Corned beef brisket and cabbage is an Irish-American tradition and does not date back to Ireland where meats and particularly beef were expensive items affordable only to the wealthier class. When Irish immigrants came to the United States following the potato famine, they discovered that salt cured meats and cabbage were inexpensive. As with many immigrant groups, as well as economically challenged people in other areas of the United States like the Appalachian poverty belt, food choices were often dictated by prices.
St. Patrick’s Day – A Day to Relax and Make Merry
St. Patrick’s Day is a day of celebration during Lent when many Irish Christians give up or forgo certain treats like sweets or alcohol. So, parades, parties, dancing and general celebrations mark this as a day off from religious sacrifices. In terms of food, there are no real Irish dishes associated with St. Patrick’s Day historically; however, today, people across the United States (and the globe) enjoy cooking up corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Southern Corn Beef and Cabbage
There are many versions of corn beef and cabbage in the South. Often, potatoes are mixed in which is a nod to Irish culture. The great famine of the 1850s in Ireland (related to disease in the potato crops) left about a million Irish dead of starvation and forced about a million and a half to leave the country with many fleeing to the United States.
Corned Beef with Cabbage and Potatoes Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 corned beef brisket (around 4 pounds)
- 2 garlic cloves (minced)
- 6 medium sized potatoes (cut in large chunks)
- 1 large head of cabbage (quartered in wedges)
Directions:
- Fill large stock pot with water and add corned beef brisket and minced garlic. There should be enough water to cover the brisket but not enough to boil over.
- Turn heat to high and bring water to a boil and then cut back to simmer.
- Cook corn beef until tender – around three hours.
- Remove brisket from pot.
- Add potatoes and cabbage to hot water and cook until done – 20 to 30 minutes.
Other Delicious Southern Cabbage Recipes:
Cabbage Casserole - This rich casserole features cabbage and cheese. It bakes up really tasty.
Cabbage Hamburger Casserole - For those who are not fond of corned beef, try a dish with cabbage and hamburger for St. Patrick's Day. It is very good.
Cabbage Apple Salad - Skip the cooking totally with this yummy cold cabbage salad.
Cyndi Allison - Southern born and fed, Cyndi Allison is a college lecturer and newspaper advisor as well as being a freelance writer. She writes on ...
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