Sweet Potato Colcannon (Irish Style Mash with Kale) & A Giveaway with Grand Cucina

I have done stir frying, baking, grilling, toasting and boiling on this blog. Can you guess what cooking method that has been missing from this blog?

Yep, that’s right, it is steaming. That is one thing I did not inherite from my family. My family enjoys making steamed fish, steamed chicken, soft and pillowy siu bao (buns), dumplings and all other wonderful steamed dishes. If you are familiar with Malaysian desserts, they mostly require steaming instead of baking in the oven.

Don’t get me wrong, I love eating all the above. Okay, maybe I can do without the steamed fish. I don’t know what’s up with me and steamed fish. It still does not appeal to me. I prefer deep fried fish. Hmmm…deep fried fish….

Oh wait a second, this post has nothing to do with Asian food. This post is dedicated to this fluffy and buttery mash with sweet potato and kale. Oh yes, it’s kale again! (I’m sorry.)  But please bear with me, this combination is legit. In fact, it is called Colcannon. A complicated terminology for an Irish style mash potato with kale (or cabbage). So this is a Colcannon with a slight twist – with sweet potato. I love the natural sweetness in sweet potato (uhm, duh!) and I find it takes less time to cook. Perfect for an impatient human being like moi especially during week days.

In order to soften the kale, I steamed it. Alternatively, you can try boiling or microwaving it. But I have a new gadget that I wanted to use badly. Please say hello to my Chef Inox Multi-Fit Steamer (that came with a lid) courtesy of Grand Cucina. It fits 3 different sized pots: (i) 16cm (ii) 18cm  and (iii) 20cm. One of my favourite items in the kitchen is a multi-fit lid for my pans which is very well-used. I have a feeling this multi-fit steamer will be joining the well-used club as well. 🙂

(Please stay tune to the giveaway after the following recipe.)

Sweet Potato Colcannon (Irish Style Mash with Kale)

(recipe inspired by Simply Recipe and Gourmet Traveller)

2 generous servings

What you’ll need:-

• 700g (1.5 pounds) sweet potato, peeled & cut into chunky pieces
• Hot water
• Baking paper, roughly 20cm in diameter
• 1 cup of kale, thinly sliced
• 1/8 cup milk (may defer depending how well the water is drained from the sweet potato)
• 50g butter (half goes into the mash and the other half to be melted & drizzle on top)
• Black pepper & salt to taste
• 1/4 spring onion (scallion), thinly sliced

Note – I served the mash with 2 grilled salt and pepper porterhouse steaks.

Method:-

Boil a kettle full of water. In the meantime, peel and dice the sweet potato as well as trim and slice the kale fairly finely. Then add the sweet potato into a 20cm stockpot, pour in the hot water and place on the stove over medium flame. In the steamer, layer a piece of baking paper and place the kale on top of it. Place the steamer over the pot and cook for about 7 minutes, lid on. In the meantime, get a plate ready (to park the steamer when the cooking is done) as well as a large mixing bowl beside the stove.

Approximately, 7 minutes later, carefully remove the steamer with a kitchen towel or pot holders and set aside on a plate. Transfer the kale to the mixing bowl. And again carefully, drain the water in the pot through the steamer (treat as if it is a colander and please use a pot holder to hold the steamer as it’ll be still hot) or you can use an actual colander. Add the sweet potato and half of the butter into the mixing bowl. Use a fork to mash and mix the sweet potato, kale and butter, at the same, gradually adding milk until smooth and fluffy consistency is achieved (you may or may not need the whole 1/8 cup of milk depending how liquid is retained in the sweet potato). Season with salt and pepper. Just before serving, drizzle some melted butter (melt the butter in a microwave for a couple of seconds) and a scattering of sliced spring onion.

The Giveaway (Australian Entries only)

Courtesy of the Grand Cucina, we are giving away one Chef Inox Multi-Fit Steamer and a matching 4-litre Chef Inox Saucepot.

(total value $153)

 

Grand Cucina is no run-of-the-mill online shop as it brings the best professional-grade kitchen and dining products to your home.  Consistent with its Italian namesake (Grand Cucina means “Chef Approved” in Italian), it home delivers 70 leading European & Australian brands in cutlery, cookware, kitchenware, table decor, dinnerwares, drinkware, bakeware, gifts that are used and trusted by the best chefs in their own restaurants, bars and cafes. Grand Cucina is bringing these Industry-favoured brands directly to you to use in your home at the same affordable industry rates. For more information, please visit www.grandcucina.com.

To enter:

Just write “enter me” in the comment box below AND “Like” their Facebook page.  I will select a winner randomly.

Guidelines:-

• This giveaway is open to residents of Australia only
• Prize can not be exchanged for money
• One entry per person
• Entry is open from 2nd May 2013 to 16th May 2013 (2 weeks).

========= THE GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED =========

Disclosure: This is neither a sponsored post nor  I’m being paid to host a giveaway. However the steamer was provided to me for editorial consideration.