15 Traditional Irish Foods and Dishes to Try on St. Patrick's Day - Chestnut Asheville (2024)

FAQs

What food do the Irish eat on St Patricks Day? ›

When it comes to dinner on St. Patrick's Day, the most popular meal is corned beef and cabbage—often accompanied by a green beer or two. The boiled dinner and its liquid accompaniment dominate the menu of Irish bars and restaurants up and down the country on March 17, and many home cooks serve the dish, too.

The day commemorates Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, and, by extension, celebrates the heritage and culture of the Irish in general. Celebrations generally involve public parades and festivals, céilithe, and the wearing of green attire or shamrocks.

Representative dishes include Irish stew, bacon and cabbage, boxty, brown bread (as it is referred to in the South) or soda bread (predominantly used in Ulster), coddle, and colcannon.

Stateside, you might tuck into a meal of corned beef and cabbage on March 17. But in Ireland, it's not a common dish—instead, slow-cooked stews made with beef or lamb, and served with sides like colcannon, are more typical for St. Patrick's Day.

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.

The tradition, which now stretches back over a century, will feature a parade, live music and plenty of local artists out on show. Finally, in the Rebel County, Cork will host their own celebration between 16th and 18th of March featuring a parade with the theme of “Democracy for All – 100 Years of the Vote for Women”.

Patrick has an obsession with junk food and will stop at nothing to fulfill his enormous appetite. He is a Krusty Krab regular and enjoys eating their Krabby Patties, as well as Triple Gooberberry Sunrises from Goofy Goober's Ice Cream Party Boat.

Corned beef is not an Irish national dish, and the connection with Saint Patrick's Day specifically originates as part of Irish-American culture, and is often part of their celebrations in North America. Corned beef was used as a substitute for bacon by Irish immigrants in the late 19th century.

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.

What is an Irish dish for leftovers? ›

Coddle (sometimes Dublin coddle; Irish: cadal) is an Irish dish which is often made to use up leftovers. It most commonly consists of layers of roughly sliced pork sausages and rashers (thinly sliced, somewhat-fatty back bacon) with chunky potatoes, sliced onion, salt, pepper, and herbs.

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.

A traditional full Irish breakfast comprises bacon, sausage, eggs, potatoes, beans, soda bread or toast, tomatoes, mushrooms, and white or black pudding.

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.

The main difference between an Irish stew and classic beef stew comes down to the protein. Traditional Irish stew is usually made with lamb, while beef stew is always made with beef. Our version includes beef chuck, which is less traditional, but easy to make and equally delicious.

Roast turkey is the most popular centrepiece of an Irish Christmas dinner. Alternatives to turkey include roast or boiled ham, both traditional and still popular. Historically, Goose or duck would have been eaten in Ireland at Christmas time but are less popular these days.