Green Food Recipe Ideas for St. Patrick's Day

by Ann Hodgman, Posted Mar 11th 2010 @ 12:00PM

Wheatgrass. Photo: oklo, Flickr

St. Patrick's Day cooking is easy if you're a food-coloring addict. Green milk, green oatmeal, green butter, green cottage cheese -- these and everything else can be greened up with a few flicks of that little plastic jar. But what if you don't like using artificial stuff from little plastic jars? Then you need to turn to nature. Luckily, nature seems to favor the Irish: There are tons of healthy green-ifiers out there.

To make green mashed potatoes (that taste exactly the same as regular potatoes): Stir in half a cup of green peas that you've puréed with a tablespoon of milk. If you use frozen peas, they should be defrosted but don't need to be cooked.

Green bread crumbs for chicken: In a food processor, pulse 4 slices of toast with 1/2 cup chopped parsley until you've got, yes, green crumbs. Toss this mixture together with 4 ounces grated fresh Parmesan and 1 crushed garlic clove.

Speaking of garlic and Parmesan, don't forget pesto! In addition to its usual function as a pasta sauce, it too makes a great coating for chicken and fish. Or make green garlic bread with it.

And speaking of pasta, this is definitely the time to serve the spinach variety.

Isn't there a bottle of green crème de menthe way, way back in your liquor cabinet? Make a Shamrock Shake: 1 cup milk, 1 cup vanilla ice cream, and crème de menthe to taste.

Even if you never drink it, wheatgrass juice is a startlingly bright, neutral-tasting, fabulously healthy natural colorant. Buy a couple of ounces to add to rice, cooked pasta, mayonnaise, cream cheese, dips... You can even add a few drops to vanilla pudding or sugar cookie dough without noticeably changing the taste.

It's not exactly Irish, but guacamole is green, and there's no reason it can't be served at supper along with crudités or tortilla chips.

Although Key lime pie is one of the easiest, best desserts around, it's not especially green. But it can be if you top it with thin-sliced kiwis, especially if you use three kiwi rounds to form shamrocks. Add a shred of kiwi to make a stem.

Even if you don't like to cook with green food coloring, adding a few drops to the toilets in your house makes a lovely St. Patrick's surprise. It won't stain the toilet, either!

Filed Under: Holidays, How To
Tags: green food, how to make food green, st. patricks day

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-11-2010 @1:51PM amy3e said... How fun.. green mashed potatoes.. may try them..kids will get a kick out that! We are doing our annual st patrick's day party this weekend and I found so many fun ideas for games and contests and a festive dessert recipe at http://www.celebrationideasonline.com
Cutest printable Lucky Leprachaun bingo game.. free and should be fun for all.
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3-12-2010 @6:54AM quickmealhelp said... Thanks for your great green food ideas that rely on natural green coloring -- luv 'em! Gonna try the green breadcrumbs on chicken and tofu, along with this less-than-20-minute Spinach Pesto Pasta. It's easy and delish!
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