Traditional Irish Recipes for St. Patrick's Day

When raising young children, holidays are a time for festive activities and opportunities for kids to learn about history and traditions that came long before them. Welcome the St. Patrick’s Day season into your home early by planning a few fun Irish themed dishes to share with the family in the days leading up to this annual holiday. If you’re not sure where to start, here are our top St. Patrick’s Day recipe recommendations.

Irish Soda Bread

4 servings

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup white sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• 1/3-teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• ½ tablespoon caraway seeds
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 5/8-cup buttermilk
• ½ cup sour cream

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
• Grease a 6-inch round baking or cake pan.
• In a mixing bowl, combine your dry ingredients - flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, raisins and caraway seeds.
• In a separate small bowl, blend wet ingredients like eggs, buttermilk and sour cream.
• Stir the liquid mixture into flour mixture..
• Knead dough in bowl about 10 to 12 strokes. Dough will be sticky. Place the dough in the prepared skillet or pan and pat down.
• Cut a deep slit in the top of the bread and dust the top with about a tablespoon of flour.
• Bake in oven for 45 to 55 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire cooling rack.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 pounds spiced corned beef brisket (in marinade)
• 9 small golden potatoes
• 5 carrots, peeled and cut into 3-inch pieces
• 1 large head cabbage, cut into small wedges

Directions:

• Place corned beef in large pot and cover with water, adding in any additional spices to taste. Cover pot and bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Simmer approximately 2 hours or until tender.
• Add whole potatoes and carrots, and cook until the vegetables are almost tender.
• Add cabbage and cook for 15-20 more minutes.
• Remove meat and let rest 10 minutes.
• Serve meat with vegetables, adding as much remaining broth as you prefer.

Colcannon

4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 pounds potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 5-6 tbsp unsalted butter (add more to taste)
• 3 cups of chopped kale, spinach, or chard
• 3 green onions minced
• 1-cup milk or cream
• 2 tbsp salt (add more to taste)

Directions:

• Put the potatoes in a medium pot and add 2 tablespoons of salt to bring to a boil. Boil until the potatoes are fork tender (20 minutes). Then drain the cubed potatoes.
• Return the potatoes to a pot and set over medium-high heat on the stove.
• Melt butter in the pot and add the greens (kale, spinach, or chard).
• Cook the greens for 3-4 minutes, or until they are wilted and have given off some of their water.
• Add the green onions and cook 1 minute more.
• Pour in the milk or cream, mix well, and add the potatoes. Reduce the heat to medium.
• Mash the potatoes, mixing them up with the greens.
• Add salt to taste and serve hot, and topped with butter in the center.

Other traditional Irish foods include savory meat stews and pies, scones, cupcakes, cookies and shortbread. Don’t feel too limited by this list. Before the holiday celebrations arrive to your home, take a little bit of time to educate yourself on the topic of Ireland’s cuisine and culture, so that you have some interesting insight to share when your family finally gathers around the table.