Irish soda bread is easy to make and a great appetizer while you’re making the main St. Patty’s Day meal.
St. Patty’s Day food should be more than just your normal lunch slathered in copious amounts of green dye. While it is festive, there are plenty of delicious meals that pay homage to the Irish heritage and celebrate the famous Saint. Here are some recipes to put your Boulder culinary school skills to the test:
Irish shepherd’s pie
While the rest of the neighborhood is making corned beef and cabbage, you can bring something totally Irish that others might not think of: shepherd’s pie. Instead of the commonly used chicken or beef, opt to add lamb to a popular recipe, like this one from Chef John. Chop up your favorite veggies (think broccoli, onion, potatoes and peas) and some Irish cheese (perhaps Dubliner or cheddar). Use mashed potatoes, egg and milk to create a crust and topping for the pie – then stir in rosemary, black pepper and paprika to give the whole thing some zesty flavor. The prep for the recipe takes only 25 minutes for chopping, mashing and browning. When you’re done, simply pop the pie in the oven to cook for an hour and 10 minutes. That’s just enough time to dye the beer green and put on your red beard wig.
Irish soda bread
Looking for that rich taste of the home country? Try making this super-easy soda bread from Epicurious. You’ll need flour, caraway seeds, baking soda, buttermilk and salt. The majority of time prepping this St. Patty’s Day staple is spent kneading and shaping the dough. Once that’s done, cut an “x” in the top and bake it for around 35 minutes, or until you can tap the bottom and hear a hollow sound. This is a great appetizer if you are planning on drinking an Irish stout or two, as it will soak up the liquid and help reduce your likelihood of getting a hangover.
Bacon and cabbage soup
Ita, a native of Belfast, Northern Ireland, created this recipe for bacon and cabbage soup. If you have access to it, she suggests using Irish bacon, which is a different cut of meat than the typical American varieties . If you can’t find that, opt for pancetta. If you spend your day outside enjoying the beautiful Colorado weather this is a great dish to warm you up afterwards – And it only takes six ingredients and 45 minutes to make.
Guinness ice cream with chocolate covered pretzels
People love to turn their favorite libations into dessert. The Irish are definitely known for enjoying some adult beverages every now and then, so why not try this recipe from Cory Barrett at Food and Wine to make a malty, beer-flavored mix to combine with the salty deliciousness of pretzels. Just simmer Guinness, heavy cream and typical ice cream ingredients (such as?) and then place them in an ice cream maker to create the delicious dessert. Melt your favorite kind of chocolate (we’d say go dark for this one, but you do you!) and dip pretzels in it. Just remember to keep it away from the kids! You can make the ice cream up to a week ahead of time, but you’re more likely to eat it before the big day if you have it sitting in the freezer.
