Parsley champ is a traditional Irish side dish made with creamy mashed potatoes, milk, butter, and fresh herbs. It’s a simple, comforting addition to any St. Patrick’s Day meal and pairs perfectly with hearty dishes like Irish stew.
As I was planning our St. Patrick’s Day menu, I knew I wanted a classic potato side to go with the Guinness beef stew. Something simple, traditional, and comforting.
Parsley champ immediately stood out. It’s a traditional Irish dish that’s essentially mashed potatoes taken up a notch with milk, butter, and fresh parsley. I found the version in Irish Traditional Cooking by Darina Allen and knew it would fit right in with the rest of the meal.
It’s the kind of side dish that doesn’t try too hard, but ends up being one of the best things on the table.
Recipe Info
Recipe: Parsley Champ
Cookbook: Irish Traditional Cooking by Darina Allen
Time: 30 minutes | Serves: 4-6 | Difficulty: Easy
Kitchen Tools I Used: potato peeler, All-Clad cookware
Why I Love This Recipe
There’s something about a really good potato dish that just completes a meal, and this one does exactly that.
It’s simple and familiar, but the addition of warm milk, butter, and fresh parsley gives it a richness and freshness that makes it feel a little more special than everyday mashed potatoes.
It’s also the perfect balance to a hearty main like Guinness beef stew, adding something soft, creamy, and comforting to the plate.
Good For
✔ St. Patrick’s Day
✔ Easy side dishes
✔ Comfort food
Notes from My Kitchen
- This comes together just like mashed potatoes, so it’s very approachable. The key is warming the milk before adding it, which helps keep the potatoes smooth and creamy.
- The recipe calls for cooking the potatoes in their skins and then peeling them, but to save time, I peeled and diced them before boiling.
- This is one dish that’s best made the day of. While I was able to prepare some of the other St. Patrick’s Day dishes ahead of time, I set aside about an hour before dinner to make this fresh and reheat everything else.
Family Verdict: What’s not to love? Creamy mashed potatoes with a fresh, herby twist. Simple and absolutely delicious.
How to Serve This
Serve parsley champ warm with a pat of butter melting into the center. It pairs well with roasted meats, sausages, or even something simple like pan-seared chicken. It’s a creamy, comforting side that works with just about any savory main.
For St. Patrick’s Day, we served it as part of a traditional spread with Guinness Beef Stew, Traditional Irish Soda Bread and finished the meal with a Classic Irish Apple Cake for dessert.
⭐ Serving tip: Let the bread cool completely, then use a serrated knife to cut it into wedges, like a pie. This helps it hold together and keeps the crumb from falling apart.
Looking for more recipes from my cookbook collection? You can browse them all here.
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