliflower, but for some of us looking to cut down on excess sugar, it’s nice to have other nutrient-dense options. Aside from the carbs/sugar content… potatoes do happen to be nightshade which can be inflammatory for some (especially with Autoimmunity) and are not AIP-friendly. I eat potatoes from time to time in moderation and love them, but I love a lot of other veggies too. Why not try something new? It’s easy to get stuck on the same old-same old veggies and it’s nice to mix it up.
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18 comments
Absolutely delicious! The flavor of the parsnip mash goes perfectly with the rich bacon and greens. To speed it up I used organic bagged dark greens and it was perfection. Thank you for another wonderful recipe!
This looks so good, I think even my child would eat it and have no idea it was good for him…LOL!
Love how wholesome this is! Its making me hungry
This sounds like a delicious combination. I don’t eat bacon but I don’t think it will be missed – so much great flavour from the veggies. Yum!
What a great unusual twist on colcannon! I can’t wait to give it a try.
I love a good mashed potato dish too and this looks so delicious! Bookmarking!
This looks amazingly delicious, especially with the addition of bacon. Will go perfectly with corned beef.
Always better with bacon and YES it would be perfect! I wish I had some this year but with quarantine, couldn’t get it haha
Delicious and easy! I’m always looking for ways to use parsnip and this is perfect. Thanks for sharing another great recipe 🙂
Awesome, thanks so much Traci! Parsnips are so fun.
I love the addition of parsnips in this whole 30 dish. This is true comfort food without the carbs.
Amen! Lower carb and all the fluff still!
I love colcannon, it’s such comfort food. . We have a similar dish in Scotland called Rumbledethumps. It’s basically a cabbage and potato pie, topped with cheese and baked.
ok that name wins HAHAHA
I love how simple this sounds and that you get 3 veggies in one dish!
all about cramming more nutrients in! thanks, Libby!
Do you think I could substitute the parsnip with cauliflower?
Absolutely!