If someone asks what to serve on St. Patrick’s Day, the answer will most likely be “corned beef and cabbage.”

Corning means curing or pickling the meat in a seasoned brine. The word refers to the “corns” or grains of kosher (or other coarse) salt that are mixed with water to make the brine. Typically, corned beef is made from brisket. The dish has many regional variations and seasonings.

Historical note: Irish immigrants adapted corned beef from their Jewish neighbors on New York’s Lower East Side as a cheaper alternative to Irish bacon. This led to the development of corned beef and cabbage, the now-traditional Irish-American dish. Smoking a corned beef, and adding extra spices, produces pastrami.

Also try this Potato, Cabbage & Cheddar Casserole.