St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner! For most of you, this means immersing yourself head-to-toe in all the green apparel you own, and of course, celebrating at the parade with your friends. However, nothing makes St. Patty’s Day feel more complete than devouring some authentic Irish food. Here are some delicious St. Patty’s Day recipes that perfectly encompass Irish-American culture.
Entree: Spicy Corned Beef
If you could only cook one full dish on St. Patrick’s Day, it would have to be corned beef! Corned beef is a very popular St. Patty’s Day staple that is not only delicious, but is also a lot of fun to make. Although it is time-consuming, it is very simple to make and worth the wait.
Makes 8 servings. Recipe here.
Ingredients:
8 medium red potatoes
2 sliced medium-sized carrots
1 sliced medium-sized onion
1 corned beef brisket – 3 lbs (brisket refers to the cut of the beef)
1 ½ cups of water
4 orange peel strips
3 tbsp orange juice concentrate
3 tbsp honey
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
*Slow cooker
Directions:
Give yourself 8-9 hours for prep. It is best to do these steps at night so you’re ready to bake in the morning.
- Place potatoes, carrots, and onions in a slow cooker. Cut your beef brisket in half and add on top of the veggies.
- Add water and orange peel, and cover. Cook on low for 8-9 hours. The meat and veggies should be tender by then.
- Transfer veggies to a 13”x9” baking dish. Make sure you throw away the orange peels.
- In a separate bowl, add orange juice concentrate, honey, and mustard ingredients. Pour the contents over the meat.
- Uncovered, bake at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes.
Serve with carrots, potatoes, and your favorite veggies.
Dessert: Irish Soda Bread Cookies
Irish Soda Bread is another St. Patty’s Day favorite. This recipe offers a new twist on this classic bread by transforming all of the mouthwatering ingredients of the bread into everyone’s favorite dessert – cookies!
1 full egg makes 3 dozen. Tip: Divide the ingredients if you wish to make less and are willing to work with less than one egg. Recipe here.
Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup white sugar
½ tsp baking soda
½ cup butter
½ cup dried currants (seedless raisins)
¼ cup buttermilk
1 egg
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp caraway seed (fennel)
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Get a large bowl and add all the dry ingredients.
- Cut the butter, and add small amounts to the bowl at a time. Use a pastry blender to mix the butter with the dry ingredients after each addition. Mixture should look very coarse.
- Add in the currants and stir.
- Beat an egg in a separate bowl, and add into the dry ingredients bowl. Pour milk in. Use a fork to mix until soft dough forms. Add more milk if needed.
- On a floured surface, form a ball out of the dough and knead 5-6 times.
- Roll out the dough until ¼” thick and cut into squares. Should be about 2” in diameter.
- Bake 12-14 minutes or until golden brown.
Shamrock Shake
It may not be “authentic Irish food,” but this list would not be complete without the wildly popular and highly appraised Shamrock Shake. This festive recipe is extremely simple and everyone will love you for making it.
Makes 2 servings. Recipe here.
Ingredients:
2 cups vanilla ice cream (or soy ice cream if preferred)
1 ¼ cups milk (can use 2% low fat, or soymilk – anything you want)
¼ tsp mint extract
8 drops green food coloring
Directions:
- Add all ingredients into your blender; blend until smooth consistency.
- Stir if needed.
- Pour into cups. Add whipped cream and enjoy! (Shamrock-shaped sprinkles add a really nice touch too!)
Have a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!