St. Patrick’s Day is a great time to enjoy traditional Irish food. Whether celebrating at home or hosting a gathering, cooking Irish dishes brings authenticity to the festivities. These recipes are simple, hearty, and use ingredients available in the UK.
Irish Stew
Irish stew is a classic comfort dish that is easy to make and packed with flavor.
Ingredients:
- 800g lamb or beef, cut into chunks
- 1kg potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 2 carrots, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 500ml beef or lamb stock
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil
Instructions:
- Heat oil in a large pot and brown the meat.
- Add onions and garlic, cooking until soft.
- Pour in the stock and add thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Add carrots and potatoes, simmering for 1.5–2 hours until tender.
- Serve hot with crusty bread.
Colcannon
Colcannon is a creamy mashed potato dish mixed with greens.
Ingredients:
- 1kg potatoes, peeled and chopped
- 200g cabbage or kale, finely chopped
- 100ml milk
- 50g butter
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
- Boil potatoes until soft, then drain.
- Sauté cabbage or kale in butter until wilted.
- Mash potatoes with milk, then mix in the greens.
- Season with salt and pepper, then serve warm.
Soda Bread
Soda bread is a quick and easy bread with a dense texture and slight tangy flavor.
Ingredients:
- 500g plain flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 400ml buttermilk
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan).
- Mix flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Gradually add buttermilk, stirring until a dough forms.
- Knead briefly, shape into a round, and place on a baking tray.
- Cut a deep cross on top and bake for 30–35 minutes.
- Cool before slicing.
Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)
Boxty is a crispy potato pancake, perfect as a side dish or snack.
Ingredients:
- 300g potatoes, grated
- 100g plain flour
- 1 egg
- 100ml milk
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Butter or oil for frying
Instructions:
- Squeeze excess liquid from grated potatoes.
- Mix with flour, egg, milk, salt, and pepper.
- Heat butter or oil in a pan and drop spoonfuls of batter.
- Cook until golden brown on both sides.
- Serve warm with butter or sour cream.
Guinness Chocolate Cake
A rich and moist cake made with Guinness for extra depth of flavor.
Ingredients:
- 250ml Guinness
- 250g butter
- 75g cocoa powder
- 400g sugar
- 2 eggs
- 150ml sour cream
- 275g plain flour
- 2 tsp baking soda
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan). Grease a cake tin.
- Heat Guinness and butter in a saucepan until melted.
- Stir in cocoa powder and sugar, then remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl, whisk eggs and sour cream.
- Add egg mixture to the Guinness mixture, then fold in flour and baking soda.
- Pour into tin and bake for 45–50 minutes.
- Let cool before serving.
These traditional Irish recipes bring authentic flavors to St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. Whether cooking a full meal or trying a simple dish, they add warmth and tradition to the occasion.
