Irish Food: 23 Popular Dishes to Try + 4 Secret Recipe Tips
Diana Barkley
(Senior Editor)
Irish food is a reflection of the country’s agricultural abundance and historical influences. Like all ethnic cuisines, the Irish folks managed to put a modern twist on their dishes while preserving the authenticity of traditional recipes – which we’ll explore here.
Traditional Irish dishes often feature lamb, potatoes, and a variety of vegetables, owing to the country’s key driver of the economy: agriculture.
In this article, we’ll delve into all the traditional Irish dishes, from colcannon to soda bread and Irish coffee. Keep reading for the tastiest yet easiest dishes that’ll soon be staples on your dinner table.
Traditional Irish Cuisine: More Than Mashed Potatoes and Black Pudding
Traditional Irish Cuisine: More Than Mashed Potatoes and Black Pudding
The Irish are famous for potatoes and pudding. However, their cuisine is much richer than that. In fact, potatoes are only one ingredient—they can be incorporated into many Irish dishes, making for some unique and delicious dishes.
Most Popular Street Food in Ireland
Most Popular Street Food in Ireland
Generally, Irish food isn’t considered street food. After all, most Irish dishes are big, hearty, and best-shared.
You can’t mention street food in Ireland without talking about fish and chips – a weird combination for foreigners, but a delicacy that only people who have tasted authentic street food come to appreciate. Though this dish is popular all across Britain, it’s exceptionally abundant in Ireland.
This fast food typically consists of cod fish dipped in a fizzy, tangy batter and fried. As for the chips, the Irish have their twist. Instead of cutting the potatoes long and thin, Irish chips are thick potato wedges. Once deep-fried, they’re crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside.
The dish is served with a tangy tartar sauce and seasonings on the chips.
Irish Food in the World
Irish Food in the World
Irish food has made its way into the world in numerous ways. For starters, most potato dishes have Irish origins, such as hashbrowns and shepherd’s pie. In particular, Ireland is incredibly popular for the variety of beverages produced and consumed in the country.
How Healthy Irish Food Is
How Healthy Irish Food Is
Irish food is heartwarmingly delicious. Unfortunately, it isn’t the most healthy cuisine out there. If you were to look at the ingredients of Irish food on their own, you’d find plenty of fresh vegetables and healthy seafood.
Yet, these ingredients are insignificant compared to the amount of starch in Irish cuisine, namely potatoes and bread.
Consuming Irish food for every meal might pose a health risk, especially if you don’t eat healthy snacks in the middle of your day, such as raw vegetables, fruits, and nuts.
Famous and Popular Irish Dishes You Have to Try
Famous and Popular Irish Dishes You Have to Try
There are countless Irish dishes out there, with hundreds of distinct recipes. If you’re craving Irish food, though, some distinct meals might come to mind. These include the following:
Cabbage and Mashed Potatoes (Colcannon)
Cabbage and Mashed Potatoes (Colcannon)
Despite the complex name, colcannon is an easy Irish staple. This dish is simply mashed potatoes and cabbage. The versatile mixture makes the perfect main dish, side, snack, and filling.
While there are many varieties of colcannon, you can’t go wrong with the basic version. All you have to do is mix the mashed potatoes, cabbage, and your favorite spices.
The beauty of colcannon is that it can include any vegetables and spices you have on hand. After all, the dish was created to make use of the vegetables you might have growing in your garden.
As a result, every Irish household has its distinct colcannon recipe, each promising to be the best, most authentic one.
If you’re looking for the perfect colcannon recipe, we’ve got you covered. The base of the dish would have to be potatoes. Yukon gold potatoes tend to be best for mashing. As for the cabbage, go for fresh, green cabbage.
We recommend adding Irish butter to your colcannon, as well as leeks for an extra crunch. To spice up your dish, keep it simple with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.
Irish Stew
Irish Stew
Stew is a dish you’ll find on every Irish dinner table. Like all Irish food, this recipe is simple, requiring minimal prepping. The key to the perfect stew is the seasonings. You must also allow the stew to cook for as long as possible, letting the flavors merge beautifully.
