Uploaded March 2023 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Nothing is more traditional around New England, and especially for Saint Patrick's feast day than a hearty New England Boiled Dinner with Corned Beef & Cabbage! If you've never tried this delicious dish, print up the recipe below, call your friends over for dinner, and crack open some Guinness Stout and Irish soda bread, too!
RECIPE:
Corned beef comes in two types; red and gray, and in two cuts; point and flat, and are all from the brisket, and all are cooked the same way.
Use a very large vessel that will allow meat, cabbage, potatoes, onions, and carrots to be completely immersed, with at least three inches above the water level. Stainless steel is greatly preferred over aluminum when cooking salt cured meats, as aluminum will oxidize. Over large, empty pot, slice bag open and empty contents, reserving all liquids, then rinse bag with cold water into cooking pot. Look for package of spices that may be packaged with beef and either toss out or use, depending on preferences.
For each brisket:
1 large 3” onion, studded with 12 whole cloves.
3 ribs celery, whole
2 Tbs. dried or two sprigs fresh parsley
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 garlic cloves, split
1-1/2 tsp. pickling spice, or use packaged spices that came with beef.
2 tsp. capers
2 bay leaves
1 bunch carrots, peeled and halved
1 whole green cabbage, quartered
8 white whole new or red potatoes, traditionally with skins on (never use Idaho, Russet, or any starchy potato; they dissolve and become mushy)
4-6 yellow onions
DIRECTIONS:
Place corned beef with package juices rinsed from bag into large, deep pot. Toss in bagged spices in cheesecloth, add celery, and garnished onion. Cover beef with cold water and bring to boil; then, remove foam if desired from top with slotted spoon. Reduce to simmer and cook, covered, for one hour per pound. Meat is done when a 2 tine fork slides fully in and out easily. Place beef in a covered baking dish in a 250° F oven with some liquid.
Add vegetable and increase heat until it returns to a simmer. Allow about 1-1/2 hours for cabbage, and about 25 to 30 minutes for other vegetables.
Keep aside sufficient stock to reheat any leftovers, or for soup.
Allow to rest for another five minutes before slicing diagonally across grain.
Serve with beets, cider vinegar Irish soda bread and some Guinness Stout and have a nice Saint Patrick's day!
HINT: Strained with cheesecloth and defatted, the stock is especially good for Polish cabbage, mushroom, and other soups.
Nothing is more traditional around New England, and especially for Saint Patrick's feast day than a hearty New England Boiled Dinner with Corned Beef & Cabbage! If you've never tried this delicious dish, print up the recipe below, call your friends over for dinner, and crack open some Guinness Stout and Irish soda bread, too!
RECIPE:
Corned beef comes in two types; red and gray, and in two cuts; point and flat, and are all from the brisket, and all are cooked the same way.
Use a very large vessel that will allow meat, cabbage, potatoes, onions, and carrots to be completely immersed, with at least three inches above the water level. Stainless steel is greatly preferred over aluminum when cooking salt cured meats, as aluminum will oxidize. Over large, empty pot, slice bag open and empty contents, reserving all liquids, then rinse bag with cold water into cooking pot. Look for package of spices that may be packaged with beef and either toss out or use, depending on preferences.
For each brisket:
1 large 3” onion, studded with 12 whole cloves.
3 ribs celery, whole
2 Tbs. dried or two sprigs fresh parsley
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. black pepper
3 garlic cloves, split
1-1/2 tsp. pickling spice, or use packaged spices that came with beef.
2 tsp. capers
2 bay leaves
1 bunch carrots, peeled and halved
1 whole green cabbage, quartered
8 white whole new or red potatoes, traditionally with skins on (never use Idaho, Russet, or any starchy potato; they dissolve and become mushy)
4-6 yellow onions
DIRECTIONS:
Place corned beef with package juices rinsed from bag into large, deep pot. Toss in bagged spices in cheesecloth, add celery, and garnished onion. Cover beef with cold water and bring to boil; then, remove foam if desired from top with slotted spoon. Reduce to simmer and cook, covered, for one hour per pound. Meat is done when a 2 tine fork slides fully in and out easily. Place beef in a covered baking dish in a 250° F oven with some liquid.
Add vegetable and increase heat until it returns to a simmer. Allow about 1-1/2 hours for cabbage, and about 25 to 30 minutes for other vegetables.
Keep aside sufficient stock to reheat any leftovers, or for soup.
Allow to rest for another five minutes before slicing diagonally across grain.
Serve with beets, cider vinegar Irish soda bread and some Guinness Stout and have a nice Saint Patrick's day!
HINT: Strained with cheesecloth and defatted, the stock is especially good for Polish cabbage, mushroom, and other soups.
