Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (2024)

by RetroRuth | Mar 12, 2014 | Beef, Holiday, Main Dishes, St. Patrick's Day | 23 comments

St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! And what better way to celebrate then with a corned beef gelatin mold!

This is Hearty Corned Beef Salad.

And yes, I’m serious.

Hearty Corned Beef Salad

Author: Betty Crocker Step by Step Recipes, 1975

Ingredients

  • 1 cup boiling water
  • 1 pkg (3 oz) lemon flavored gelatin
  • 2 T vinegar
  • 1 can (12 oz) corned beef
  • 2 medium stalks celery, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 medium green pepper, chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small onion, chopped (about 1/4 cup)
  • 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
  • 1 cup mayo or salad dressing
  • 2 tsp horseradish
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • salad greens

Instructions

  1. Pour boiling water on gelatin in large bowl; stir until gelatin is dissolved. Stir in vinegar and refrigerate until slightly thickened, about an hour
  2. Break up corned beef with a fork. Stir corned beef and remaining ingredients (except salad greens) into gelatin mixture.
  3. Pour mixture into 6 1/2 cup gelatin mold. Refrigerate until set, about 2 hours. Unmold on salad greens. Salad can be stored up to 48 hours.

When you are making crazy stuff like this, you have to take some joy in the small, non-insane details. Every time I use my vintage metal egg slicer, it makes me happy. No modern egg slicers are even half as good as this one!

To bad this poor sliced egg is going to end up in a corned beef gelatin mold.

Yep. This seems about right.

Of course, this thing smelled pretty terrible. But there was worse to come.

This is where this recipe gets a little crazy. It molded just fine and unmolded fine as well, but when I went to cut this thing I got a horrible surprise.

It made this sucking sound. This horrible, wet sucking sound, like when you pull the skin off of half frozen chicken. Or when you are cutting raw meat off the bone. It was incredibly creepy. I could feel the little hairs on the back of my neck standing up every time I did it.

So, of course, I kept doing it.

Tom came in the room just as I was cutting the mold into it’s last slice.

“Holy crap, is that coming from that corned beef thing?”

“Yes.”

“That’s a frickin’ creepy sound.”

“I know!”

“It sounds like someone eating someone else. It should be on The Walking Dead.”

“Okay, that’s gross.”

“No, what’s gross is that sound.”

“Well, guess what? Now you get to eat it.”

“Great.” He took his slice and sat down, and cut a piece off with his fork. “Ugh. It’s making that sound again.”

“How horrible is it?”

“I love it.”

“Shut up! Seriously?”

“Yes.”

“You know, maybe you have been eating too many gelatins.”

“Or drinking too many drinks. There might be lots of reasons.”

The Verdict: Good

From Tom’s Tasting Notes –

Surprisingly sweet yet delicious. Raw onions are a bit overpowering. A bit like a sweet (German) potato salad. If there were fewer onions, I could eat a lot of this…or maybe it’s the grasshoppers talking.

From Ruth’s Tasting Notes –

Actually not that bad, but way too sweet for me. I don’t know who the…person is who decided that sweet lemon gelatin could be made savory by adding vinegar to it, but it DOESN’T WORK. It might actually have beendelicious if the gelatin had been plain with just some lemon juice like this potato salad gelatin. Also, I picked out all the onions. Onions in sweet gelatin are an abomination. I’m not kidding.

  1. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (10)

    Lassieon March 12, 2014 at 11:28 am

    I was gonna say….plain gelatin, not lemon, and I would eat this thing! can’t account for the creepy sound, but food sometimes makes noises.

  2. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (11)

    Michellleon March 12, 2014 at 11:33 am

    I just about busted out laughing..hysterical!

  3. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (12)

    Poppyon March 12, 2014 at 12:09 pm

    Why didn’t they specify lime gelatin so it would be greener? We’ve already established that taste is apparently not the primary concern anyway…

  4. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (13)

    CATon March 12, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    I’m not a huge canned meat fan. Looking at your picture, I think you could substitute dog food, and it wouldn’t even matter!!! You are SO brave to try these recipes.

  5. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (14)

    Miaon March 12, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    This looks like what my dog hacked up on my bed the other day…

  6. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (15)

    Tipsykiton March 12, 2014 at 9:12 pm

    I was thinking the same thing about the gelatin! And that corned beef looks an awful lot like the contents of a can of cat food. And the picture of the whole mess being put into the mold made me gag a little bit, ugh.

  7. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (16)

    Susanon March 12, 2014 at 10:45 pm

    Cat – My thoughts EXACTLY.

