Eat, Drink, and Be Irish

March 17th is only a week away, and with the Irish holiday’s growing popularity there may be cause to go over the traditional dishes we eat. Because while it is a day to honor the patron saint of Ireland, St Patrick’s Day is mainly about food, drinks and a jolly good time. In this article, we will explore some of the most popular and traditional dishes that people eat on this festive occasion. Because chugging Guinness requires the occasional snack in between!

Corned beef

One of the most iconic foods of St Patrick’s Day is corned beef, often with a side of cabbage. The salt-cured beef brisket is boiled together with cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and spices. The result is flavourful and tender meat, a dynamite broth and veggies infused with umami-meaty tones. It is believed that the Irish immigrants in the United States adapted this dish from the Jewish delis in New York, where they could find cheap cuts of beef. Corned beef and cabbage is a hearty meal that is easy to prepare and serve, and goes great with your favourite pint!

Even though it’s a simple enough dish with few ingredients and elements, there are of course tips & trick on how to elevate your corned beef game. Brian Lagerstrom is here to save the day with sharing his secrets to the perfect corned beef and cabbage!

Irish stew

Another classic dish of St Patrick’s Day is Irish stew. This is a simple and comforting dish that is made with lamb or beef, potatoes, onions, carrots, and herbs. To make it extra Irish, we strongly recommend you add Guinness or another stout to the broth. The subtle bitterness from the hops, and toastiness from the malt, gives the gravy a depth of flavor that is un-beatable. The meat can be either on the bone or cut into chunks, and the stew is cooked slowly until the meat is tender and the broth is thick and flavorful. This stew is a staple of Irish cuisine and can be enjoyed all year round, but especially on cold and rainy days. And let’s be honest, there are a lot of cold and rainy days on Ireland!

One steady (sham)rock when it comes to Irish culinary favourites is Food Wishes, a.k.a. Chef John. We have dusted off his classic version of the stew. In addition to Guinness, there is also bacon, which adds additional flavour and depth to the dish. And even though it’s a few years cold, culinary perfection never goes out of style!

Colcannon

If you are looking for something more vegetarian-friendly, you might want to try colcannon. This also works as a perfect side to the Irish stew, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to double down on your Irish food voyage. This is a dish of mashed potatoes mixed with scallion, butter, milk and cabbage (from the corned beef, triple whammy!). To make it extra decadent, add a nice cheddar or another flavourful cheese. Besides being popular around St Patrick’s day, it’s also considered a Halloween dish in Ireland. When served, there are coins or charms are hidden inside for luck. We sure hope they have free dental in Ireland..

It’s easy enough to make colcannon, so you’re probably fine without a recipe or a video. Just don’t skimp on the butter, and feel free to add whatever you feel will enhance the mash! In case you want some extra hand-holding, Laura in the Kitchen is here to assist. In her version of the mash she uses heavy cream instead of milk, which is generally always a good idea.

Irish soda bread

For when you want to scoop up the remains of the stew, or have some leftover corned beef, you can’t go wrong with a slice of Irish soda bread.

Side note. Have we thanked soda bread enough? Not having to deal with yeast or waiting for a dough to rise. Not having to realize something wasn’t the right temperature, or that Venus wasn’t in conjunction with Mars. Thank you baking soda! End of side note.

The Irish soda bread is a quick bread that is made with flour, baking soda, salt, buttermilk, dried fruit and sometimes caraway seeds. Feel free to experiment!

When experimenting it’s always nice to have a solid foundation to begin with. We recommend you use Barefoot Contessa‘s well-tested version of the bread. For flavour she uses dried currants and orange zest, so either you try it her way, or find your own. It will most likely be delicious either way! If you’re not too creative, we suppose..

Guinness

Not giving Guinness a separate section in an article about St Patrick’s day is a capital offense. Most likely you already have an opinion of the rich stout. But if you want to dive a bit deeper into the pro tips on how to pour, how long it should sit before drinking and how it’s made – Check out this video with Brad Leone. He will take you down the rabbit hole at the Guinness Factory. You can also be a bit more unorthodox and try this recipe of a Guinness Espresso Martini by Join Jules.

@join_jules Who says you can’t make a Guinness Espresso Martini? Not me 👋🏼 I also didn’t realize it’s national espresso martini day? So here’s a new one to try that’s festive for St Patrick’s Day Also fun fact, I don’t drink beer but Guinness is the only beer I’ll drink. So for all my beer lovers out there here’s my best attempt at a beer cocktail 🤷🏼‍♀️ In a cocktail shaker add: 1.5 oz vodka 3/4 oz coffee liqueur 1/2 oz chocolate syrup Shot of espresso, about 2 oz 2 oz Irish stout, like Guinness Add ice & shake! Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with fresh grated chocolate shavings & espresso beans! Xoxo, cheers! #joinjules #espresso #espressomartini #nationalespressomartiniday #irishstout #guinness #stpatricksday #cocktailrecipes #drinkrecipes ♬ Drake Over Strings Version – STRINGS FROM PARIS

In conclusion, whether by blood or by spirit, on March 17th we’re all Irish. So go find a shamrock, dye something green, and join us in the Paddy’s festivities!