Here’s the thing about Irish food: There’s no such thing as right or wrong ingredients. You can use whatever you have in your kitchen, and the dish will turn out perfectly hearty every single time.
The basic element of an Irish stew is your choice of meat, typically lamb. Start by browning your lamb in the bottom of a large stockpot. Sauté some garlic, leeks, onions, and your choice of other fragrant ingredients for only minutes. Then, deglaze with vegetable stock.
From here, all you have to do is cover the lamb with stock, add as much or as little vegetables as you like, and allow it to simmer for at least two hours.
For a thicker stew, we recommend grating a potato into your mixture. Alternatively, you can add a teaspoon of starch. Adding extra tomato paste, cabbage, and carrots will make for a richer and sweeter stew.
Ulster Fry
Ulster Fry
Irish breakfast is one of the most versatile, tasty breakfasts you’ll ever try. Ulster fry, hailing from the northern Irish province, has everything you need, from fried sausages and eggs to starchy soda bread. This exceptional start to your morning can be prepared in just one pan.
The first part of the Irish dish is the fry-up. In a hot pan, add a generous amount of butter, and fry all your favorite breakfast food. Typically, this consists of sausages, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, and black pudding.
The hearty dish doesn’t end there. If you have leftover mashed potatoes in the fridge, these should also be fried, creating a brand-new side called potato farls. Serve your breakfast with fresh soda bread and a cup of Irish coffee, and you’ll be ready to embark on your day.
Irish Barmbrack
Irish Barmbrack
Barmbrack is an Irish dessert similar to fruit bread. Yet, the warm loaf is twice as fragrant as regular bread loaves, yet isn’t overly sweet. This delicate balance makes Irish Barmbrack one of the must-try Irish desserts.
You don’t need expert baking skills to make a barmbrack loaf. After all, even if you mess up while baking bread, you’ll still end up with an appetizing loaf. Additionally, the ingredients of barmbrack make for a mouthwatering dish, no matter how well you follow the recipe.
In classic Irish fashion, you should soak the fruit in cold tea overnight. This step is crucial, as the sweetness of the fruit seeps into the liquid, which you’ll later use to make the barmbrack batter.
In our opinion, leaving the barmbrack bread to sit for one or two days is better than eating it fresh out of the oven because it allows the flavors to mix even more. For this reason, making a large batch of this bread is the way to go, as it’ll last you for days.
Coddle
Coddle
The Irish sure know how to transform every item in their kitchen into a warm, mouthwatering dish. Naturally, they’ve invented a tasty way to make use of leftovers.
Coddle, born in the 18th century, uses a variety of ingredients, differing from one household to the other. Yet, all Irish households share a love for coddle.
To make coddle, you need a large pot or a Dutch oven, where the ingredients can simmer on low heat for hours. This allows the leftovers to come together, creating a new flavor. The basic components of coddle include a protein source, such as sausages, plus onions and potatoes.
Then, you can add any other leftovers you have lying around. Season with your favorite herbs and spices and enjoy.
Soups and Salads
Soups and Salads
The Irish know how to make hot soup that feels like a warm hug in winter. Most Irish soups include seasonal vegetables and take only minutes to prepare. Salads aren’t as popular in Ireland, but there are still some recipes you can try. Here are some of our favorite dishes:
Colcannon Soup
Colcannon Soup
If you want to put a spin on the classic Irish colcannon, soup is just one of the many ways you can go. This dish can warm your soul, keeping your spirits high during the winter Holidays.
Colcannon soup relies on the warmth and heartiness of the potatoes instead of adding a ton of spices. The soup truly allows the simple ingredients to shine, making it the perfect dish to make if you haven’t been grocery shopping in a while.
Despite the rich and warm flavor, the soup requires absolutely no cooking talent. Just make your colcannon as you usually would, only you’ll mix it on the stovetop this time, and you’ll add a generous amount of Irish butter.
