Whether it’s a special occasion or just a simple meal, traditional Irish food is hearty and filling.
It’s a cuisine that has developed from centuries of social and political change, predominantly with other European cultures. It combines the ingredients and cooking styles associated with Ireland, and it is a cuisine that has been enjoyed around the world.
Soda Bread
Soda bread is a quick bread that doesn’t require yeast and can be made easily in the kitchen. It requires just four ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, and buttermilk.
The key to getting a flaky, tender crust in this recipe is cutting cold butter into the dry ingredients. This helps the dough to bind together without overworking it.
This simple dough comes together quickly, and you can bake it in a cast iron skillet. Alternatively, you can make the dough in a large bowl.
To ensure the bread cooks evenly, score the top before baking with a sharp knife. Traditionally, Irish soda bread is scored with a cross, but you can also score it with a rounded cut.
Coddle
Traditionally made in the 1700s, Dublin coddle is a grab-what-you-have kind of stew that simmers low and slow to peak deliciousness. Its building blocks are bacon, sausage, onions, and potatoes, and they all meld together into one flavorful bowl of comfort.
It’s made in a Dutch oven and cooked slowly in the oven to yield an incredibly savory dish that’s perfect served with a slice of Irish soda bread! It’s also a great make-ahead meal that keeps well in the fridge.
The recipe is pretty straightforward, but you’ll want to brown the sausage and bacon before adding them to the pot. This helps give the sauce a rich, meaty flavor and it’s worth doing!
Bangers & Mash
The classic British and Irish dish, Bangers & Mash is an easy and inexpensive meal that makes a great weeknight dinner. It consists of pan-seared sausages over mashed potatoes and is topped with a rich onion gravy.
A mildly flavored pork sausage is the traditional banger for this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite. The dish is a comfort food favorite and is also a staple at many pubs in Ireland.
The dish comes together easily and can be made ahead of time. The key is making sure the sausages are cooked properly before transferring to the oven.
Fry
A meal containing battered fried fish, french fries, coleslaw, macaroni salad and sometimes lemon slices. It is a popular dish in upstate New York and northwestern Pennsylvania.
Traditionally, fry was made with lard. Now a variety of vegetable oils can be used.
The best fries are made with starchy potatoes such as Maris Piper or King Edward. These potatoes have a high smoking point, which means they can be fried quickly and are also more likely to turn out crispy.
Frying is always a balance of getting the outside crispy and the inside soft and moist. If the outside is too crisp, it will burn before the inside is cooked.
If you are unsure of your oil temperature, you can use a thermometer. Alternatively, test by dropping a small fry into the oil and see how it sizzles. If it immediately sputters and sizzles aggressively, lower the heat.