I know when you think of traditional Irish food, you usually picture corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, and meat pasties. Growing up, this typical meal always seemed to come around St. Patrick’s Day. Hence, I had never really been a fan of this holiday. I mean, I wasn’t crazy about the food and I couldn’t drink so what was the point, right? When I fully turned vegetarian, I had no choice but to find other meal options. And let me tell you, there are a lot of tasty alternatives out there, which made St. Patty’s Day infinitely more enjoyable. (Not to mention turning 21 didn’t hurt either!) I rounded up my top five meat-less Irish meals that you can enjoy any time of the year. Plus a recipe at the end! Enjoy!
1. Boxty
These traditional Irish potato pancakes are mouthwatering. Potatoes are my comfort food so I’m a little biased towards this dish, but I can’t think of too many people who DON’T love potato pancakes! Serve with a dollop of sour cream and chopped green onions. Delicious!
2. Irish oatmeal
So what exactly is Irish oatmeal? If you’ve had steel cut oatmeal, you’ve had Irish oatmeal. Same thing! Or sometimes it’s called “pinhead” oatmeal (in other parts of the UK). Irish oats are made from whole oats that have simply been chopped, which gives it a slightly different texture than the more common rolled oats. They also take a little longer to make, so do it when you know you will not be in a hurry. I like to boil mine with water and coconut milk and top it off with toasted dates and coconut.
3. Irish potato & leek soup
This is another one for all of you that understand my obsession with potatoes. Add sautéed onions and leeks, serve with warm soda bread. So. Good. Check out this potato and leek soup recipe from our very own WanderFood!
4. Veggie colcannon
Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that is basically mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale and lots and lots of cream. There are many different recipes on this, but it usually contains some kind of meat. Just ditch the meat and substitute the milk (if vegan) and voila! Vegetarian colcannon! This veggie colcannon recipe looks particularly tasty.
P.S. It is a Halloween tradition to hide charms inside. The charm you received would be a sign of what is to come in your future. A button meant you would be a bachelor. A thimble meant you would remain unmarried in the coming year. A ring meant you were to be engaged, and a coin meant you would be wealthy.
5. Finally…a shamrock shake!
Okay this one is probably more American than Irish, but it is still yummy and super easy to make yourself!
Here is the recipe:
+2 handfuls of spinach
+1 cup coconut milk
+2-3 chunks of avocado
+10-15 mint leaves (less if you want a milder flavor)
+5 Medjool dates, pitted (optional: let them soak in water for a couple hours)
Blend all the ingredients together in a high powered blender. Top with mint leaves and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Hint: for a creamier smoothie, blend spinach with the coconut milk for about 30 seconds or until it is blended together. Then add the rest of the ingredients and blend.
Photo credits:
Potato and leek soup by Jeffrey W
Irish colcannon soup by VegaTeam
Leave a Reply