Traditional Cabbage and Irish Bacon with Irish Parsley Sauce

There's a great scene in the 1997 movie 'The Devil's Own', Brad Pitt is eating with an American Irish family, They're having Corned Beef and Cabbage.  When asked what he thinks about the dish he says, "It's delicious but I've never had it before!" In Ireland, traditionally they eat Irish Bacon.  Corned Beef is a New York dish!

Traditional Cabbage and Irish Bacon with Irish Parsley Sauce

Ah, a traditional Irish delicacy. You must try the cabbage with this bacon in it.

1/2 LB Irish bacon, sliced
1 HEAD Green Cabbage, roughly chopped
12-15 Small new potatoes
2 TBL Sweet butter
Irish Parsley Sauce
Salt and pepper to taste.

1. Cover the bacon with cold water, in a large saucepan, bring to boil and drain.
2. Cover with fresh cold water again and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and then bring to a simmer.
3. Add the cabbage and potatoes and simmer for 30 minutes.
4. Drain water (set water aside for Irish Parsley Sauce), remove bacon and slice or cut into bite-size pieces.
5. Meanwhile cover cabbage and potatoes to keep warm.
6. Add bacon back to saucepan, season with salt & pepper and top with butter.
7. Gently stir and serve warm with Irish Parsley Sauce.


Irish Parsley Sauce

Serve with corned beef, cabbage and potatoes.

1/4 C Sweet butter
2-1/2 TBL All-purpose flour
1/2 C Cabbage stock
1 C Cold milk
1/2 C Finely chopped Italian parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

1. Fry the flour in the butter for two minutes creating a light beige roux. While stirring add cabbage stock, and then milk. Bring to a low simmer and stir well. Remove from heat and stir in parsley, salt and pepper.
2. Makes 2-1/2 cups.