Irish recipes for St. Patrick’s Day
In recent decades, St. Patrick’s Day has become a day of toasting to Irish heritage with pints of Guinness – or just pints of your favorite cheap beer dyed green. However, this isn’t the only way to enjoy the celebration of the great St. Patrick. Put your culinary academy skills to the test and cook up a traditional Irish dishes. And don’t forget the potatoes!
Irish Stew
Stew is a staple in many European cultures, and Irish culture is no different. Over the years, there have been many variations of the “traditional Irish stew,” but they all have one thing in common – they’re all delicious. This recipe is made up of lamb, two types of potatoes, onion and carrots, garnished with thyme, parsley, chives and pepper. Spring may be just around the corner, but it’s never too late to make a good, hearty soup.
Roast Lamb
While lamb is certainly a delicious dish on its own, prepare it in a special way this St. Patrick’s Day. This dish is prepared with a demi-glace and an herb pesto. The demi-glace can be made ahead of time, though the herb pesto should be prepared while the lamb leg is cooking. This pesto is made up of olive oil, garlic, basil, thyme, rosemary and salt. Once the lamb is done cooking, brush it with the pesto and let it sit for about 15 minutes before serving for the flavor to really sink in.
Jameson Ribs
OK, so maybe this isn’t a “traditional” Irish recipe, but it is made with a traditional Irish whiskey. After simmering your ribs for about an hour, marinate them in a mix of beer, garlic, paprika, Irish whiskey, chilies, mustard, black pepper, liquid smoke, parsley and salt water for a few hours. After cooking, you can also brush them with a glaze made up of onion, honey, ketchup, more whiskey and some demerara sugar for a little bit of sweetness.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
A list of Irish cuisine wouldn’t be complete without corned beef and cabbage. While you can always go to the grocery store and get a corned beef brisket and packet of spices to prepare it, why not try doing it yourself? This recipe is pretty simple, and after preparing your spice mixture, it just takes a few hours of simmering the brisket. Serve it on top of a bed of cabbage prepared any way you want.
Irish Soda Bread
Soda bread is another Irish favorite. Almost every Irish family has a recipe that’s been passed down for generations. If you’re not fortunate enough to have access to a generations-old recipe, this one will do the trick. Though it may be a little tricky to get the kneading down pat, the work will be worth it when you get your first taste of traditional soda bread. With this recipe, you can make one large loaf or two small ones – one for you and one for your friend.
