St. Patrick's Day Recipe Ideas

I've heard that dressin up in green color brings you good luck when worn on St. Patrick's day. Cooking green food might bring you luck too! I gathered a few dishes that are the perfect color to be part of your St. Patrick's Day celebration. They would make a leprechaun “green” with envy (I think that's a recylced joke). Sorry but I couldn’t resist... Enjoy!

If you're searching for savory green dishes, visit the link. 

Kale Pesto Pasta Recipe

If you're looking for a vibrantly green dish to serve this St. Patrick’s Day, this kale cashew pesto fits the bill. To the kale I added Greek Myzithra cheese (unpasteurized sheep cheese) and cashew nuts. Pesto is a very versatile sauce that provides as much flexibility as it does flavor. You just have to keep in mind 3 main elements: greens, nuts and hard cheese.

The inspiration for this pesto came from Gary, a PhamFatale.com reader. Gary had sent me an email for guidance about a sauce for ravioli he had purchased at my favorite local market, The Milk Pail in Mountain View (by the way, if you live in the Bay Area, don't hesitate to shop there and show your support!). Gary bought the Milk Pail's specialty Thai Curry ravioli and didn't know what sauce to serve on the pasta. At his house, no one's keen on a milk-based sauce so he was looking for something with less milk or cream. I suggested a pesto made of flat-leaf parsley, Thai Curry cheddar cheese (using the same kind of cheese as in the ravioli filling) and peanuts. I'll post the recipe soon. Gary's family tried the pesto ravioli over the weekend and it got two thumbs up. Yay! 

Mary Garrigan from Rapid City Journal published a couple of St. Patrick’s Day-friendly recipes from my first book, Haute Potato. Check them out if you’re still in search of St. Patrick’s Day recipes!

Creamy Pesto Polenta Recipe

In this recipe I brightened a creamy polenta dish with homemade pesto. The pesto is made with parsley, pine nuts and roasted garlic. To ensure fluffy polenta, I incorporated whipped cream. The result is spectacular, almost dessert-like.

This delicious side dish pairs wonderfully with beef steaks. I’ve also served it with a red cabbage coleslaw so the colors pop on the plate. You know the saying: you eat with your eyes first!

Kale Potato Salad Recipe

Since the girls are on summer break, they've asked to join me in my morning workouts. After our workout is done, I put them to work helping me make lunch. A refreshing smoothie at the end of a jog is all the incentive they need!

Cooking with kids is a great way to instill healthy eating habits. Today we prepared an iron-filled potato and kale salad. We also added sugar snap peas, asparagus, tomatoes and a little cheese. 

Che Thai Recipe

Che Thai is a Vietnamese interpretation of a Thai dessert. It's made of a combination of coconut milk, half and half and pandan flavorings. This makes the base of the dessert, the rest is up to you. I usually add whatever I have available; it can be fresh jackfruit, longans, lychees, pomegranate seeds or agar agar jelly.

I have a funny anecdote about this dessert. When I first introduced it to my husband's family, everyone was very pleased and surprised by how refreshing it tasted, especially Lulu's uncle, Ibbu Mamu. It was a really hot summer day and I can still picture him, eating cup after cup of che Thai. At some point, he asked for the recipe. "Jackie, I love this dessert, it's so light and refreshing". After I listed off the ingredients though, he kind of freaked out, seeing as he had just polished off two very large cups!