Irish stew – Traditional meat stew is the crème de la crème of Irish cuisine. This hearty one-pot dish holds a place of pride on the Irish dining table. Great stew is about fresh ingredients, simplicity and a lot of patience. Traditionally made with lamb, this slow cooked-recipe is stewed for hours till the meat is tender. Potatoes, carrots, onions and herbs are also added to the recipe to give it a distinct flavour. If you have a few slices of freshly-cut bread and butter alongside, you are good to go. A hot bowl of Irish stew is especially welcoming during the cold, winter months.
Colcannon
Traditionally a Halloween specialty, Colcannon is popular all year round. Made with potatoes (we told you, Irish love their potatoes) and cabbage or kale, Colcannon has evolved over time. One of the favourite versions is a recipe with bacon, caramelised onions, and dollops of butter. You can even opt for dairy-free versions. Seasoned with salt and pepper, Colcannon is often made rich with cream and butter. Now that could be a million calories, but you cannot stop digging into this irresistible dish.
Shepherd’s pie – Shepherd’s pie, just like Irish stew, is a perfect comfort meal. A common staple in any traditional Irish household, this hearty casserole is piled with layers of meat, vegetables and creamy mash and baked to perfection in the oven. When you scoop out a spoonful, you get a base of beef and vegetables in tangy tomato gravy, with a layer of buttery mashed potatoes. This dish is also a great way to put leftover roasted meat to good use. Pair it with a side salad and a slice of Irish soda bread. Some restaurants top it with a little grated Irish cheddar cheese as well. What's not to love?
Irish soda bread
An Irish meal would be incomplete without a lovely loaf of soda bread. Even serious bakers shy away from baking bread, but this Irish bread can be made in less than an hour. A rich, moist bread made of buttermilk and sour cream, soda bread is a staple in Irish households. Raisins and caraway seeds are also thrown into the mix, which makes it slightly sweet and mildly crunchy. Unlike other breads, Irish soda bread rises with baking soda and not yeast. Every household has its own favourite recipe, some even fancy it up by adding sugar and eggs. But that is surely not authentic Irish.
Irish coffee cake – A sumptuous dessert to a delicious dinner! This is not an ‘Irish’ coffee cake, it is an ‘Irish coffee’ cake. Irish coffee in itself is truly wonderful. Owing to its immense popularity, many attempts were made to incorporate it into desserts. Of all the attempts made, Irish coffee cake came out as the winner. Easily found in all the charming cafes and delis of Ireland, Irish coffee cakes should definitely top your list of must-tries. And if you have good company to enjoy it with, then there is nothing like it.
By <a href="https://plus.google.com/103553671285312868999/posts style=" line-height:="" 1.5;"="" style="line-height: 1.5;">Neetu George