22+ Easy Traditional Irish Recipes (2024)

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By Kristie Sawicki 1 Comment

Cooking Traditional Irish Recipes is a great way to connect with your heritage, celebrate Irish culture and history, and enjoy delicious dishes.

Many traditional Irish family meals have been passed down from generation to generation and represent an integral part of the national identity.

From warm soups and potatoes to stews and soups, here are some traditional Irish recipes for you to enjoy.

Below you’ll find several great traditional Irish dishes to make for St. Patrick’s Day!

22+ Easy Traditional Irish Recipes (1)

Irish Stew

A comforting bowl of this Irish Stew is always pleasing; even more so when it’s served with an Indian-style flatbread like naan or chapati, although potatoes work just as well as an accompaniment!

This recipe calls for mutton or lamb stewed until it’s falling off the bone in Guinness beer gravy – perfect for a rainy day!

Be sure to include plenty of carrots, onions, celery root and parsnips for additional depth of flavor.

Corned Beef & Cabbage

The classic dish of is a flavorful combination that has long been popular in Ireland.

The tender beef simmered in a savory broth made with vegetables, spices, beer or wine pairs perfectly with the crunchy cabbage or carrots and potatoes.

This recipe can be cooked on the stovetop, Instant Pot or slow cooker – all three methods yield a hearty dinner that’s full of flavor!

Boxty

Boxty is one of Ireland’s oldest dishes – it dates back as far as 1845!

It gets its name from bácstaidh which means “poor house bread” in Gaelic -a type of potato pancake made with shredded raw potatoes combined with cooked mashed ones, grated onion and flour before they’re fried up into golden patties.

For a heartier version, serve boxty topped with smoked salmon and other fillings.

Coddle

Coddle is a simple layered dish traditionally made from pork sausage links and rashers (bacon) amongst diced onions, potatoes and spices; however nowadays there are all kinds of variations on this recipe.

It’s best eaten freshly made but also works great reheated; making it ideal for busy families who want something filling but relatively quick to prepare after school or work hours.

Colcannon Potatoes

No meal would be complete without Colcannon potatoes – easily recognized by its bright green hue due to added kale or cabbage!

Boil up creamy potatoes then mash them while adding elements like sautéed bacon bits, scallions or parsley along with butter or cream cheese before spooning into oven-proof dishes ready for baking.

Serve these spuds up warm alongside whatever main course you’ve picked out ,and you’ll have a restaurant quality meal on your hands – minus the price tag!

22+ Easy Traditional Irish Recipes (2)

More Irish Recipes

More St. Patrick’s Day Recipes

If you like these St. Patrick’s Day recipes, you’ll love these ones too!

  • Original Irish Soda Bread– This authentic quick bread recipe is the best Irish Soda Bread you’ll serve at your kitchen table!
  • Irish Beef Stew– Tender and juicy seasoned beef loaded with a rich and decadent sauce that surrounds the tender beef and all the vegetables.
  • Homemade Shamrock Shakes– Delicious homemade green minty milkshake.
  • Irish Potato Candy– Contrary to the name, these little bite sized sweet treats have no mashed potato in them. That’s right! They get their name because they look like little potatoes.
  • Guinness Bread– This Guinness Bread is the perfect way to start your festivities this year.
  • Green Velvet Cupcakes– If you are looking for a fun St. Patrick’s Day recipe, try these Green Velvet Cupcakes with Baileys Cream Cheese Frosting!
  • Guinness Cupcakes with Bailey’s Buttercream– These are a delicious treat to add to your festivities.
  • Shamrock Shake – This copycat recipe tastese even better than the expensive ones from McDonald’s.

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About Kristie Sawicki

I'm the blogger behind Saving Dollars & Sense. I started this website over ten years ago, to share my journey out of debt, while living a simple, frugal lifestyle. You'll find lots of great MONEY SAVING TIPS, DIY PROJECTS, HOMEMADE RECIPES, SIMPLE LIVING IDEAS and MORE!! I'm so glad you're here.

22+ Easy Traditional Irish Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the main ingredient of many traditional Irish dishes? ›

Irish ingredients – from seafood, meat and dairy products to soda bread, oats and the ubiquitous potato – are the basis of Irish cuisine.

What are some traditional foods that are still enjoyed today in Ireland? ›

Top 10 Irish foods to try...
  • Soda bread. Every family in Ireland has its own recipe for soda bread, hand-written on flour-crusted note paper and wedged in among the cookery books. ...
  • Shellfish. ...
  • Irish stew. ...
  • Colcannon and champ. ...
  • Boxty. ...
  • Boiled bacon and cabbage. ...
  • Smoked salmon. ...
  • Black and white pudding.
Jan 12, 2015

What is the national food of Ireland? ›

Irish Stew is a thick, hearty dish of mutton, potatoes, and onions and undisputedly the national dish of Ireland. Within the dish are many of the ingredients synonymous with the island, potatoes being one of the most recognized.

