Irish dishes to make this St. Patrick’s Day that are NOT corned beef and cabbage

Irish stew
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St. Patrick’s Day is almost here! Many people around the country will be making corned beef and cabbage in honor of the holiday… and many young children will be begging their parents for peanut butter and jelly instead.

Okay, maybe that was just me. Every year my mom would make corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day to celebrate my father’s Irish heritage, and every year I would slowly and sneakily hide my portion in a napkin in my lap. (I also hid the beef in my shoes once, but that didn’t work out as well.)

That being said, I would still like to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! What’s a lass to do? Don’t worry, there are some amazing Irish recipes you can make this St. Paddy’s that have NOTHING to do with corned beef. Check them out:

Irish Cheddar Fondue With Stout And Whiskey

cheddar and stout fondue
Serious Eats

Did you know that Ireland is famous for more than just Guinness and potatoes? They also make a mean cheddar. This delicious fondue recipe from Serious Eats is SO simple to make, and absolutely delicious. (Bonus points: Your kids can’t hide fondue in a napkin… and they definitely won’t want to once they give this a taste.)

Colcannon

Homemade Irish Potato Colcannon
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Speaking of potatoes, colcannon is THE classic Irish potato dish. Traditionally, a ring and/or a thimble would be hidden in the dish. Made with mashed potatoes, kale (or cabbage) and lots of butter and cream, it’s the perfect comfort side. Get the recipe here.

 

Boxty

BOXTY
Irish American Mom

Many of us know potato pancakes as a Jewish tradition, but the Irish have their own take on the tater cake as well. Known as boxty, it is prepared similarly to a traditional latke. It’s deeply rooted in Irish history, and it even has its own folk rhyme: “Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan; if you can’t make a boxty, you’ll never get a man!” Boxty can be served with butter, and it also generally comes with a side of bacon. Get the recipe here from Irish American Mom.

Guinness And Irish Cheddar Macaroni and Cheese

Guinness-and-irish-Cheddar-Macaroni-and-Cheese-4
Celebrating Sweets

This recipe from Celebrating Sweets will have you turning your nose up at Kraft Macaroni and Cheese forevermore. The complexity of the Guinness with the rich cheddar cheese and buttery breadcrumbs will have you saying “Éirinn go Brách!” (That’s “Ireland forever!”) even if you don’t have a hint of Irish in ya.

Irish Stew

Dinner At The Zoo

Irish stew comes in so many different varieties. There are purists out there who will argue that a true Irish stew should not contain root vegetables (carrots, turnips, etc.) but only potatoes, mutton, onions and water. But, personally, I think if our Irish ancestors would have had access to Whole Foods or Costco, they would have filled up their stew up with all kinds of veggies and herbs. Check out this take on Irish Stew from Dinner At The Zoo.

Irish Oatmeal With Hot Buttered Cinnamon Apples

irish oats
An Edible Mosiac

Irish oats have become quite popular in recent years as they have a lower gylcemic load than rolled oats, making them ideal for folks watching their sugar and carbs. This recipe from An Edible Mosiac makes Irish oats a decadent but healthy way to start off St. Paddy’s morning… or any morning!

Dublin Coddle

Bowl of Dublin coddle on a metal cooling rack
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Dublin Coddle (or simply, coddle) is an Irish dish that was borne out of a desire to use up leftovers and avoid food waste. Since then, it has become a common specialty on the Emerald Isle. It is traditionally made with sausage, bacon, onion and potatoes, and this recipe includes an additional nod to Ireland—a bottle of Guinness.

 

Irish Barmbrack

Irish-Barmbrack-Halloween-Bread-9062.21 (1)
Curious Cuisiniere

Known as “brack” in Ireland, this fruity, cake-like bread is a Halloween staple in Ireland. Items would be baked into the brack (such as a small coin, a rag, a pea, a ring, etc.). Each of the items would have a different meaning and would foretell one’s coming future. Don’t be discouraged by the fall flavors of this dish. A slice will pair perfectly with an Irish coffee, a stout or even a glass of red wine, and it’s about as authentically Irish as you can get. Check out this recipe from Curious Cuisiniere or this one in “The Irish Times.”

 

Happy St. Paddy’s Day, everyone! As they say in Ireland:

“May your neighbors respect you,
Troubles neglect you,
The angels protect you,
And Heaven accept you.”

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About the Author
Bridget Sharkey
Bridget Sharkey is a freelance writer covering pop culture, beauty, food, health and nature.

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