    And how in heaven’s name did they ever convince their kids to eat this back in the 70s? (I was 25 at that time – I wouldn’t have TOUCHED this – it was disgusting even back then.)

  8. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (17)

    karenliseon March 13, 2014 at 1:08 pm

    Of all the recipes…………. I could not eat that one.

  9. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (18)

    celiaon March 13, 2014 at 9:43 pm

    Oh DAYUM. Anyhow we made glorious corned beef and roasted sprouts and new potatoes last week and used the leftovers in SOS. It was great. I would be on board(ish) for this with plain gelatin. Tom has jumped the shark.

    GUUURL it is almost lamb cake time and my four year old is full on ready. I am less ready and freaked out to bake one. And then decorate it? That seems like a lot of cake for four people. It’s happening though.

  10. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (19)

    Denita Ruhnowon March 14, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Maybe sub plain gelatin for the lemon, and minced cooked corned beef instead of the canned yuck? As for the sound…yeah, off-putting. But then, I get a mite queasy just hearing macaroni and cheese being stirred up. (C’mon, tell me I’m not the only one that gets squicked out by that wet smacky-crackly sound? Like millions of tiny leech mouths smacking hungrily. Eeeeeugh.)

  11. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (20)

    Carolon March 16, 2014 at 10:41 am

    i really am so glad that you actually give these old recipes a real shot instead of just making fun of them. honestly if someone set any of these old gelatin mold salads down in front of me i’d at least try it. and the fact that one or both of you actually like some of them is so fab! thanks so much for doing this – i really love your posts!

  12. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (21)

    Deeon March 20, 2014 at 5:37 pm

    I would almost try this just to hear the horrible sucking noise as you described it. Yes, I am that person. I would gleefully slice this up, while laughing maniacally. I’m not sure I would eat it though.

  13. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (22)

    Yinzerellaon March 17, 2016 at 10:09 am

    What is the pretty co*cktail in the picture?

  14. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (23)

    Dave Fon March 17, 2016 at 4:41 pm

    I always knew my mom forgot to buy boloney when, in high school, in the 60s, my lunch contained canned corn beef sandwiches. Actually was better than cheese sandwiches with ketchup.

  15. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (24)

    Cara Caraon March 20, 2016 at 4:23 am

    It appears to be a grasshopper

  16. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (26)

    T.C.on September 10, 2016 at 9:11 am

    Just read the lead-in article today on Yahoo! Then came over here for the recipe.

    Hate to tell you kids, but I’ve eaten stuff very much like this. My Mom and Dad were married during the depression. A lot of things in my house growing up were transferred from that time.

    I learned a lot about making do with what you have and I’ve always put those skills to work for me.

    Ask yourselves this – what would you do if you suddenly didn’t have all the things you have today? I hope you would all get creative to survive.

    This recipe isn’t that awful – especially when your tummy is grumbling!

  17. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (27)

    BARB PIETRANGELOon September 10, 2016 at 10:45 am

    I happened to have a can of corned beef in my pantry to make a reuben casserole-so I am going to give this a try……results to be advised!!!! My mom made me corned beef salad sandwiches that had green tomato relish mixed with salad dressing and she chopped the corned beef really finely. Pretty tasty.

  18. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (28)

    RetroRuthon September 10, 2016 at 11:04 am

    Go for it! 🙂 I would advise using unflavored gelatin and leaving out at least half of the onions. We’ve made this several times and it’s actually pretty good that way.

  19. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (29)

    RetroRuthon September 10, 2016 at 11:06 am

    This is a 1970’s version of a depression recipe, so I’m sure that the original recipe was much better. We ended up liking it, and it is even better if you use unflavored gelatin and halve the onions. Probably cheaper as well! 🙂

  20. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (30)

    Mark Brozakon September 10, 2016 at 12:22 pm

    This sounds interesting and I plan to try it, I think I have everything except the gelatin and “½ tsp sald”. Is that supposed to be “½ tsp salt”?

    This was “Posted on Mar 12 2014”, I’m surprised the culinary desk jockies that have commented in the past 2 years haven’t asked. I am going to make it so I’m asking to make sure.

  21. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (31)

    Paton September 10, 2016 at 1:45 pm

    Simple ingredients and a good flavor. Very easy to prepare, too.
    It is a nutritious dish. We used non-canned corned beef from the meat counter.
    We liked it.

  22. Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (32)

    RetroRuthon September 10, 2016 at 1:55 pm

    Yup, it’s salt! Sorry about that, I’ve fixed it. 🙂

Hearty Corned Beef Salad – A Mid-Century St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Test - Mid-Century Menu (2024)

FAQs

What do the Irish eat that's not corned beef? ›

Other Dishes Enjoyed for St.

