Ireland is known for its alcoholic beverages, but the cuisine here is mostly centered on meat, potatoes, and vegetables. That means there are tons of comfort foods to choose from when you’re hosting a potluck.
A classic Irish stew is made with mutton or beef, onions, carrots, and potatoes. It can be cooked over low heat for hours and topped with Guinness.
Corned Beef
Corned beef is a classic Irish dish that’s easy to make and makes great leftovers. A flat-cut brisket is brined and slow cooked, turning it into super tender, flavorful corned beef.
It’s an easy meal to make that you can serve for any occasion! This slow cooker recipe with potatoes and cabbage is hearty, filling and full of delicious Irish flavor.
Potatoes are one of the most important ingredients in Irish cooking. During the 1700s, potatoes were cheap and easy to grow, making them a staple in the diet of peasants.
Potatoes and Cabbage
Cabbage has been a staple of European cuisine since the Middle Ages. It is a fresh-tasting vegetable with crunchy leaves that store well in cold climates.
It is a versatile food that can be used in salads, side dishes or as a base for soups. It can be steamed, boiled, or sautéed.
When buying cabbage, look for firm and tightly packed heads that are bright green on the outside with a crisp, fresh scent. Avoid those that are shriveled, wilted, or bruised.
There are many traditional Irish dishes that utilize potatoes and cabbage. One of these is Dublin coddle, a hearty and comforting one-pot stew that is great for a potluck dinner or as a family meal.
Shephard’s Pie
A traditional Irish dish, shephard’s pie is a stew of meat, root vegetables and mashed potatoes topped with puff pastry. It’s a big job, but it also represents the ultimate in comfort food and is well worth the effort.
The history of this recipe is as rich as the flavors that are bound together in its savory glory. It’s a family favorite that has stood the test of time.
The recipe is easy to make, but it does require a bit of prep work. The trick is to simmer the beef a day in advance, which will both break up the process and allow the flavors to develop over time.
Irish Soda Bread
Irish soda bread is a staple on irish tables served alongside breakfast, afternoon tea and stew or soup at dinner. Its crusty exterior provides a satisfying crunch and its buttery, tender crumb soaks up broth or gravy like a giant biscuit.
In Ireland, it’s often studded with raisins and caraway seeds. But what most of us call “Irish soda bread” in the United States is a more rich and sweet version, which often includes eggs and butter.
Soda bread is leavened with baking soda (which is derived from pearl ash), rather than yeast, and is one of the easiest Irish recipes to make. It’s easy to adapt to different flavours with simple additions of butter, jam or jelly and dried fruit.
Barmbrack
Barmbrack, also known as bairin breac or speckled loaf, is a Gaelic word that means “speckled bread.” It’s a traditional Irish fruitcake which has been a feature of Halloween celebrations for centuries. Traditionally, it was baked with charms, including a pea, a stick, a piece of cloth, a coin and a ring.
The charms were meant to tell the fortune of the person who discovered them. If you received a pea, it was said that you would never marry; if you were lucky enough to get a ring, you’d be married within the year. It’s a tasty treat, enjoyed all on its own or toasted and slathered with butter.