Once the ingredients are well incorporated, use an immersion blender to create the thick soup.
Pea and Mint Soup
Pea and Mint Soup
There’s no need to wait months for winter to have tasty soup. Pea and mint soup is the best way to welcome spring. It’s light, refreshing, and quick.
Pea and mint are a match made in heaven, especially if you’re using fresh summer peas. Still, this dish will be just as delicious if you only have frozen peas. You can thicken the soup with potatoes, though we prefer the delicacy of this light soup.
To make pea and mint soup, you only need to sauté some onion and garlic. Then, add your peas, mint, and vegetable stock. This combination does all the work for you, so there’s no need for extra ingredients or spices.
Add salt and pepper to taste, and purée the mixture until there are no pea chunks. You can serve it with heavy cream or Parmesan cheese or enjoy the soup as is.
Potato Cheddar Soup
Potato Cheddar Soup
Cheese and potatoes are a match made in heaven. Well, what if we told you that you could enjoy this blend as a heartwarming soup? Potato cheddar soup is a winter staple in every Irish home. Once you try it, it’ll be your best friend during the colder months.
The ingredients for this dish are in the name. However, adding chicken stock, butter, Worcestershire sauce, and celery makes for an even more flavorsome dish.
You can also add chili flakes for a spicy kick. While this wouldn’t be a part of the traditional recipe, Ireland is all about putting your spin on classic dishes.
Potato cheddar soup couldn’t be simpler to make. Just simmer all the ingredients for about 30 minutes, except the cheese. Then, blend your soup, slowly adding the cheese to the blender.
Irish Pub Salad
Irish Pub Salad
Whether you’re hosting a St. Paddy’s bash or you want a quick salad, Irish pub salad is the answer. Naturally, this salad takes minutes to prepare, and you can customize it using whatever greens you have on hand.
Irish pub salad usually includes tomatoes, lettuce, hard-boiled eggs, onions, and pickled green beans. Some varieties also include beets, and of course, potatoes.
Depending on your preference, all dressings perfectly complement this salad. However, if you want an authentic pub salad, you should go for tasty Irish cheddar or blue cheese as a dressing.
Starters, Sandwiches, and Sides
Starters, Sandwiches, and Sides
If there’s one thing the Irish know how to do, it’s to create an entire meal out of simple side dishes and starters. The best part is that these sides taste incredibly unique.
You can make them if you’re hosting a fancy dinner or having a St. Patrick’s party. You’ll definitely impress your guests either way.
Corned Beef
Corned Beef
Though corned beef has a close association with Saint Patrick’s Day, it isn’t an Irish dish. That said, Irish-American immigrants have long used corned beef in their recipes, hence the connection.
You can buy fresh or canned corned beef and use it in numerous recipes. Still, not only is making your own a satisfying, enriching experience, but you’ll also get to control the flavor and create interesting recipes with the beef.
Corned beef is essentially pickled beef. So, to make this tasty dish, you should cure the beef brisket in your brine of choice for about five to six days. Our perfect beef brine mixture consists of brown sugar, salt, black pepper, caraway, rosemary, and ground ginger.
For a mouthwatering tender brisket, drain the brisket, and simmer it on low heat for three hours. You can then serve it with cabbage, Yorkshire pudding, or mashed potatoes.
Dubliner Dip
Dubliner Dip
For a one-of-a-kind appetizer that’ll have your friends addicted, Dubliner is an Irish twist on the classic cheesy dip. Once you make this dip, it’ll become your go-to snack for St. Patrick’s Day, movie nights, and parties.
Though most Irish dishes require no effort, Dubliner dip needs a little elbow grease. Yet, the results will be worth it. The dip’s base consists of perfectly caramelized onions.
This should take about 40 minutes. Then, you’ll toss the onions in a bowl with equal parts cream and Dubliner cheese. Add a couple of tablespoons of mayonnaise along with your favorite seasonings.
