Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce Recipe (2024)

  • Bacon
  • Irish
  • Cabbage
  • Parsley
  • St. Patrick's Day

According to Darina Allen, author of Forgotten Skills of Cooking, bacon and cabbage is Ireland's national dish. Here's her version of a traditional recipe.

By

Caroline Russock

Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce Recipe (1)

Caroline Russock

Caroline Russock is a writer who splits her time between Philadelphia and the Caribbean covering food, travel, leisure, lifestyle, and culture. Her writing is featured in PhillyVoice, Eater, Eater Philly, Serious Eats, and The Tasting Table.

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Updated January 29, 2024

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Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce Recipe (2)

On this side of the Atlantic, corned beef and cabbage may be about as Irish as a dish gets, but according to Darina Allen author of Forgotten Skills of Cooking bacon and cabbage is Ireland's national dish. This one calls for whole loin bacon, a British Isles export which is cooked along with the cabbage, sliced before serving, and paired with a creamy parsley sauce.

Unlike American bacon, Irish bacon is made from the back of the pig instead of the belly and is much leaner than streaky bacon. I used a presliced Irish bacon for this recipe but whole versions are available in British specialty shops.

Most of the flavor in this dish comes from the bacon that you choose. While preparing it, I realized that my bacon was relatively mild and added a few peppercorns and a bay leaf to bump up the flavor. The boiled bacon takes on a ham-like quality and the cabbage became plenty porky.

The bacon and cabbage is finished with a parsley sauce that's really nothing more than a béchamel made from milk infused with thyme, carrots, and onion, thickened with a roux and finished with plenty of fresh, bright parsley.

This Irish bacon, cabbage, and parsley sauce was a nice break from the ubiquitous St. Patrick's Day standard of corned beef and cabbage which I've always found a little over the top, especially when made from the prepackaged corned beef. Without all of the salt and spices you can really taste the ingredients that go into the dish—it's clean and fresh and decidedly Irish.

March 2010

Recipe Details

Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce Recipe

Prep0 mins

Cook4 hrs

Total4 hrs

Serves12to 15 servings

Ingredients

For the Bacon and Cabbage:

  • About 5 pounds loin, collar thick-cut bacon

  • 1 Savoy cabbage

  • 4 tablespoons butter

  • Freshly ground black pepper

For the Roux:

  • 8 tablespoons butter

  • Scant cup all-purpose flour

For the Parsley Sauce

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • A few parsley stems

  • 1 sprig of thyme

  • A few slices of carrot (optional)

  • A few slices of onion (optional)

  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • About 4 tablespoons freshly chopped curly parsley

Directions

  1. Cover bacon in cold water in a large pot and bring slowly to a boil.

  2. If bacon is very salty there will be a white froth on top of the water, in which case it is preferable to discard the water and start again.

  3. It may be necessary to change the water several times, depending on how salty the bacon is. Finally, cover bacon with hot water, place a lid on the pot, and simmer until bacon is almost cooked, allowing 20 minutes for every 1 pound.

  4. Meanwhile, trim the outer leaves of the cabbage and cut it into quarters, removing core. Discard core and outer leaves. Slice cabbage across the grain into thin shreds. If necessary, wash it quickly in cold water. About 20 minutes before the end of cooking the bacon, add shredded cabbage to the pot of simmering bacon.

  5. Stir, cover, and continue to boil gently until both cabbage and bacon are cooked, about 1 3⁄4 hours.

  6. To make roux, melt butter in a pan and cook flour for 2 minutes on low heat, stirring occasionally. It will keep for two weeks in the refrigerator.

  7. To make the sauce, add cold milk to a saucepan and add herbs and vegetables (if using). Bring mixture to simmering point, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for 4-5 minutes. Strain milk, bring it back to a boil, and whisk in 4 tablespoons roux until sauce is a light coating consistency. Season again with salt and pepper. Add chopped parsley and simmer over very low heat for 4 to 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
386Calories
21g Fat
6g Carbs
42g Protein

×

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 12to 15
Amount per serving
Calories386
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g26%
Saturated Fat 9g44%
Cholesterol 140mg47%
Sodium 457mg20%
Total Carbohydrate 6g2%
Dietary Fiber 2g7%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 42g
Vitamin C 12mg59%
Calcium 70mg5%
Iron 1mg8%
Potassium 694mg15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Traditional Irish Bacon, Cabbage, and Parsley Sauce Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the history of bacon and cabbage in Ireland? ›

The roots of Bacon and Cabbage trace back centuries, reflecting the simplicity and resourcefulness of the Irish people. Historically, pork was a staple meat due to the abundance of pigs in Ireland. Cabbage, a hardy and readily available vegetable, complemented the savory flavors of bacon.

