19 Irish Recipes for St. Patrick's Day
All the soda bread, corned beef, and mashed potatoes you can eat.
[Photographs: Carrie Vasios, Vicky Wasik, J. Kenji López-Alt.]
No matter the nature of your St. Patrick's Day traditions, great food is an absolute must. From classic (and not-so-classic) soda breads to stout-battered onion rings and corned beef galore, these 19 Irish-inflected dishes and cocktails will keep you well-fed all day long.
Breads
Real Irish Soda Bread
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
What's New On Serious Eats
In the olden days, soda bread was baked over hot coals in a skillet, where the bread developed a thick, lovely crust. Now we bake the bread in our oven, but doing so in a Dutch Oven produces the same crusty loaf that we love so much.
Real Irish Soda Bread Recipe »
Irish Brown Bread
[Photograph: Carrie Vasios]
If you want a big slice of nubbly, oaty bread that just begs to be spread with a layer of thick jam or a melting pat of butter, try this Irish brown bread. Coarse wheat flour lends a vaguely sweet, honey flavor and a hint of toasted oats.
Irish Morning Bread
[Photograph: Carrie Vasios]
This dough is made from whole wheat flour, oats, and a heavy dose of raisins, all which give it a particularly lumpy appearance. Yet those same ingredients are what give this bread character. The raisins add pops of chewy sweetness and the mixture of oats and brown flour create a dense but moist crumb with a strong wheat flavor. Topped with sugar, it has a crackly sweet crust, indulgent and wholesome at the same time.
Soda Bread With Dried Cranberries
[Photograph: Donna Currie]
For all you raisin-haters out there, this is the soda bread for you. Cranberries give this bread all the fruitiness it needs, along with that signature cranberry tartness.
Soda Bread With Dried Cranberries Recipe »
Gluten-Free Soda Bread
[Photograph: Elizabeth Barbone]
Made with rice flours instead of wheat flours, this is another step away from the traditional soda bread. It's a sweet, tender bread that lends itself well to freezing as well.
Gluten-Free Soda Bread Recipe »
Spotted Dog Soda Bread
[Photograph: Caroline Russock]
In a time when Ireland was more agrarian, this "Spotted Dog" was a snack typically transported to the fields wrapped in a tea towel and served whiskey-filled with hot sweetened tea. The name either refers to the spotting of raisins on its surface, or it's a derivative of spotted dick, a steamed pudding dotted with currants. No matter where the name comes from, this is an old-fashioned recipe that stands the test of time.
Spotted Dog Soda Bread Recipe »
Side Dishes
Stout-Battered Onion Rings
[Photograph: Caroline Ford]
A lot of beer-battered onion rings don't end up tasting like beer. The stout-based batter on these onion rings makes them much more flavorful. Throw in a little spice, some tangy mustard, a touch of honey for sweetness, and the package is complete.
Stout-Battered Onion Rings Recipe »
Ultra-Crispy Roast Potatoes
[Photograph: J. Kenji López-Alt]
The secret to the crispiest roast potatoes is increased surface area. Toss your par-boiled potatoes around with a metal spoon until they're smashed enough to create plenty of nooks and crannies. Then, when you roast the potatoes in a super-hot oven, all the extra surface area results in the crispiest potatoes imaginable.
Ultra-Crispy Roast Potatoes Recipe »
Crispy Smashed Potatoes
[Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]
Frying these potatoes in duck fat creates an extra-thick and crispy crust. They're crunchier than the best chips from the chipper and packed with great roasted flavor.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes Recipe »
Ultra-Fluffy Mashed Potatoes
[Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]
The key to super-fluffy mashed potatoes is to remove as much starch from the spuds as possible. We accomplish this by peeling and dicing them before rinsing them in water and boiling them just until cooked. Using a ricer or food mill prevents excess damage to the starch granules, helping the potatoes remain nice and light.
Ultra-Fluffy Mashed Potatoes Recipe »
Main Dishes
Corned Beef Brisket, Potatoes, Cabbage, and Carrots
[Photograph: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt]
We tested this recipe with over 37 pounds of beef to bring you the perfect recipe for corned beef. It's salty, moist, and beautifully pink, accompanied by tender vegetables that cook in the same liquid as the corned beef.
Corned Beef Brisket, Potatoes, Cabbage, and Carrots Recipe »
Stout Beef Stew
[Photograph: Caroline Ford]
This Guinness stew begs you to tuck in for a warm, soul-satisfying meal. Carrots, potatoes, loads of sweet cipollini onions, and tender chunks of beef make for a dish that is equal parts simple and delicious. The only accompaniment you'll need is a crusty loaf of bread and glass of bold red wine...or a pint of Guinness.
Classic, Savory Shepherd's Pie (With Beef and/or Lamb)
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
This classic shepherd's pie features a layer of juicy ground meat, carrots, and peas, blanketed in fluffy mashed potatoes. Nontraditional ingredients like red wine, tomato paste, and Parmesan add depth to every element of the dish.
Classic, Savory Shepherd's Pie (With Beef and/or Lamb) Recipe »
Champ With Sausages
[Photograph: Carrie Vasios]
Champ is a simple but delicious dish that combines creamy mashed potatoes with a good helping of milk and butter. To finish, the dish is studded with scallions and parlsey and served with sausages.
Corned Beef Hash
[Photograph: Robyn Lee]
Got some corned beef leftover from the festive meal? Hash-ify it with diced potatoes, poblano chile, a sizable helping of ketchup or chile sauce, and runny-yolked eggs that nestle right into the pan.
Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy
[Photograph: Sydney Oland]
This classic pub dish will keep you full all day or at least until you're ready for another meal. Bangers—British sausages—are served with buttery mashed potatoes and a rich, sweet onion gravy.
Bangers and Mash With Onion Gravy Recipe »
Cocktails
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Fernet-Spiked Irish Coffee With Lemon Cream)
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
This riff on a classic Irish coffee features the minty-bitter flavor of Fernet-Branca, plus a generous dollop of lemon whipped cream to top it off.
Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go (Fernet-Spiked Irish Coffee With Lemon Cream) Recipe »
Just-Do-Ya (Hazelnut-Spiked Irish Coffee With Chocolate Whipped Cream)
[Photograph: Vicky Wasik]
This take on an Irish coffee is warm, comforting, and packed with hazelnut flavor. For the alcohol, we use Frangelico, a hazelnut-infused liqueur. The whipped cream gets cut with Dutch cocoa powder, which heightens the drink's already-nutty flavor.
Just-Do-Ya (Hazelnut-Spiked Irish Coffee With Chocolate Whipped Cream) Recipe »
The Bitter Irishman
[Photo: Elana Lepkowski]
Light, floral whiskey meets fresh lemon juice and bitter amaro in this perfectly balanced cocktail. Simple syrup offsets the bitterness, and a Luxardo cherry garnish adds a bright, sweet finish.
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