Although it’s long past St. Patrick’s day, the quarantine is a perfect time to enjoy some of the dishes that many families set out to prepare and enjoy as a celebration of Irish culture. The holiday itself stems from one of Ireland’s patron saints, St Patrick, who was responsible for ministering Christianity throughout Ireland in the fifth century. However, while most people assume this to mean corned cabbage and beef, that’s not actually the case. In fact, corned beef and cabbage is actually an Irish-American dish.

 Luckily, according to freshman Moira R, there are plenty of traditional delicious dishes which are enjoyed by the Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day. Recalling her own celebrations with her family, she remarks that “you’ll start to notice a trend in the ingredients”, and that the key components to most Irish recipes can be boiled to about 4 ingredients. “Like if someone challenged you to make an Irish dish without a recipe, you could probably make an actual dish as long as you have bacon, cheese, cabbage and of course, potatoes” she joked, pointing out the similarities between many of the traditional cuisines and their recipes. She then pointed out how “crazy” it was that “so many dishes can be made with just a few ingredients”, since the way and time they’re prepared with results in different textures or flavors to be emphasized. 

With that said, let’s launch into some of those mouth-watering dishes you could try!

Irish Breakfast: A perfect way to start off the day as an Irish classic, this satisfying dish involves an amalgamation of fried sausages, fried eggs, fried tomatoes, fried mushrooms, black and white pudding, baked beans, toast, and the beloved fried rashers (thinly sliced Irish bacon). 

Irish Soda Bread: Irish soda bread, is a classic which is eaten daily and can be found in practically every bakery in Ireland. The bread doesn’t have yeast, but instead rises because of the combination of baking soda and buttermilk, which create a leavening agent together. Additionally, according to Irish folklore, the cross which typically adorns this bread is said to help ward off evil and release fairies. 

Bacon and Cabbage: Incorporating two of the key ingredients which Moira mentioned before, this dish incorporates Irish bacon, a smoked pork loin similar to Canadian bacon. This is actually where the corned beef and cabbage variant of this dish stems from, since Irish immigrants found the pork in the United States to be too expensive, and used beef instead, resulting in the famous corned beef and cabbage dish. 

Colcannon: A delicious twist on the typical mashed potatoes, this dish involves combining braised cabbage into creamy mashed potatoes and adding a topping of crispy bacon bits and fresh parsley. This dish is commonly used as a side-dish particularly during the winter time.

Irish Stew: Often called the national dish of Ireland, this tasty meal is typically made with onions, celery, carrots, potatoes and mutton, though chicken and beef can also be used. 

Boxty: These fluffy yet filling potato pancakes resemble Latkes, and are made by grating raw potatoes and mixing them into mashed potatoes after which the mixture is fried like a patty. These tasty morsels serve as a fantastic addition to dinner or a late night snack to end off the day!