Irish cuisine is very similar to British cuisine with shared dishes like fish and chips and pies, but it’s also been influenced by other cultures, and has some surprisingly tasty dishes of its own. Most of these are rich, hearty dishes and, needless to say, almost all of them go well with a pint of plain.
Here are some of the most popular dishes to try when visiting:
Boxty: A traditional Irish pancake made from finely grated potatoes mixed with flour, yeast, buttermilk and egg, and then fried on both sides until golden brown. It can be eaten alone or as a side dish, and is often associated with St. Brigid’s Day on February 1 – a pagan and pre-Christian tradition to celebrate the arrival of longer, warmer days.
Rhubarb Crumble: Rhubarb, although not so common in Spain, is loved by many in Great Britain and Scandinavia. Stewed rhubarb topped with a crumbly mixture of flour, butter, sugar and cinnamon.
Irish Stew: This stew can be made from either mutton, lamb or beef, and potatoes, onions, carrots, parsley, flour, salt, pepper and oil.
Seafood Chowder: Very common in the coastal areas, Irish chowder starts with cream and wine and then a varying combination of prawns, lobster, mussels, clams, potatoes, leeks and celery.
Bacon and Cabbage: A well-balanced dish that’s easy to prepare with sliced back bacon boiled with cabbage and potatoes. Nowadays, it’s served with a white parsley sauce or brown sauce.
Coddle: Coddle is a simple and tasty dish to prepare, but, be warned, it’s also high in calories. It commonly consists of layers of roughly cut sausages, rashers, sliced potatoes and onions.
Barm Brack: A spicy-sweet bread with raisins, and small items baked into the loaf as a sort of fortune-telling game that’s part of an Irish Halloween tradition. Similar to the Roscón de Reyes that’s traditionally eaten in Spain on January 6.
And when it comes to drinks, beer is king, and the king of kings is Guinness – a dry Irish stout brewed with malted barley. The Guinness harp motif is modelled on the Trinity College Harp and is considered a symbol of Ireland.
Now you know what to sample on your next trip to the Emerald Isle!
