15 delicious recipes to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

Feb 17, 2023 | food & drink

St. Patrick’s Day, celebrated on March 17th, is not just about wearing green and searching for that elusive pot of gold. It’s also an opportunity to dive into Irish culture, and what better way to do that than through its rich culinary heritage? Here are 15 delicious recipes that will make your St. Patrick’s Day celebration unforgettable.

1. Corned Beef and Cabbage

This classic Irish-American dish is a must-have. Slow-cooked corned beef, tender cabbage, and hearty vegetables make for a comforting and festive meal.

Recipe:

  • 3 lbs corned beef brisket
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 medium cabbage, cut into wedges
  • 4 large carrots, peeled and cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 8 small potatoes, quartered
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Place the corned beef, onion, garlic, and bay leaves in a large pot and cover with water.
  2. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 2-3 hours.
  3. Add potatoes and carrots, and cook for another 15 minutes.
  4. Finally, add the cabbage and cook for an additional 15-20 minutes until tender.
  5. Slice the corned beef and serve with vegetables.

2. Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s Pie, with its savory ground lamb (or beef) and vegetable filling topped with creamy mashed potatoes, is quintessential Irish comfort food.

Recipe:

  • 1 lb ground lamb or beef
  • 1 onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 cup frozen peas
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Brown the meat in a skillet. Add onions and carrots and cook until softened.
  2. Add peas, tomato paste, and broth. Simmer until sauce thickens.
  3. Meanwhile, boil potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
  4. Place meat mixture in a baking dish. Spread mashed potatoes on top.
  5. Bake at 375°F for 30 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Irish Soda Bread

This traditional bread is dense, slightly sweet, and quick to make. Best served warm with a generous spread of butter.

Recipe:

  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
  • 1 egg

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F.
  2. Mix flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and butter.
  3. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and the egg.
  4. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly.
  5. Form dough into a round and place on a greased baking sheet.
  6. Cut an ‘X’ on the top and bake for 45-50 minutes.

4. Boxty (Irish Potato Pancakes)

These Irish potato pancakes are made from grated potatoes and are incredibly versatile, working well as a side or main dish.

Recipe:

  • 4 large potatoes, peeled
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Butter for frying

Instructions:

  1. Grate half of the potatoes and place them in a cloth. Squeeze out as much liquid as you can.
  2. Mash the other half of the potatoes and mix them with the grated ones.
  3. Add flour, buttermilk, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix until combined.
  4. Melt butter in a skillet. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot butter.
  5. Cook until golden brown on both sides.

5. Guinness Stew

Infused with the iconic Irish stout, this rich and robust stew is loaded with tender meat and vegetables.

Recipe:

  • 2 lbs stewing beef
  • 4 tbsp flour
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 tbsp butter
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 bottle Guinness
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 2 potatoes, cubed

Instructions:

  1. Toss beef with flour, salt, and pepper.
  2. Melt butter in a pot and brown the beef.
  3. Add onions, garlic, and carrots, and cook until onions are softened.
  4. Add Guinness, beef broth, and potatoes. Bring to a boil.
  5. Reduce heat and simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours until beef is tender.

6. Colcannon

A traditional Irish dish combining mashed potatoes, cabbage, and green onions with butter and cream.

Recipe:

  • 5 potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 4 cups chopped cabbage
  • 1 cup chopped green onions
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

  1. Boil potatoes until tender. Mash with butter and cream.
  2. Boil cabbage and onions until tender, drain.
  3. Mix cabbage and onions into mashed potatoes.
  4. Season with salt and pepper.

7. Irish Cream Chocolate Mousse

This silky, rich chocolate mousse, with a hint of Irish cream, makes for a decadent dessert.

Recipe:

  • 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Melt chocolate chips and Irish cream over low heat, stirring until smooth.
  2. In another bowl, whip cream until stiff peaks form. Fold in vanilla.
  3. Gradually fold whipped cream into the chocolate mixture.
  4. Spoon into dessert dishes and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

8. Bangers and Mash

An unpretentious but satisfying dish, consisting of sausages (bangers) served over mashed potatoes and covered in gravy.

Recipe:

  • 6 pork sausages
  • 4 large potatoes, peeled and chopped
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tbsp all-purpose flour

Instructions:

  1. Cook sausages in a skillet until browned and cooked through.
  2. Boil potatoes until tender, then drain. Mash with butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
  3. In the same skillet, sauté onion until browned. Add flour and cook for one minute.
  4. Gradually stir in beef broth. Simmer until thickened.
  5. Serve sausages over mashed potatoes, topped with onion gravy.