The Dubliner dip should be ready. Yet, if you want to take it a step further, add it to an oven-safe dish, top it with extra Dubliner cheese, and roast until brown. This dip is best enjoyed with toasted rye.
Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire Pudding
While Yorkshire pudding isn’t a traditional Irish dish, this appetizer is still widely enjoyed on the Emerald Isle. That’s because this baked good is straightforward and easy to make.
There are numerous Yorkshire pudding tips out there, from using cold batter to adding water and egg yolks. Well, while some of these tricks might work, we find that the tastiest foods are the simplest.
So, combining the ingredients and baking will still result in one of the most appetizing British dishes you can have.
The most important aspect of baking Yorkshire pudding is getting the ratios right. The more liquid you use, the more the batter will rise. However, the interior might not be as soft.
For this reason, we recommend using two parts liquid for each part dry ingredient, making for the ideal crunchy exterior and fluffy pudding.
Colcannon Puffs
Colcannon Puffs
As far as Irish recipes go, colcannon puffs are the most versatile. This simple recipe can be an entrée, a side, a soup, and a main dish, depending on how you prepare it. So, why not bake the mashed potatoes and cabbage mixture, making impressive puffs that take minutes to prepare?
To make these puffs, pick your favorite colcannon recipe, or wing it as you go, then shape the puffs. From here, the sky’s your limit.
For starters, you can place the colcannon puffs on a baking sheet and bake until golden for a healthy entrée.
Alternatively, coating the puffs with breadcrumbs and deep-frying will result in a heartwarming appetizer. You might also fill the middle with cheddar, giving your family a cheesy surprise.
Mains
Mains
Any recipe in our guide can be transformed into an Irish main dish if you combine it with soda bread and roast potatoes.
Still, if you want an authentic main meal, you probably know a couple of Irish recipes without realizing these dishes have Irish origins. Here are a couple of must-try Irish main dishes:
Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s Pie
Shepherd’s pie is everyone’s favorite traditional food for a reason. It’s wholesome, healthy, warm, and delicious. Even if you’ve never stepped foot in the kitchen before, you’ll be able to make this Irish dish.
Shepherd’s pie consists of three parts: the meat, the potatoes, and the baking. As the name suggests, the pie’s main ingredient is minced lamb meat.
In true Irish fashion, you start by sautéing your favorite vegetables, including peas, carrots, and onions. Afterward, cook down the meat, and add a little vegetable broth and flour to thicken the mixture.
As for the mashed potatoes, you can choose any recipe of your liking. However, we absolutely love adding a bit of Parmesan cheese and butter to the potatoes, creating a creamy bechamel-like sauce.
Assemble the dish, top with more cheese, and bake for 30 minutes. Once the top is golden, let the pie rest for 15 minutes, then dig in.
Sausages and Champ
Sausages and Champ
If you haven’t already noticed, sausages and potatoes are the main ingredients of Irish cuisine. Naturally, sausages and champ is one of the most popular Irish mains. The dish might be straightforward, but it’s incredibly addicting.
Champ is essentially colcannon, only scallions are used in place of the cabbage. You can choose your favorite type of sausages and make the gravy of your choice. Yet, there are a couple of tricks you need to take note of.
Sausages and champ might be a simple main dish, but making this perfect meal relies entirely on timing. You should cook the three elements of the dish simultaneously. If one part gets cold or stale, it’ll ruin the hearty experience.
We recommend boiling the potatoes first, as these take the longest to soften. Then, make your caramelized onion gravy, which should take 30 to 40 minutes. Finish by searing the sausages in the same pan as the onions, and serve immediately.
Boxty
Boxty
If you have some leftover mashed potatoes sitting in the fridge, seize this opportunity to make boxty. The classic Irish dish includes two types of potatoes, mashed and fresh grated. Once you fry this mixture, you’ll indulge in a tasty mouthfeel unlike any other.