What cut of meat is Irish boiling bacon? ›

Boiling bacon is a side of pork that is traditionally cured, netted and partially smoked the Irish way. Our boiling bacon is produced from Linley Valley free range pork shoulders, a leaner cut compared to pork belly.

How do you say bacon and cabbage in Irish? ›

Bacon and cabbage (Irish: bagún agus cabáiste) is a dish traditionally associated with Ireland.

What is bacon in Ireland? ›

Irish bacon, also known as back bacon or rashers, is a popular type of bacon commonly enjoyed in Ireland. Unlike the traditional American bacon, which is typically made from pork belly, Irish bacon is made from pork loin.

Do real Irish eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

Corned beef and cabbage is not the national dish of Ireland. You would not eat this dish on St. Patrick's Day in Dublin. It is usually only eaten around the religious holiday in the US.

What is the difference between Irish bacon and Canadian bacon? ›

Irish bacon is traditionally made from the back of the pig as opposed to the pork belly commonly used in American bacon. In this sense it is more similar to Canadian bacon; both Canadian and Irish bacon are referred to as back bacon but the Irish variety has more fat and often cut into a round shape.

What is Belfast bacon? ›

An alternative to Back Bacon, the Belfast Bacon is cut from our Smoked Gammons that are cured to a traditional recipe originating in Belfast. The Belfast Bacon can be fried or grilled but traditionally would normally be fried.

Why did Irish Americans replace bacon with corned beef? ›

These immigrants found that corned beef was a similar meat to the bacon they traditionally ate back in Ireland, but it was much cheaper and more readily available in America. So, they started incorporating corned beef into their traditional Irish dishes, particularly on special occasions like St. Patrick's Day.

What is really thick bacon called? ›

Bacon chops, sometimes called bacon steaks, are thick cut chops, which are taken from whole bacon loins. In other words, a bacon chop is basically a super thick cut rasher of bacon. It comes from exactly the same place, and is produced the same way, as the back bacon you put on your sandwich, it's just, well, thicker.

What is the Irish slang for bacon? ›

IMPORTANT WORD YOU SHOULD LEARN: Rashers. That's Irish slang for bacon.

What is the Irish breakfast slang? ›

Fry. Definition: A traditional Irish breakfast. Example: “Nothing beats a hearty fry-up with bacon, eggs, and black pudding.”

What is Scottish bacon? ›

In The UK and Ireland. both types of bacon come in unsmoked or smoked varieties. Both countries use the cold smoking method, whereas the US uses hot smoking, so there is a difference in flavour. This is an pig. There is belly bacon which Americans call bacon.

Why is cabbage popular in Ireland? ›

Cabbage has long been a staple in Irish cooking, owing to its hardiness and abundance in the Irish climate. In fact, historically, Irish peasants relied heavily on cabbage as a dietary staple due to its affordability and nutritional value. So, how did corned beef and cabbage become intertwined with St.

What vegetables are historically important in Ireland? ›

Vegetables grown and eaten in Ireland included onions, chives, cabbage, celery, wild garlic and leeks. Fat-hen (Chenopodium album) is often found on pre Norman archaeological sites and appears to have been an important part of the diet, as it still is in Northern India.

Why was corned beef and cabbage a favorite meal for the Irish at Easter? ›

But the Irish people couldn't afford to eat it themselves. Their traditional dishes used corned pork instead, and they relied heavily on nutrient-dense potatoes to survive. In the 18th century, when large numbers of Irish immigrants came to the U.S., they brought with them the idea of beef as a luxury.

What is the history of the Irish breakfast? ›

The full Irish breakfast was created for farm workers so they would be satiated and ready for a full day's work. The meal was made up of local produce and homemade items, all of which were cooked in a frying pan with a pad of Irish butter.

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