24 St. Patrick's Day Recipes, From Corned Beef and Cabbage to Irish Soda Bread (2024)

FAQs

What are three traditional dishes of St Patrick's Day? ›

The Rise of Corned Beef

Long deprived of the beef that was salted by Irish hands, the migrants gladly purchased the food they finally could afford. Although the kosher cut was different from the beef their great grandparents enjoyed, the meal became a comfort for the newly-minted Americans.

Corned beef and cabbage is not the national dish of Ireland. You would not eat this dish on St. Patrick's Day in Dublin. It is usually only eaten around the religious holiday in the US.

It's also a symbol of celebration, baked in droves in the lead up to Saint Patrick's Day. However, the humble soda bread began as an affordable necessity and was the solution to many food problems facing Ireland at the time.

When it comes to dinner on St. Patrick's Day, the most popular meal is corned beef and cabbage—often accompanied by a green beer or two. The boiled dinner and its liquid accompaniment dominate the menu of Irish bars and restaurants up and down the country on March 17, and many home cooks serve the dish, too.

The Americans particularly those that think of themselves as Irish-Americans eat corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick's day, a tradition that does not exist in Ireland. The Irish might have a nice Ulster Fry, Soda Bread, Scones or an Irish Stew with Colcannon.

Unlike American bacon, Irish bacon is made from the back of the pig instead of the belly and is much leaner than streaky bacon. I used a presliced Irish bacon for this recipe but whole versions are available in British specialty shops. Most of the flavor in this dish comes from the bacon that you choose.

Unfortunately, as demand grew for Irish corned beef, the price spiked high enough that, once again, the very people who made it could not afford to eat it. They settled for pork and a new crop, the Irish potato.

A traditional full Irish breakfast comprises bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, soda bread or toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, and white or black pudding.

In celebration of the life of their patron Saint, Irish Christians removed the restrictions associated with Lent on this day and threw large parties to commemorate his death. The second reason beer and St. Patrick's Day are so closely tied has to do with the Irish immigration of the 1840s.

Why does Irish soda bread have a cross? ›

Some say it kept the Devil out, but that is what a cross is supposed to do also. Turns out that is true but more importantly, it helps in the baking of the bread. On St. Patrick's Day we always had brown soda bread and Irish Stew, either lamb or beef or better yet a combination.

The main difference between sourdough bread and soda bread is in its leavening agent – sourdough bread rises due to the gasses released from yeast and bacteria fermentation, while soda bread rises from the gasses produced during the chemical interaction between baking soda and acids in the dough.

After corned beef and cabbage, one of the more popular traditional St. Patrick's Day food items is shepherd's pie. Minced lamb and mashed potatoes baked to perfection is the perfect entree food for those who aren't in the mood for beef. Or, for those who don't consume beef for religious or cultural reasons.

Colcannon and champ

Colcannon is a classic, comforting mash of potatoes, cabbage (or kale) and butter (or cream), flavoured with spring onions. Champ is a similar, mashed potato favourite, flavoured with spring onions, milk and butter.

Patrick's Day Recipes You'll Want to Make Year-Round. Celebrate with comforting classics like corned beef and cabbage, colcannon, Irish soda bread and more.