Description
Hearty Irish bacon cabbage and potato soup blends rustic comfort with rich flavors from traditional Irish cuisine. Warming spoons of this classic dish invite you to savor a delicious journey through Ireland’s culinary heritage.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 6 slices thick-cut bacon (or Irish back bacon), chopped
Vegetables:
- 1 large onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium potatoes (such as Yukon Gold), peeled and diced
- 2 cups (about 200 grams / 7 ounces) green cabbage, shredded
Liquid and Seasoning:
- 4 cups (1 liter / 33.8 fluid ounces) chicken or vegetable stock
- 2 cups (500 milliliters / 16.9 fluid ounces) water
- ½ cup (120 milliliters / 4 fluid ounces) heavy cream (optional, for a creamy version)
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Optional Serving:
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Render the bacon in a spacious pot over medium flame until it transforms into crispy, golden-brown fragments. Extract the bacon pieces with a perforated utensil, preserving the flavorful rendered fat within the pot.
- Introduce diced onions into the bacon-infused fat, sautéing until they become translucent and fragrant. Incorporate minced garlic and allow it to release its aromatic essence for approximately 60 seconds.
- Introduce diced potatoes to the vegetable mixture, then cascade chicken or vegetable stock and water into the pot. Elevate the temperature until the liquid reaches a vigorous boil, then reduce to a gentle simmer.
- Allow the potatoes to tenderize for 10-12 minutes, periodically monitoring their softness with a fork.
- Fold shredded cabbage into the simmering liquid, continuing to cook for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cabbage wilts and becomes tender.
- For a luxurious, velvety consistency, utilize an immersion blender to partially puree the soup. Maintain some chunky elements to preserve a rustic character.
- Enrich the soup with a cascade of heavy cream, stirring thoroughly. Season with salt and freshly cracked pepper to elevate the flavor profile.
- Transfer the steaming soup into serving bowls, generously garnishing with the previously crisped bacon fragments and freshly chopped parsley. Accompany with a crusty bread slice for a complete culinary experience.
Notes
- Enhance bacon crispiness by starting with cold pan and cooking slowly to render more fat and achieve perfect golden-brown texture.
- Choose thick-cut Irish bacon for authentic flavor, but regular bacon works well as substitute if traditional cut unavailable.
- Create dairy-free version by replacing heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream, maintaining rich and creamy consistency.
- Boost nutritional value by adding additional vegetables like carrots or celery during sautéing stage for extra depth and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Irish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg