Champ is a traditional Irish dish made from mashed potatoes and shallots, often eaten during tough financial times. It is related to colcannon and can be made vegan. Champ is also served on Halloween and variations are served around the world to celebrate Irish heritage.
Champ is a dish closely associated with Ireland, where it has been made for centuries. It is made from mashed potatoes, traditionally mixed with shallots and sometimes with peas added. During Ireland’s historically struggling financial times, numerous families ate champions often, as it was cheap and relatively nutritious. The dish is related to colcannon, another Irish potato dish. Most countries have some variation on the sample, such as the Dutch boerenkool stamppot.
In addition to being eaten year-round, champ is also traditionally served on Halloween. The cook includes a coin and is said to strike anyone who eats the portion with the included coin. Some Irish families continue the tradition of sample eating on Halloween, in a nod to their heritage. People outside of Ireland often come across champion recipes when looking for things to cook with potatoes.
To make the champ, mashed potatoes are boiled in a large pot. While the potatoes are boiling, the milk or cream and butter are gently heated in a saucepan. Shallots, also called spring onions, are thinly sliced and added to the milk mixture, so the milk is infused with flavor. The potatoes are drained and mashed or passed through an oil mill and the milk is mixed with the potatoes. The resulting dish is mashed potatoes with a touch of onion. Some cooks add peas or other vegetables to their sample, making the dish more interesting in flavor and more nutritious.
Colcannon, a related dish, is made with cabbage or collard greens instead of shallots. Usually the added ingredient is cooked separately, rather than being mixed with milk and cream. Generous amounts of salt and black pepper are added to both dishes, which can also easily be made vegan with the use of ingredients such as margarine and soy milk. Other ingredients and spices such as nutmeg, garlic or paprika can be added to the champ for more variation.
Numerous variations on the champ and colcannon are served around the world. They are often served at dinner parties that are meant to celebrate Irish heritage, as the potato is so closely linked to Irish history. Ingredients such as shallots, kale and collard greens were also common in Ireland, as they grow in poor soil and cold conditions. The nutritional value of ingredients such as cabbage mixed with potatoes helped stave off hunger for the Irish during lean times. While these ingredients are no longer to be consumed out of necessity, many people have developed a taste for them.
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