You Are What You Eat - Irish Foods to Try
- By Leigh Maher
- Published 10/17/2011
- Food and Drinks
- Unrated
When people visit Ireland, it is to see beautiful scenery, experience a culture of music, poetry and literature, and enjoy the renowned hospitality and brews that have made the Emerald Isle an ideal vacation destination. However, beyond the everyday scones and mashed potatoes, many visitors don't know what to indulge in during their meals. Next time you're in Ireland or find yourself at a restaurant featuring true Irish cuisine, try some of these traditional Irish dishes.
Irish Stew
One of the quintessential dishes in Irish cuisine is the peasant stew. Traditionally made from lamb, potatoes, onions, and parsley, the stew would be used to feed large groups of people, such as a large family, as the stock could be watered thinly and spread among many bowls. These days, a variety of stews can be found throughout Ireland, many of which have stouts or other flavorings added to create a unique taste.
Bacon and Cabbage
While roast beef and cabbage is a traditional dish in America to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, its origins go a little further. While corned beef is a meat that was readily available to Irish Americans, in Ireland the meat of choice was bacon. This type of bacon does not refer to the form that we usually fry, such as with rashers, but is actually Back Bacon, which is boiled with cabbage. Turnips or potatoes are served with this dish, and spiced with sauces and parsley.
Fish and Chips
Popularized in the United Kingdom in the mid 1800s, this fast food dish consists of fish such as cod or haddock, battered in breadcrumbs and deep fried, and served with a side of deep-fried potato slices, or chips. Giuseppe Cervi, an Italian immigrant, brought the dish to Ireland when he started selling fish and chips from a handcart. The Dublin slang "one and one" refers to how Cervi's wife Palma would ask each customer, "Uno di questa, uno di quella," meaning "one of this, one of the other. Traditionally served in newspaper, fish and chips can still be purchased on the street, but one can also find fancier, four-star
versions at restaurants around the country.
Shepherd's Pie
Originating in England, this traditional casserole is made with a lamb mince, potatoes, spices, and other vegetables such as carrots, peas and corn. A traditional peasant dish, this dish was similar to Irish stew, as it was made to be able to feed a large amount of people on very few ingredients. The name "Shepherd's pie" replaced the term "cottage pie" in the 1870s and was ideal for making new meals out of leftovers. Shepherd's pie has become a staple in Irish and Irish-American households.
Soda Bread
Dating back to 1840, Irish soda bread can range from a cake-like consistency to a hard loaf that needs a sharp knife. This type of bread uses sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, to raise the bread rather than yeast. While some bakers choose to keep the ingredients to the traditional flour, bread, soda, salt, and buttermilk, other ingredients, like raisins or nuts, can be mixed in for flavor. When baking, a cross is cut into the top of the bread to allow air circulation, serve as a guideline for cutting, and ward off evil fairies.
Irish Breakfast
Commonly found of the menus of Irish pubs in America, the Irish breakfast is a hearty meal that is meant to keep you energized and full for a good portion of the day. There are many variations to this meal, including the Ulster Fry, but one will usually find on his/her plate bacon rashers (a thicker version of American bacon, almost like Canadian bacon) sausages, fried eggs, white and black puddings, toast, fried tomato, and sautéed potatoes. This can also be served with a cup of hearty Irish tea, such as Barry's Tea of Lyons Tea. This is a must try when visiting in Ireland, and most Bed and Breakfasts will host this type of breakfast.
Irish fare today has experienced throngs of rave reviews and new respect as prominent chefs take local ingredients and traditional dishes and add new flavors and cooking styles to the menu. Irish seafood, especially shellfish, has become one of the dishes to try when visiting Ireland. Whether you're at a 5-star restaurant or standing in queue at a fish and chip shop, trying Ireland's cuisine will add a bit of spice to your vacation.
Irish Stew
One of the quintessential dishes in Irish cuisine is the peasant stew. Traditionally made from lamb, potatoes, onions, and parsley, the stew would be used to feed large groups of people, such as a large family, as the stock could be watered thinly and spread among many bowls. These days, a variety of stews can be found throughout Ireland, many of which have stouts or other flavorings added to create a unique taste.
Bacon and Cabbage
While roast beef and cabbage is a traditional dish in America to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, its origins go a little further. While corned beef is a meat that was readily available to Irish Americans, in Ireland the meat of choice was bacon. This type of bacon does not refer to the form that we usually fry, such as with rashers, but is actually Back Bacon, which is boiled with cabbage. Turnips or potatoes are served with this dish, and spiced with sauces and parsley.
Fish and Chips
Popularized in the United Kingdom in the mid 1800s, this fast food dish consists of fish such as cod or haddock, battered in breadcrumbs and deep fried, and served with a side of deep-fried potato slices, or chips. Giuseppe Cervi, an Italian immigrant, brought the dish to Ireland when he started selling fish and chips from a handcart. The Dublin slang "one and one" refers to how Cervi's wife Palma would ask each customer, "Uno di questa, uno di quella," meaning "one of this, one of the other. Traditionally served in newspaper, fish and chips can still be purchased on the street, but one can also find fancier, four-star
Shepherd's Pie
Originating in England, this traditional casserole is made with a lamb mince, potatoes, spices, and other vegetables such as carrots, peas and corn. A traditional peasant dish, this dish was similar to Irish stew, as it was made to be able to feed a large amount of people on very few ingredients. The name "Shepherd's pie" replaced the term "cottage pie" in the 1870s and was ideal for making new meals out of leftovers. Shepherd's pie has become a staple in Irish and Irish-American households.
Soda Bread
Dating back to 1840, Irish soda bread can range from a cake-like consistency to a hard loaf that needs a sharp knife. This type of bread uses sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, to raise the bread rather than yeast. While some bakers choose to keep the ingredients to the traditional flour, bread, soda, salt, and buttermilk, other ingredients, like raisins or nuts, can be mixed in for flavor. When baking, a cross is cut into the top of the bread to allow air circulation, serve as a guideline for cutting, and ward off evil fairies.
Irish Breakfast
Commonly found of the menus of Irish pubs in America, the Irish breakfast is a hearty meal that is meant to keep you energized and full for a good portion of the day. There are many variations to this meal, including the Ulster Fry, but one will usually find on his/her plate bacon rashers (a thicker version of American bacon, almost like Canadian bacon) sausages, fried eggs, white and black puddings, toast, fried tomato, and sautéed potatoes. This can also be served with a cup of hearty Irish tea, such as Barry's Tea of Lyons Tea. This is a must try when visiting in Ireland, and most Bed and Breakfasts will host this type of breakfast.
Irish fare today has experienced throngs of rave reviews and new respect as prominent chefs take local ingredients and traditional dishes and add new flavors and cooking styles to the menu. Irish seafood, especially shellfish, has become one of the dishes to try when visiting Ireland. Whether you're at a 5-star restaurant or standing in queue at a fish and chip shop, trying Ireland's cuisine will add a bit of spice to your vacation.
Leigh Maher
Leigh Maher is a content writer who writes about and researches gorgeous and extraordinary Celtic jewelry, as well as Irish culture and history. Find out more on Celtic engagement rings, visit us at http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/.
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