Corned beef with cabbage and potatoes on a serving platter

A Simple Meal to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

/7 Comments/in , /by Mary Hunt
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Years ago on March 17, I surprised my DPL* staff by bringing a homemade meal to the office to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. It was such a hit, I’ve done a repeat performance every year since. The menu is simple and relatively inexpensive.

Corned beef with cabbage and potatoes on a serving platter

 

Corned Beef and Cabbage with Potatoes and Carrots*

Irish Soda Bread*

Lime Jell-O with Pears

*Printable recipe cards follow

For Corned Beef and Cabbage, you’ll need:

  • Corned beef brisket or round. I like Bill Bailey’s marinated ready-to-cook, however, there are other brands that come pre-marinated and ready to go.
  • Red potatoes, cut into halves or quarters
  • Carrots, peeled, and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • Cabbage, cut into narrow wedges
  • Instant Pot option in Recipe Card Notes below
Homemade Corned Beef and Cabbage with Carrots and Potatoes
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5 from 3 votes

Corned Beef and Cabbage

What follows is more of a method than a specific recipe.
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time6 hrs
Total Time6 hrs 30 mins
Course: Dinner, Entree
Cuisine: Irish
Author: Mary Hunt

Ingredients

  • corned beef brisket or round
  • small red potatoes cut into halves or quarters as desired
  • carrots peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces
  • green cabbage cut into narrow wedges

Instructions

  • Place the corned beef into a large stockpot of water (enough to fully cover the beef to within 2 inches of the top) over high heat, adding the contents of the spice packet if one comes with the beef.
  • Bring to a boil and quickly turn the heat down to the lowest simmer setting. Cover. Cook for 5 to 6 hours. Do not allow to come to a full rolling boil at any time in the cooking process. 
  • During the last hour add cut potatoes and carrots.
  • Turn the heat up to medium-low. Watch carefully that the carrots and potatoes do not become mushy. At medium-low, about one hour will be required. Check often.
  • About 15 minutes before serving, cut the cabbage into wedges and add to the pot. Cover and allow to cook on medium-high until cabbage is just tender. The cabbage is best when just barely tender, still green and not mushy.
  • Remove vegetables to a large bowl or serving platter. Slice the beef (it will nearly fall apart) and arrange in the middle of the vegetables. Ladle a bit of the broth over all and serve immediately.

Notes

I can count on the simple ingredients in this meal to be on sale just when I need them, in early March. When you see corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, and carrots on sale, stock up.
Corned beef in its original sealed plastic freezes well for up to 6 months. This is a meal you will want to repeat often.
Instant Pot Option:
  1. Trivet in IP.
  2. Place corned beef on the trivet.
  3. Add 1 quart beef broth.
  4. Set to seal.
  5. High pressure for 90 mins.
  6. Rapid release.
  7. Remove corned beef to a plate and cover with foil.
  8. Remove trivet from IP.
  9. Add potatoes cut into uniform size chunks, carrots, and one head cabbage cut into 6-8 wedges to hot broth.
  10. Set to seal.
  11. High Pressure … 4 minutes. Done. Serve.
A close up of a piece of bread
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5 from 3 votes

Americanized Irish Soda Bread

This yummy quick bread is Irish-like, slightly altered to be Americanized! Traditional soda bread is very dry. This version is moist, and simply delicious!
Prep Time25 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time1 hr 25 mins
Course: Baking
Cuisine: American
Servings: 16
Calories: 244kcal

Ingredients

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 16 ounces sour cream, two cups
  • 1 cup dried currants, or raisins (see NOTE 1)
  • 1 tablespoon caraway seeds, optional (see NOTE 2)

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease two 8-by-4-inch loaf pans. 
  • In a large mixing bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. 
  • Add the eggs, sour cream, caraway seeds, and currants, and mix until just combined. The batter will be VERY thick. See NOTE 3.
  • Distribute batter evenly between the two pans. 
  • Bake loaves at 325 F for 1 hour. Do not overbake!
  • Best when served hot right out of the oven, with butter.

Notes

  1. Currants are traditional and the best option here, if you can find them. Raisins are a great alternative to currants, either dark or golden. Or leave them out altogether.
  2. Caraway seeds are traditional and some of us love them in this bread! Some do not. Use your own best judgment. One option is to use them to line the bottom of the pan before pouring in the batter!  You'll get a similar result to adding them to the batter itself, but those who don't like them can easily avoid them by simply removing the bottom crust. 
  3. The batter will be VERY thick. If this bothers you, add a tiny bit of milk until you are happy.

Nutrition

Calories: 244kcal | Carbohydrates: 44g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 166mg | Potassium: 209mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 183IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 2mg

*DPL is the acronym for Debt-Proof Living, the parent organization of this blog, an asset of DPL Press, Inc.

 

Originally published 3-17-98; Republished 3-17-23

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7 replies
  1. Anonymous says:

    5 stars
    A good way to use the left over potatoes and cabbage. Chop them up and fry in pan.Its called Colcannon. It was a favourite of mine growing up in Ireland.

    Reply
  2. Deb L says:

    I’m disappointed. I’m cooking the meat in the stock pot exactly as directed. It’s née cooking fir 7 hours & still tough. So glad my company had to cancel. Smells good though

    Reply
  3. Holly says:

    5 stars
    You originally posted this recipe YEARS ago. I have made it nearly every year. My husband loves it! It is so easy and truly delicious – especially those potatoes and cabbage cooked in the juice! Thank you so much! And the bread – WOW!

    Reply
  4. Laquita G. Jones says:

    Every couple years I cook a corned beef in a crock pot! Very easy to do – just follow package directions (water, spice packet) in the crock pot and cook on high 3 hrs or so OR
    low up to 6 hrs. The last hour or so put your veggies in and Voila! Corned Beef! Love it!

    Reply
    • Loraine M Perkins says:

      A flat cut is better because it is easier to slice across the grain. Also the difference between the round and brisket is they are from different ends of the animal and the brisket has more fat than the round. I personally prefer the brisket because turns out moister.

      Reply

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