Recipes to Celebrate Irish Heritage

The Irish, at one time in the history of the United States, made up a large portion of the immigrants coming to this country. As a result, many people in this country can claim some Irish blood in their veins, whether its one generation removed or several. And of course, every year the nation celebrates St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone is treated as if they’re a little Irish. Whether you are looking to celebrate your own heritage or just trying to experience a taste of another culture, these Irish recipes might help.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Corned beef and cabbage, perhaps one of the most recognizable of Irish recipes, is also very simple to make if you buy the corned beef, which is pickled brisket. What you’ll need is a joint of corned beef, placed in a pot and covered with water. Boil the water, and then add 2 large onions, two large carrots, some potatoes, a bay leaf, and some pepper to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes, then add one cabbage, quartered, and simmer for another half hour.

For this meal, serve the meat surrounded by the vegetables, and as with many Irish recipes, extra mashed potatoes will make the meal perfect. With just a little time, that’s all you need to create this simple meal.

Soda Bread

Another one of the traditionally Irish recipes is that for soda bread. As the name may imply, soda bread is one in which the leavening agent is baking soda, rather than yeast as in many traditional breads. All you really need for soda bread is about 4 cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of salt and about 2 1/2 cups buttermilk. The rising comes from the reaction of baking soda, which is a base, with the lactic acid in buttermilk, which is acidic. Because this bread is so easy to make, you can quickly perfect your own recipe and learn to add other ingredients, such as raisins, to improve it.

Boxty

Many Irish recipes feature potatoes heavily, and none exemplifies this more than boxty, which is a traditional potato pancake. This meal is made by grating 1 cup of raw potato which has been squeezed so the liquid has escaped, and by adding 1 cup of mashed potatoes, 2 cups of flour, then about a teaspoon each of baking powder, salt, and butter. Knead the mixture and divide into flat cakes that can be baked or fried. While this recipe might sound similar to hash browns, it tends to have a much finer texture. This, like the other Irish recipes here, are simple to make, so give them a try and see how good a celebration of Irish cuisine can taste.