St. Patrick's Day is this coming weekend, but before you start cooking and sipping your way through the holiday, see how much you know about this Irish day's eats and drinks. From corned beef to colcannon, test your Irish know-how now!
Think Irish food is all meat, booze, and potatoes? At least in America, we consider those three items to make up the Irish Holy Trinity. Here's a menu for St. Patrick's Day that includes all the classics — and a few jazzed-up variations.
Irish Buck
If stouts and green beer don't appeal to you, drink an Irish buck cocktail, made up of Irish whiskey, ginger ale, and lime juice.
Irish Onion Soup
Those who enjoy warming up to a French onion soup should try an Irish variation of onion soup that uses Irish cheddar and Irish stout to give it the regional twist.
Colcannon
If you've never heard of colcannon, it's basically kale with mashed potatoes. This particular recipe is loaded with crispy pancetta, which makes this taste like a stuffed baked potato.
In America, we'd probably call it an open-faced grilled cheese sandwich, but across the Atlantic in the British Isles, it's known as Welsh rarebit (also called Welsh rabbit). The dish consists of a beer and cheese sauce that is poured over a slice of toast. Dating back to 300 years ago, rarebit first made its appearance in taverns across Ireland and England. Who wouldn't want to pair their ale with a cheese toasty?
While there are various renditions of rarebit, this particular recipe features Guinness and Irish cheddar to make it St. Patrick's Day-appropriate. The cheesy spread doesn't look very appetizing after a whirl in the food processor, but after a trip to the broiler, it emerges bubbling, gooey, and impossible to resist. Comforting like the American classic but with bolder flavors from the beer, mustard, and cayenne, it's like a grilled cheese, all grown up.
If you're hoping to cook up some traditional Irish eats for St. Patrick's Day, corned beef should definitely be on the menu. Its association with Irish-American culture makes corned beef a holiday must, but feel free to get creative with your dish. From a morning classic to a salty, cheesy sandwich, here are five delicious ways to serve corned beef on March 17.
Do you have a favorite way to serve corned beef? Share your tips in the comments below!
With St. Patrick's Day just a few weeks away but wintry climes still in full effect, 'tis the season to sip Irish coffee! We've created a short quiz to test your knowledge of the creamy, boozy drink. Sure, you enjoy the taste of the beverage, but do you know where it originated, or how to make it? Take this quick quiz to learn more.
I have a great way for you to celebrate St. Patrick's Day: make your own Irish cream! More commonly known as Baileys, this rich, smooth, and delicious liquor can easily be made in the comforts of your kitchen. The recipe, which requires a blender, is similar to eggnog in that it combines a potent spirit, Irish whiskey, with eggs, cream, and seasonings such as vanilla and coconut extracts.
For a delightful after-dinner drink, serve it chilled or over ice. Homemade Baileys is also a festive gift; I've brought bottles to hostesses and always receive enthusiastic reviews. Get the simple but fantastic recipe.
You're probably scratching your head wondering why this picture, which looks strangely like French onion soup, is labeled Irish onion soup. Well, let me explain. It's a jazzed-up variation of the classic onion- and bread-topped soup that uses two important Irish ingredients: Guinness and aged cheddar cheese.
It has the same flavors as the traditional rendition, but the beer provides a delicious complexity, and the cheese adds a delicate nuttiness. It's so good that it might just be my new favorite French onion soup recipe!
I highly recommend you serve it tonight or on St. Patrick's Day. Learn how to make it now.
St. Patrick's Day is 'round the corner, therefore we're giving Irish cuisine a gander. While I can only claim to be Irish-ish, I do know a thing or two about marrying potatoes and butter.
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that is basically mashed potatoes mixed with kale or cabbage, green onion, and Irish bacon, which is similar to Canadian bacon. Colcannon is a revered dish in Ireland; there are even songs written about it! While I'm not likely to write a song about my colcannon rendition, I will sing its praises. In addition to kale and green onions, this dish contains pancetta, because I like thin, crispy, bacon-like bits in my mashed potatoes. Who knew kale could taste so good, enveloped in fluffy mashed potatoes and salty pieces of pancetta?
Since St. Patty's falls on a Thursday this year, get a head start on the festivities with some soulful weekend cooking. Bust out the slow cooker for savory corned beef, cabbage, and potatoes — and, of course, relax by sipping on stout while you're at it, whether it's in a Guinness onion soup, as an ice cream mix-in, or simply in a cold glass. Need more Irish inspiration? Be sure to check out all of our St. Patrick's Day recipes.
 Irish Coffee |
 Soda Bread |
 Irish Cream |
 Guinness and Onion Soup |
 Corned Beef & Cabbage |
 Guinness Ice Cream |
For St. Patrick's Day, I already know what I'm serving for dessert: Guinness ice cream! Since spotting the Food & Wine recipe, I've bought an ice cream maker and prepared it twice in one week. With the big green holiday looming in the days ahead, I can only imagine how many more times it'll get made.
Next up: mixing in homemade chocolate-covered pretzels and ribbons of from-scratch fudge sauce. This ice cream is all at once nuanced and full of multifaceted flavor, yet at its heart, simple and comforting. Want the recipe? Then keep reading.