Boxty are savory pancakes with potatoes as the main ingredient. To make this delicious dish, all you have to do is coat the grated potatoes with flour and add the mashed potatoes, the eggs, and the milk. Then, fry your boxty in butter or olive oil.
This isn’t a dish you want to serve cold, as the consistency will become chewy. Instead, serve boxty fresh with sausages or as a side. If you make too much batter, don’t worry. Simply cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge until the next time you’re craving boxty.
Seafood Chowder
Seafood Chowder
While many cultures have their own variations of seafood chowder, Irish seafood chowder is unparalleled. Though fresh fish is better for this recipe, it’s so addicting that you’ll still love it if you only have frozen seafood.
Traditional Irish seafood chowder consists of codfish, salmon, prawns, and crab meat. You can also add mussels, prawns, or any other seafood you like. Just make sure the flavors complement each other.
It’s as simple as cooking the fish and adding all the other chowder ingredients. Having said that, to make the ideal Irish seafood chowder, you should cook the fish separately in some milk and spices. Then, strain the fish, and add the milk to potatoes and vegetables boiled in fish stock.
Lastly, add heavy cream and flour to the fish stock to make the chowder. Combine the fish and the chowder together, season with salt and pepper, and enjoy. You can serve the chowder on its own, with a side of mash, or with soda bread.
Irish Pasties
Irish Pasties
A pillowy pastry dough encompassing a warm, hearty filling—what more could you want in a dish? Irish pasties might taste complex, but they’re one of the easiest main dishes to make. You can get ready-made pie crusts, cutting your preparation time in half.
You can use any leftovers or vegetables you have as fillings. Yet, if you want the traditional, Irish pasty recipe, we suggest using a mixture of steak, potatoes, and cabbages.
This doesn’t mean you need to prepare complex fillings, though. Instead, you can use leftover hasbrowns, corned beef, or fill your pasties with colcannon.
The trick is to freshen the fillings by adding a bit of Irish butter. Additionally, brush your folded pies with eggs for a golden crust. You can also bake mini Irish pasties for an on-the-go lunch.
If that’s not enough, making large batches of Irish pasties and storing them in the freezer can be a lifesaver for those days when you’re too lazy to whip up a meal.
Bread, Pastries, and Dessert
Bread, Pastries, and Dessert
Bread is an essential part of Irish cuisine. Naturally, there are many simple varieties that you can master in no time, even if it’s your first time using the oven.
While many beginners might be apprehensive about baking, you shouldn’t worry when attempting Irish pastries and desserts. These are some of the simplest, fool-proof dishes you can make.
Irish Soda Bread
Irish Soda Bread
Baking bread might seem daunting. Yet, Irish soda bread is a beginner-friendly, yet tasty way to get you into baking. The most difficult part about making bread is getting it to rise right. Well, this Irish recipe doesn’t call for any yeast. Instead, it relies on baking soda and buttermilk.
You also don’t need to wait for the bread dough to rise. Once you combine the ingredients, place the loaf in the oven. When the bread is golden brown, let it cool for an hour before cutting and serving.
As for the taste, Irish soda bread is dense, with a flavor similar to biscuits. If you opt for the traditional recipe, the raisins should add a sweet kick to the bread. Though, if you don’t like raisins, the loaf will be just as delicious without this ingredient.
Irish Bread Pudding
Irish Bread Pudding
Irish cuisine isn’t all potatoes and bread. You can also satisfy your sweet tooth with this Irish bread pudding drizzled with a sweet caramel sauce. The ingredients might seem fancy, but the preparation couldn’t be easier.
As the name suggests, Irish bread pudding requires bread, typically white brioche bread. From there, the recipe is simple. Start by toasting the bread. Then, combine all the ingredients in a baking dish. Bake until golden and enjoy with caramel sauce.
If you want to make this dish even fancier, you might add an array of nuts and fruits to the pudding, such as almonds, pecans, and plums.
Irish Potato Candies
Irish Potato Candies
Potatoes seem like an essential element of all Irish recipes. However, Irish potato candies don’t contain the starchy vegetable, despite the misleading name. You can think of this tasty dessert as balls of cheesecake that look just like potatoes.