Spring lamb comes into season around St. Patrick's Day, and roasts, such as a leg of lamb with rosemary, are popular. Pies are, too, such as fish pies (made with cod or haddock), shepherd's pie (ground lamb with a potato crust), or Guinness and Beef Pie, which is one of McKenna's favorites.

What do the Irish eat with corned beef? ›

The corned beef was paired with cabbage, as it was one of the cheapest vegetables available to Irish immigrants.

Why is corned beef called corned? ›

Corned beef, or salt beef in some Commonwealth countries, is salt-cured brisket of beef. The term comes from the treatment of the meat with large-grained rock salt, also called "corns" of salt. Sometimes, sugar and spices are added to corned beef recipes.

What do you serve at a St Patricks Day party? ›

17 St. Patrick's Day Party Food Ideas to Offer
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage.
  • Spinach Dip and Beer Bread.
  • Freshly Baked Irish Soda Bread.
  • Shepherd's Pie Bites.
  • Mini Irish Potato Skewers.
  • Green Pea Hummus and Pita Chips.
  • Potato Leek Soup Shots.
  • Irish Flag Veggie Platter.
Jan 29, 2024

What holiday food is eaten during St Patrick's Day? ›

After corned beef and cabbage, one of the more popular traditional St. Patrick's Day food items is shepherd's pie. Minced lamb and mashed potatoes baked to perfection is the perfect entree food for those who aren't in the mood for beef. Or, for those who don't consume beef for religious or cultural reasons.

Is it a sin to eat corned beef on St Patricks Day? ›

Catholics are obligated to not consume meat on Fridays during Lent, per the Catholic Bishops of the United States order. However, in certain coincidental circ*mstances -- such as St. Patrick's Day falling on a Friday in Lent -- the Diocesan Bishop has the authority to grant allowance from the Catholic obligation.

Is corned beef and cabbage really an Irish dish? ›

Corned beef is not considered an Irish national dish, and the connection with Saint Patrick's Day specifically originates as part of Irish-American culture, and is often part of their celebrations in North America. Corned beef was used as a substitute for bacon by Irish-American immigrants in the late 19th century.

Why do the Irish eat corned beef and cabbage? ›

The Irish immigrants also realized that cabbage was a more readily available vegetable in America than in Ireland, where it was traditionally a fall and winter vegetable. So they combined the corned beef with cabbage to create a hearty, filling meal that was reminiscent of their homeland.

Do people in Ireland eat corned beef? ›

The unpopularity of corned beef in Ireland comes from the Irish's relationship with beef in general. From early on, cattle in Ireland were not used for their meat but for their strength in the fields, for their milk and for the dairy products produced.

Why is a Reuben considered Irish? ›

While the Reuben sandwich itself doesn't have Irish roots (it was thought to be created in Omaha, Nebraska mid-poker game) the meat inside it – corned beef, does. Well, it kind of does. The Irish-corned beef relationship is considered to be much more Irish-American than it is purely Irish.

What animal does pastrami come from? ›

» Type of Cuts

While beef is the common meat source for corned beef and pastrami, they have different types of cuts. Usually, brisket is used for corned beef. It is the lower area of a cow's chest. Meanwhile, brisket for pastrami comes from the beef plate, shoulder, or cow's naval area.

What do the British call corned beef? ›

(In general British usage, fresh corned beef is called “salt beef,” while the canned version retains the “corned” designation.) Because brisket is a tough cut of beef, the brining process usually lasts for two or three weeks.

What did corned beef used to be called? ›

Originally the word "corn" came from the Germanic word "kurnam," meaning "small seed." In the 17th century, salted beef started taking on the name corned beef in some parts of England because of the large "kernels" of rock salt used to preserve it.

What is a typical St. Patrick's Day drink? ›

Sip on green beer, Irish coffee, Baileys and more — cheers! Nothing says St. Patrick's Day like a pint of Guinness or a frosty glass of green beer. While there's nothing wrong with keeping things simple, it's also fun to get creative with your drink menu.

What is the traditional St. Patrick's Day? ›

Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink and feast on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

What do you serve with corned beef and cabbage? ›

1. Roasted vegetables: Roasted carrots, parsnips, potatoes, or Brussels sprouts make flavorful and hearty side dishes that complement the savory flavors of corned beef. 2. Mashed potatoes: Creamy mashed potatoes are a classic accompaniment to corned beef, providing a comforting and satisfying addition to the meal.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6152

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.