Irish Boiled Bacon Ribs, Champ and Cabbage

Something I eat at least once a week. A classic recipe but it never fails to impress. This is comfort food at its best.

Ingredients                             

For the bacon

1 full rack of bacon ribs cut into pieces

1 brown onion, peeled and left whole

For the champ

6 medium potatoes, peeled and halved

25g butter

2-3 spring onions

150ml full-fat milk

For the cabbage

1 Savoy cabbage, finely sliced

25g butter

150ml chicken stock

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation Method

For the bacon, put the bacon ribs and onion in a large pot submerged in cold water. Bring to the boil. Once the water is boiling vigorously turn the heat down to a rolling boil / simmer. Keep the water line above the product by adding boiled water from the kettle as needed.

Allow 1 hour 15minutes cooking time (from the time the water is boiling).

Meanwhile, for the champ, bring a large pan of salted water to the boil, add the potatoes and boil for 20 minutes, or until tender.

In a frying pan over a medium heat, soften the spring onions in the butter for 1-2 minutes then pour in the milk and simmer for 2-3 minutes.

Drain the potatoes and return to the heat for 30 seconds to dry them out then mash with the spring onions and the milk and butter they were cooked in. Season with salt and black pepper.

For the cabbage, boil the cabbage in a pan of salted water for five minutes, or until tender, then drain. Melt the butter in a frying pan, add the cabbage and fry for one minute then pour in the chicken stock and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Serve the bacon ribs with the champ and cabbage.