Which meal is known as the full Irish? ›

(In Ulster in Northern Ireland the breakfast is also known as an "Ulster fry.") All full Irish breakfasts include some or all of the following: Bacon, sausages, baked beans, eggs, mushrooms, grilled tomatoes, and perhaps some cooked leftover potatoes made into a hash or a bubble and squeak.

What did the Irish eat besides potatoes? ›

Until the arrival of the potato in the 16th century, grains such as oats, wheat and barley, cooked either as porridge or bread, formed the staple of the Irish diet. The most common form of bread consisted of flatbread made from ground oats.

What is a true Irish dish? ›

Colcannon. The traditional Irish food pairs creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage. It can also feature greens like kale, scallions and leeks (its verdant color makes it a St. Patrick's Day classic) and is often served with boiled ham.

What is the most popular dessert in Ireland? ›

One of the most popular traditional desserts in Ireland is the Irish apple cake. It's made with lots of fresh apples that are readily available in the country. Originally, it was cooked by steaming crab apples over an open fire, but now it's more commonly baked in a cast-iron skillet or a tin for a crispy texture.

What is the staple food of Ireland? ›

The staples of the Irish diet have traditionally been potatoes, grains (especially oats), and dairy products. Potatoes still appear at most Irish meals, with potato scones, similar to biscuits or muffins, a specialty in the north. The Irish have also been accomplished cheesemakers for centuries.

What is Ireland's most loved food? ›

What are the most popular Irish foods?
  • Irish stew. ...
  • Boxty. ...
  • Soda bread. ...
  • Colcannon. ...
  • Barmbrack. ...
  • Black pudding. ...
  • Coddle. ...
  • Irish coffee. Irish coffee is a beloved beverage in Irish cuisine, combining hot coffee, Irish whiskey, sugar, and cream.
Mar 13, 2024

What is Ireland's most popular drink? ›

Guinness: The Iconic Stout

Guinness is undeniably the most famous drink associated with Ireland. This dark, creamy stout, first brewed in 1759 by Arthur Guinness in Dublin, has become synonymous with Irish culture.

What is Ireland's national drink? ›

Over the last three centuries, Guinness has become a legendary part of Irish culture, celebrated as Ireland's national drink. And with over 8,000 years still left on the original St. James Gate brewery lease, there's still a lot more of 'the black stuff' to make and enjoy.

What is meant by black Irish? ›

The term “black Irish” refers to persons of Irish descent who are supposed to be descendants of the Spanish Armada, which sailed around the middle of the 15th century, and had dark hair and or eyes. The term is used among people of Irish descent and sometimes confuses people since it doesn't refer to dark skin color.

What fruit is native to Ireland? ›

Summer Berries: Wild strawberry, raspberry, bilberry, Autumn Sweetness: Rosehips, Elderberries, Hawthorn berries, Hazelnuts. Winter Wonders: Wintercress, Crow garlic, Wood sorrel. Edible Seaweeds: Sea spaghetti, Dulse, Sea lettuce, Serrated wrack and Velvet horn.

What kind of bread do the Irish eat? ›

Irish soda bread is prepared without yeast. Traditionally it has just four ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, and buttermilk. The baking soda and buttermilk react to cause the dough to rise. In Ireland, soda bread is often made from stone-ground whole-wheat flour, though white flour versions are available.

What is the main meal of the day in Ireland? ›

The Dining Experience in Ireland

The main meal of the day for locals is dinner, meaning making reservations is a good idea, especially if you're planning to dine during peak Irish dinner hours (from 8:00 p.m. onward).

What is an Irish known dish? ›

Irish dishes
English nameIrish name
Irish stewStobhach/ Stobhach Gaelach
JambonSiamban
Limerick HamLiamhás Luimnigh
Irish seafood chowderSeabhdar
32 more rows

Why is a reuben considered Irish? ›

While the Reuben sandwich itself doesn't have Irish roots (it was thought to be created in Omaha, Nebraska mid-poker game) the meat inside it – corned beef, does. Well, it kind of does. The Irish-corned beef relationship is considered to be much more Irish-American than it is purely Irish.

What is a common Irish breakfast? ›

But a full Irish breakfast usually means a hot meal with a particular set of ingredients. Expect a fully belly and at least one piece of bacon, a sausage and an egg (or three). Toast and butter are also a must. Mushrooms, tomatos, baked beans, hash browns and other regional variations are all optional.

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