Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (2024)

Irish cuisine may not be all that easy to identify, but trust us when we say you’re in for a warming, hearty and nourishing meal, every time. With melt-in-the-mouth beef and lamb dishes, and making use of the abundance of fresh seafood, Irish cooking is comfort food at its very best. Scroll through for a mixture of traditional Irish recipes, and modern takes on much-loved classics.

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Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (1)

01

Beef and guinness pie

[Beef and guinness pie]

This golden beef pie is classic comfort food; perfect for a cosy night in by the fire.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (2)

02

Shepherd’s pie

Shepherd’s pie

This is a proper, traditional shepherd’s pie recipe, made with chopped, cooked lamb rather than mince. One of the original waste-not-want-not meals.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (3)

03

Boxty

Boxty

Delicious and simple! Boxty is a traditional Irish pancake, made of mashed and grated potato.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (4)

04

Irish stew

Irish stew

Don’t wait for St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate this classic. The lamb should be so tender it falls off the bone and the gravy lightly thickened by the potatoes. Being Irish, there is always at least as many potatoes as meat!

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (5)

05

Irish soda bread rolls

Irish soda bread rolls

When you need bread in a hurry, Irish soda bread is the answer. Don’t be tempted to replace the buttermilk with regular milk, as the lactic acid combined with the bi-carb will ensure the bread rises sufficiently.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (7)

07

Smoked cod and cheddar pie

Smoked cod and cheddar pie

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (8)

08

Slow-cooked lamb shank pie

Slow-cooked lamb shank pie

Make the tender lamb filling a day early for an easier cook. The combination of juicy lamb and a buttery pastry makes for a meal so memorable, it’ll be worth all the effort you put in.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (9)

09

Slow-cooker beef, mushroom and red wine stew

Slow-cooker beef, mushroom and red wine stew

Warm, hearty and packed with mushrooms and bacon, this beef stew is slow-cooked in a fragrant red wine sauce to tender perfection.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (10)

10

Colcannon

Colcannon

Made from buttery mashed potatoes with either shredded cabbage or kale, colcannon is a classic Irish dish.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (11)

11

Irish fruit cake

Irish fruit cake

This fruit cake is a traditional Irish favourite. Although the inclusion of Irish whiskey makes it authentic, scotch, dark rum or brandy are fine substitutes.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (12)

12

Irish cream and dark chocolate mousse cake

Irish cream and dark chocolate mousse cake

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (13)

13

Chocolate & Irish cream croissant pudding

Chocolate & Irish cream croissant pudding

This rich, custardy bread and butter pudding is both light, thanks to the flaky croissants, and rich with chocolate and Irish cream. Serve with a dollop of cream or ice-cream.

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (14)

14

Irish coffee

Irish coffee

Sweet and spiked with liqueur, you can offer Irish coffee in place of traditional dessert.

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Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (15)

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Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes (2024)

FAQs

Celebrate St Patrick's Day with these traditional dishes? ›

Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish-American meal. Another tradition includes many Irish-American people in the United States eating corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. People also gather to watch parades of traditional Irish dancers and musicians as they march through city streets.

How do you traditionally celebrate St Patrick's Day? ›

Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional Irish-American meal. Another tradition includes many Irish-American people in the United States eating corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's Day. People also gather to watch parades of traditional Irish dancers and musicians as they march through city streets.

What is the traditional Irish dish? ›

Colcannon. The traditional Irish food pairs creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage. It can also feature greens like kale, scallions and leeks (its verdant color makes it a St. Patrick's Day classic) and is often served with boiled ham.

What are three popular traditions connected with St Patrick's Day? ›

St. Patrick's Day Traditions
  • The Shamrock.
  • Irish Music.
  • The Snake.
  • Corned Beef and St. Patrick's Day Foods.
  • Leprechauns.
Oct 27, 2009

What is popular Irish food for St. Patrick's Day? ›

The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.

What is the traditional meat eaten on Saint Patrick's Day? ›

The traditions of St. Patrick's Day in America are well known. We wear green, attend parades, and eat corned beef and cabbage. What's less known, however, is how corned beef became the centerpiece of the St.

What are 10 interesting facts about St. Patrick? ›

11 Interesting Facts About St. Patrick
  • He wasn't actually Irish. ...
  • Patrick was not his original name. ...
  • He was kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave. ...
  • He studied a lot about Christianity in Europe. ...
  • He claimed to have seen visions and heard voices. ...
  • Green was not the colour he actually wore. ...
  • He wrote two short works.
Jan 19, 2022

What happens if you don't wear green on St. Patrick's Day? ›

Patrick's Day tradition. While Ireland has plenty of folklore and mythology, Americans are also thought to have come up with the idea that green makes you invisible to leprechauns. According to the tradition, if you are not wearing green and therefore visible to the leprechauns, a leprechaun may wind up pinching you.

What is Ireland's national dish? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland. Within the dish are many of the ingredients synonymous with the island, potatoes being one of the most recognized.

What is the best food to eat in Ireland? ›

Discover the culinary staples with our tasty guide and check out what to eat in Ireland!
  • Irish Ice Cream. ...
  • Smoked Salmon. ...
  • Seafood. ...
  • Black and White Pudding. ...
  • Brown Bread. ...
  • Beer.

What are the food traditions for St. Patrick's Day? ›

The 10 Most Traditional St. Patrick's Day Food and Drink Ideas
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage. You can't get any more traditional on St. ...
  • Irish Stew. Lamb or mutton are the meat products that are in a traditional Irish stew. ...
  • Shepherd's Pie. ...
  • Dublin Coddle. ...
  • Colcannon. ...
  • Boxty. ...
  • Soda Bread. ...
  • Beer - Lots of Beer.
Feb 5, 2024

How is St. Patrick's Day traditionally celebrated? ›

The holiday has evolved into a celebration of Irish culture with parades, special foods, music, dancing, drinking and a whole lot of green.

What is the traditional main dish served at many St. Patrick's celebration in America? ›

Patrick's Day, the most popular meal is corned beef and cabbage—often accompanied by a green beer or two.

What food do you bring to a St. Patrick's Day party? ›

17 St. Patrick's Day Party Food Ideas to Offer
  • Corned Beef and Cabbage. You can't have a St. ...
  • Spinach Dip and Beer Bread. ...
  • Freshly Baked Irish Soda Bread. ...
  • Shepherd's Pie Bites. ...
  • Mini Irish Potato Skewers. ...
  • Green Pea Hummus and Pita Chips. ...
  • Potato Leek Soup Shots. ...
  • Irish Flag Veggie Platter.
Jan 29, 2024

What is the national dish of Ireland? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland. Within the dish are many of the ingredients synonymous with the island, potatoes being one of the most recognized.

What do they eat on St. Patrick's Day Green? ›

Green Food for St. Patrick's Day: 10 Ideas
  • Green Fruit Platters. Ripe and fresh produce are always delicious. ...
  • Spinach Dip. The natural and subtle hue of spinach will pair beautifully with the St. ...
  • Matcha Baked Goods. ...
  • Green Veggies and Dip. ...
  • Guacamole and Chips. ...
  • Green Smoothies. ...
  • Garden Risotto Bites. ...
  • Lime Coolers.
Feb 2, 2024

Why do we eat corned beef and cabbage at St. Patty's Day? ›

What has become a tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick's Day likely grew out of the fact that those foods were less expensive for immigrants who came to America. They substituted beef for pork and cabbage for potatoes.

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