Irish potato candies require absolutely no baking. They’re the perfect dessert to make if you’re craving cheesecake, but can’t be bothered to turn on the oven. The best part about these no-bake desserts is that they’re ready in less than ten minutes.
Simply mix the cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar together, adjusting the sweetness to your taste. Add some butter and vanilla extract for a richer flavor. Then, the coconut flakes create a rougher texture, so you can shape the dessert into balls.
If you don’t like coconut, you can also use cocoa powder or powdered milk. Roll your cheese balls in cinnamon to get the signature Irish potato shape. Let your candies chill for 10 minutes, and enjoy.
Cast Iron Apple Cake
Cast Iron Apple Cake
Cast iron Irish apple cake is a heritage dish that has simple ingredients, but amazing flavor. The cast iron pan evenly conducts the heat across the cake. So, you won’t end up with a burnt cake with a mushy interior. The skillet also crisps the exterior of the cake just right.
If you don’t own a cast iron skillet, you can still bake this tasty cake in a foil-lined cake pan. The cake recipe is straightforward. Though, you should add some spices, such as nutmeg, cloves, and cinnamon. Then, pour the batter in your pan, and spread thinly sliced apples on top.
The Irish apple cake is halfway between an apple pie and a cake. You can top it with whipped cream, powdered sugar, or ice cream. Make sure you enjoy it while fresh.
Irish Chocolate Cake
Irish Chocolate Cake
A rich, moist, chocolaty cake—what more could you want from a dessert? You might’ve had your fair share of chocolate cakes and desserts, but in our humble opinion, this recipe comes on top.
Just a couple of splashes of plain sparkling water will add air and activate the baking soda, refining the texture of the cake.
For a sweeter taste, you can also add your favorite Irish soda; just make sure it’s unflavored. For an even more flavorsome cake, you can top with an Irish chocolate frosting.
Secret Recipe Tips
Secret Recipe Tips
By now, you probably know how Irish cuisine has some of the easiest dishes to make, with countless variations. Each person has their own version of each Irish dish. Accordingly, regardless of how you make the food, it’ll turn out perfect.
Still, if you want a couple of tips that’ll elevate your Irish dish, check out some of our Irish cooking hacks.
- Irish Food Is Best Served Fresh: Though there are many Irish dishes that use leftovers as the star ingredient, you shouldn’t serve the same dish cold or stale. Instead, freshen it up by heating it on the stovetop or transform it into an entirely new meal.
- Use Seasonal Vegetables: Irish food is all about the vegetables. If you have anything in your vegetable drawer, you’ll probably be able to use it in a recipe. So, make use of the versatility of Irish cuisine by incorporating fresh vegetables that are in season into your dishes.
- Less Prepping, More Cooking: While Irish food is easy to prepare, you need to give the dish its sweet time. The meat needs to become tender, the potatoes require time to turn buttery, and most importantly, the array of flavors must fuse together, seeping into each ingredient.
- Keep It Simple: The beauty and deliciousness of Irish cuisine stem from its simplicity. There’s no need for overpowering spices or complicated recipes. Irish dishes use whatever you have on hand without specific instructions. Then, all the blended flavors create a meal that feels like a warm hug.
Irish Beverages
Irish Beverages
An Irish meal isn’t complete without a tasty beverage that complements the hearty dishes. An Irish soda would do the trick. However, why not take your kitchen skills one step further by learning to make some classic Irish drinks? Here are some of our top recipes.
Irish Shillelagh
Irish Shillelagh
There’s no drink more Irish than the shillelagh. This beverage is zesty, fruity, fresh, and sweet. While it looks incredibly impressive, its preparation is as straightforward as it gets.
To make this mouthwatering drink, you simply shake one part lemon juice for each five parts peach juice. Then, add some raspberries as a garnish.
