Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage Recipe

(In a pot on the stove - See this page if you'd rather use a Crockpot / Slo-cooker instead)

Click here for a PDF print version to use while you cook!

Corned Beef is a traditional meal of Irish-Americans, especially on St. Patrick's Day, or any cold winter day. And it is so easy to make and is a meal in itself! It only takes about 20 minutes to prepare then about 3 hours in a large pot on the stove.

Yield / servings

Allowing 1/2 pound (250 gm) of meat per person means that the average 4 to 6 lb. corned beef available at Costco serves 8 to 12 people.

History

Corned beef is not an Irish dish; it's connection with Saint Patrick's Day occured in America in the Irish-American culture, How so? See this page for the history of corned beef and cabbage.

Alternative recipe:
If you want to make a more nature, healthier "organic" corned beef and cabbage; see this page: Natural Homemade Corned Beef and Cabbage - this one allows you to make your own corned beef WITHOUT the sodium nitrite which is found in store-bought corned beef briskets. If you need a LOW-Sodium version of this, see this page!

Traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage

Ingredients

• 1 corned beef brisket with spice packet (4 to 6 lbs.)
• 2 lbs. peeled baby carrots (or you can peel any carrots you have)
• 15 small potatoes (about the size of a golf ball.)
  Or 6 large potatoes. Washed, not peeled. You can use larger potatoes and cut them into golf ball sized pieces or use white potatoes, too.
• 1 very large onion (like a Vidalia) , peeled and cut into ping pong ball sized pieces
• 4 cups water
• 2 cans (or bottles) of beer (Guinness would be ideal... but any beer will work)
• 1 large head of cabbage (about 2- 3 lbs.) cut into eighths quarters (4 equal pieces)

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Equipment:

• Large pot (I use a 16 quart pot)
• cutting board
• ladle
• vegetable peeler
• Measuring cup
• knives, etc.

Directions:

Step 1 - chop the onion

Peel and chop one large onion.

Step - 2 - Add to pot

Put the onion pieces into the bottom of a large pot .

Step 3 - Lay the beef on the onions

Remove the beef from the packaging, do not rinse it off (it is seasoned), recover the spice packet and set it aside. Lay the whole piece of corned beef on top of the onions.

Step 4 - Add the beer and water

Add in the beer and water to the pot.

Step 5 - Add the spices

Sprinkle the spices from the spice packet into the pot. If you want a stronger flavor, feel free to add another teaspoon of thyme, 1/4 teaspoon of ground allspice, a 1/2 teaspoon of peppercorns, and 1/2 teaspoon of minced garlic.

Step 6 - Cover and cook

Cover, and turn the stove on high to bring to a boil, then turn to medium or medium low to get a steady simmer.

Step 7 - Peel and cut the potatoes

Pretty simple, wash, peel the potatoes and carrots and cut them into roughly golf ball sized pieces.

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Step 8 - after 2 hours, add potatoes and carrots

After 3 hours add the potatoes and carrots. and put the cover back on.

Step 9 - Prepare the cabbage and add it

Peel the outer leaves and wash the cabbage. Cut the cabbage into 8ths, cutting through the stem (it helps to hold it together in the pot). At 2.5 hours (in other words, a half hour after you add the potatoes and carrots) add the cabbage.(If you put it in earlier will become mushy!)

Step 10 - After 3 hours, it is done!

After 3 hours, it is done! The meat should be tender and start to fall apart as you cut it. The potatoes, carrots and cabbage should be tender.

Other traditional St. Patrick's Day dishes:

• Irish stew
• Potato soup
• Guinness stout (beer) or any beer dyed green

Other Traditional Irish foods:

• Irish Stew
• Shepherd's Pie
• Irish Soda Bread.