5 Irish Dishes for Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Menus
As an important Catholic feast day, St. Patrick’s Day is all about food—and Irish food in particular. Of course, it’s not exactly the best-known cuisine; the nation is much better known for its booze. However, the Emerald Isle has plenty of culinary gems.
So forget about the green food colouring. As we prepare our menus for the 17th March, here’s a list of truly traditional dishes.
Colcannon
One of the most authentic yet versatile Irish dishes is a good old bowl of colcannon. In Irish, cál ceannann means ‘white-headed cabbage’ but traditionally the dish uses kale. The other three ingredients are potatoes, butter, and milk. You can also add scallions and Irish cheddar, spinach, leeks, butternut squash, and so on. It is, in short, a great veggie option for St. Patrick’s Day; however, you could also add a little bacon. Not just any old bacon, though. It has to be…
Irish bacon
Irish bacon is thicker and meatier and comes from the back of the pig. Although the Irish might have it for breakfast, they eat it in other meals too—particularly with cabbage. And they usually just cook it til it’s done, as opposed to cooking til crispy.
Soda bread
Despite its iconic status, soda bread is a recent invention. It wasn’t until the mid-19th century, in fact, when baking soda became widely available, that soda bread became popular in Ireland. Nevertheless, it pairs well with all sorts. One of our favourite dishes is soda bread with Irish smoked salmon, capers, and dill—or simply some fresh Irish kelp.
Irish stew
On the pastures of Ireland, spring brings lambs—and lamb stew is a St. Patrick’s Day mainstay. In addition to onions, potato, and carrots, this traditional Irish stew may also contain turnips, celery, and pearl barley.
Boozy desserts
From rhubarb tart with whiskey cream to Guinness chocolate cake, there’s nothing like a boozy dessert to finish a feast of St. Patrick. Sure, you could opt for a sober oatmeal scone, but this is a boozy occasion. Our personal favourite in this department is a rich Baileys cheesecake—particularly in lieu of an actual Irish coffee.
Feeling spoilt for choice? How about a small selection of canapes instead of a single meal? Not only are canapes an elegant way to pay tribute to the flavours of Ireland; they also won’t leave your guests too full to enjoy the Paddy’s Day parade. And they pair excellently with drinks.
Get in touch to find out more about our special St. Patrick’s Day menus