Since this drink is already sweet, you won’t need to add extra sugar. Still, if you have a sweet tooth, a couple of teaspoons of powdered sugar will instantly curb your craving.
Emerald Isle
Emerald Isle
If Ireland was a color, it’d be a brilliant, emerald green. Well, the beverage, named after the country, pays homage to its homeland through its color. Though green drinks are typically unappetizing, a glass of Emerald Isle is what dreams are made of.
Here’s the kicker: You can enjoy this mocktail in seconds by combining sparkling apple cider with crème de menthe syrup. Stir to mix the ingredients, and garnish with fresh mint.
Banana Leprechauns
Banana Leprechauns
If you’re looking for a thick, fresh smoothie that takes seconds to make, banana leprechauns are the solution. Keep in mind that you’ll have to make large batches of this smoothie since it’ll be gone in seconds. All you need is some bananas, mint, and a blender.
The resulting drink should have a tinge of green, depending on your choice of mint. If you want a green beverage for St. Patrick’s Day, some food dye should do the trick.
Ingredients
Ingredients
As you’ve probably noticed in the above recipes, there are a couple of widely beloved Irish ingredients. Not only do these ingredients add an Irish flavor to any dish you’re making, but you can also mix and match any of the following to create various Irish meals:
- Fresh Vegetables: The Irish are rather handy when it comes to using vegetables in their food. You can use any combination of vegetables, adding them to any meal. Accordingly, there is rarely an Irish dish that doesn’t contain seasonal vegetables as a main ingredient.
- Fish: The Emerald Isle has some of the best fresh seafood in the U.K. Accordingly, you’ll find fish and chips restaurants at every corner of Ireland. Seafood platters are also an Irish staple.
- Potatoes: Irish cuisine is synonymous with potatoes. In fact, a decline in the Irish potato crop can be catastrophic for the country. This versatile root vegetable is the main component of almost every Irish dish.
- Dairy: You might be familiar with Swiss and French cheese varieties, but did you know Ireland also produces excellent cheese? Dairy, cream, and cheese are key elements of numerous Irish dishes. Even if you simply sprinkle some cheese on top of your dish, it makes the biggest difference.
Herbs and Spices
Herbs and Spices
Undoubtedly, Irish cuisine keeps it simple when it comes to herbs and spices. Unlike Asian or Mediterranean cuisine, Irish food is all about letting the flavors of the ingredients shine, rather than relying on spices.
Still, there are a couple of herbs and spices that you might use while cooking Irish food, including: Thyme, Parsley, Rosemary, Garlic, Onion and Caraway.
Irish Food Culture
Irish Food Culture
Though Ireland is closely tied to the Western world, you’ll still find some cultural distinctions. These are particularly evident in the country’s cuisine. Some of the unique characteristics of food in Ireland include the following.
Eating Habits
Eating Habits
The eating habits in Ireland are somewhat surprising. The dishes are hearty and dense, mostly consisting of main meals rather than snacks.
Irish people share some similar dishes with other Western cultures, such as mashed potatoes, shepherd’s pie, and sausages. That said, these are their main nutrition sources.
Breakfast is served as soon as you wake up, with lunch not being served before 12 p.m. During the weekends, many Irish people skip lunch altogether. Instead, they take an early, dense dinner anywhere from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Meal Structure
Meal Structure
The Irish meal structure is rather filled with carbohydrates. A typical meal consists mainly of potatoes, a side of soda bread, vegetables, and meat. However, unlike other cuisines where vegetables are served as a hefty side, Irish dishes incorporate vegetables into the dish itself.
Moreover, fruit is somewhat absent from most Irish meals, while beverages are an essential addition.
Etiquette
Etiquette
Irish dining etiquette is similar to other Western meal etiquette. Eating is done using the appropriate utensils, with your hands placed in your lap whenever you’re not eating. Though dinner guests are treated like close family, you must be respectful of everyone at the dinner table.
(40 votes, average: 4.90 out of 5)You need to be a registered member to rate this.
Loading...
