The month of March is often synonymous with St. Patrick's Day, a holiday that's celebrated all over Ireland and has since become a holiday that's also celebrated in the U.S. In Ireland, St. Patrick's Day looks fairly different than it does in other parts of the world and is not routinely celebrated with pints of green beer and wild celebrations. Rather, it's a more serious holiday that tells of the miracle of St. Patrick, as the day is named. Although the celebration is different, the food remains the same and around the world, anyone can pay tribute with traditional Irish fare.
It's commonly believed that corned beef and cabbage is the one and only true dish of the day but that's not completely true. In fact, corned beef and cabbage is not even a dish that's served in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day or really any other day of the year - but that's for another article. Rather, the day is observed with these traditional dishes and drinks.
Irish Bacon Instead Of Corned Beef
Corned beef was once a substitute for Irish 'bacon' which, in other parts of the world, is actually ham. Irish bacon is a reference to any part of the pig that isn't the legs and, in the case of St. Patrick's Day celebrations, happens to be the pork loin, AKA bacon in Ireland. Therefore, the name 'bacon' is a bit misleading as many people would be expecting strips of crispy bacon but are actually given a ham roast!
Hearty Stew
Ireland is basically the land of stews which makes it no surprise that on St. Patrick's Day, stew is a dish that's commonly served. These stews can vary and they'll be different from one household to another as every family has its own recipes. Most commonly seen for the holiday is a lamb stew, which is often cooked low and slow and simmered until each lamb piece is tender and falling apart. Root vegetables, such as potatoes, leeks, and carrots are often found in these stews, making them hearty and robust.
Steak And Guinness Pie
A fancier take on what would otherwise be an average beef pie is that which contains steak and Guinness. As opposed to drinking Guinness (which is also done), it's very common to cook with the dark beer, as well. This adds an unbelievable level of flavor to any dish that it's in and creates a layer of depth that transforms any stew or pie. When paired with steak, the result is a dish that's bursting with flavor, has a solid hit of umami flavor, and is satisfying on multiple levels. In fact, you probably won't even miss the corned beef or cabbage after making this.
Shepherd's Pie
Shepherd's Pie is traditional throughout the U.K. and is seen commonly in Ireland where it's somewhat of a staple. With a topping of perfectly-browned mashed potatoes and a beef filling, there's no going wrong with this at a St. Patrick's Day celebration. It's perfect for the chill that March still carries in the air and is filling in all of the right ways. With layers of flavor built upon more layers of flavor, it's hard to tell when this dish begins and ends.
Colcannon
Colcannon is a solid exchange when it comes to swapping out the boiled cabbage that goes with corned beef. This dish is delicious in its own right and consists of mashed potatoes, butter, and either kale or cabbage. Heavy cream is part of why this dish is so good, as it mixes with the butter to create a creaminess like nothing you've ever had in an average scoop of mashed potatoes. When leafy greens are added to the mix, it becomes a hearty, decadent side dish that's so much better than squishy cabbage leaves.
Soda Bread
Soda bread is one of the foods that actually is popular on St. Patrick's Day and in the days that follow it. This traditional Irish bread is made without yeast, which makes it a bit simpler to whip together than other bread recipes. In Ireland, the climate works against the activation of typical yeast which is why this bread relies on baking soda and chemistry, specifically, to make it 'rise.' Even with that, though, the bread remains somewhat dense and this is also part of its charm - its unique texture combined with currents (traditional) or raisin (not as traditional) give it a hint of sweetness.