9. Traditional Irish Breakfast

Celebrate with a hearty breakfast that includes black and white pudding, sausages, bacon, eggs, and tomatoes.

Recipe:

  • 2 slices black pudding
  • 2 slices white pudding
  • 2 sausages
  • 2 rashers bacon
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tomato, halved
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • Toast and baked beans (optional)

Instructions:

  1. Cook the black and white pudding, sausages, and bacon in a skillet.
  2. In a separate pan, melt the butter and fry the eggs.
  3. Grill the tomato halves.
  4. Serve everything hot with toast and baked beans on the side if desired.

10. Irish Coffee

Keep the festivities going with this combination of hot coffee, Irish whiskey, and sugar, topped with cream.

Recipe:

  • 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 oz Irish whiskey
  • Heavy cream, slightly whipped

Instructions:

  1. Pour hot coffee into a mug until about 3/4 full.
  2. Mix in brown sugar until dissolved.
  3. Blend in Irish whiskey.
  4. Top with a collar of whipped heavy cream by pouring gently over the back of a spoon.

11. Beef and Guinness Pie

This hearty pie is made with a filling of tender beef and vegetables cooked in Guinness and is enclosed in a flaky pastry.

Recipe:

  • 2 lbs stewing beef, cut into cubes
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 2 carrots, chopped
  • 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
  • 1 bottle Guinness
  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 sheet puff pastry

Instructions:

  1. Brown the beef in a pot. Add onions, carrots, and mushrooms and cook for 10 minutes.
  2. Add Guinness, beef broth, tomato paste, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 1.5 hours.
  3. Transfer to a pie dish. Cover with puff pastry, pressing edges to seal.
  4. Bake at 375°F for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

12. Smoked Salmon on Brown Bread

For a lighter option, try smoked salmon served on dense brown bread with butter, capers, and lemon wedges.

Recipe:

  • 8 slices of brown bread
  • 4 tbsp softened butter
  • 8 oz smoked salmon
  • 1 tbsp capers
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Instructions:

  1. Spread butter on slices of brown bread.
  2. Arrange smoked salmon on top of the bread.
  3. Garnish with capers and serve with lemon wedges.

13. Leprechaun Punch

A fun and festive drink for all ages – mix lime sherbet with lemon-lime soda and pineapple juice for a delightful green punch.

Recipe:

  • 1 quart lime sherbet
  • 2 liters lemon-lime soda
  • 1 cup pineapple juice
  • Green food coloring (optional)
  • Ice cubes

Instructions:

  1. In a large punch bowl, combine lime sherbet, lemon-lime soda, and pineapple juice.
  2. Stir until well mixed. Add a few drops of green food coloring if desired.
  3. Add ice cubes to keep it chilled.
  4. Serve in cups with a ladle.

14. Dublin Coddle

This one-pot wonder combines sausage, potatoes, and onions. It’s a humble, hearty, and quintessentially Irish dish.

Recipe:

  • 6 pork sausages
  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped
  • 2 onions, sliced
  • 4 large potatoes, sliced
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions:

  1. In a large pot, brown the sausages and bacon.
  2. Add onions and cook until softened.
  3. Add potatoes, chicken broth, salt, and pepper.
  4. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until potatoes are tender.
  5. Garnish with chopped parsley before serving.

15. Irish Apple Cake

End the feast with a slice of warm apple cake with a slight hint of spice, served with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Recipe:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/8 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 6 oz unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and thinly sliced
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp sugar (for topping)

Instructions:

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.
  2. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, salt, cloves, and nutmeg.
  3. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time.
  4. Alternately add dry ingredients and milk to the butter mixture.
  5. Fold in the apples, and pour the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of sugar.
  6. Bake for 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
  7. Let cool before serving. Serve with a dollop of fresh whipped cream.

Conclusion

St. Patrick’s Day is an occasion that calls for the celebration of Irish culture, and what better way to do this than through the delights of Irish cuisine? From hearty main dishes to sweet desserts and festive drinks, these recipes are sure to bring the luck of the Irish to your table. Don your green attire, gather your friends and family, and make this St. Patrick’s Day a gastronomic adventure to remember.