As usual, I call things stuff, but they’re rarely the legitimate, traditional recipe. It’s just easier to do that than be specific. Silverbeet and onion mixed with mashed potato doesn’t really conjure the same instant recognition as saying colcannon does.
All that aside, this week I was looking to be more mindful with my food use and not let things to to waste because I haven’t eaten them in time. My silverbeet from the farmer’s markets was wilting slightly and while I think it’s too strong to eat on its own, I didn’t have the inclination or the feta to bake it into a pie like I normally would. So I put it in mashed potato. And I ate the whole lot, by myself, in one day.
What? I’m pregnant. I’m allowed.
I also ate a lot of tiramisu birthday cake. Let’s never speak of it again.
So here’s my “use what you’ve got instead of buying more crap” colcannon. Now that’s a catchy title!
Ingredients
4 potatoes, peeled and diced.
2 bunch silverbeet, thick core cut out and leaves shredded
1 clove garlic, peeled
1/2 small onion
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup milk
salt and pepper
Directions:
1. Boil the potatoes and garlic clove until tender.
2. Throw in the silverbeet and cook 2-3 minutes until tender.
4. Drain all and place back on low heat. Move veggies to one side and pour in the milk. When bubbling, take off heat, add butter and mash.
5. Add more milk if needed, stir in onion and season to taste. If you prefer your onion cooked, put in with either the potatoes or the silverbeet. Or you can use spring onion, but I didn’t have any.
6. Serve with extra butter on top. What? I’m pregnant. I’m allowed.
Enjoy, Claire!
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Where it says “Name”, you might like to add the name of your dish instead or as well.
Jessica Nazarali says
April 30, 2012 at 1:01 amI'm crazy about silverbeet!
Veggie Mama says
April 30, 2012 at 3:10 amI wish I was!
Kyrstie @ A Fresh Legacy says
April 30, 2012 at 10:17 amI love that you are using what you have available. It can be a challenge. I did a tour of Sth Melb Market a little while ago with frugaore Arabella Forge and one of the things she said is to plan what you eat based on the ingredients you have available rather than a recipe – so simple.. It changed the way I plan our meals as I love to try new recipes so I had always planned based on new things I wanted to cook. Now I make up new things based on what I pick from the garden, or what is in the fridge or pantry. Makes me much more creative.
Louanne Bertrand says
April 30, 2012 at 8:57 pmFirst time linking. Perfect timing with your delicious recipe, as I still have potatoes and chard from my CSA box.
Tania says
May 1, 2012 at 12:10 amThank you! This sounds like another great idea for all that silverbeet and spinach growing like weeds in the garden. I did the pie and feta thing last week too. Which we love but it's hardly quick and easy is it?
Veggie Mama says
May 3, 2012 at 4:46 amyes when I'm making my meal plans I just put recipes together out of stuff I already know I want to make! And then when I get home from the farmer's market with oodles of gorgeous fruit and veg, I always adapt to include what I have. I think being flexible is the best thing! Sometimes making stuff from stuff I already have ends up so creatively. And delicious 🙂