4 St. Patrick’s Day Recipes to Try

Saint Patrick’s Day is an upcoming holiday celebrated by the Irish on March 17. It is both a cultural and religious holiday celebrated by those in Ireland and all over the world where an Irish diaspora has been seen. One of the most exciting aspects of the holiday is to try the delicious foods and drinks associated with it. Trying traditional recipes on this holiday is a great way to experience and appreciate Irish culture, while also trying your hand at cooking and eating new foods. Who knows, maybe you might fall in love with one of these recipes and adapt them to your weekly cooking schedules with your own variations!

IRISH SODA BREAD

This fancy bread is made with baking soda rather than yeast. It’s a perfect quick meal for your breakfasts, snacks, or even to serve on the side with any lunch or dinner!

Ingredients:

1. 1 and 3/4 cups of buttermilk
2. 1 large egg
3. 4 and 1/4 cups of all purpose flour
4. 3 tablespoons of sugar
5. 1 teaspoon of baking soda
6. 1 teaspoon of salt
7. 5 tablespoons of unsalted butter 

How to assemble:

• Whisk together the buttermilk and eggs
• In another bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt
• Cut the cold, unsalted butter into the flour mixture with your hands or a fork
• Add the wet ingredients to the flour mixture
• Knead the dough together with your hands and using a sharp knife, score the top of the dough to create an X shape on the surface
• Bake until golden brown

This recipe was found on Sally’s Baking Recipes, who shared her grandmother’s recipe for Irish soda bread, as her birthday is on St. Patrick’s Day.

SHEPHERD’S PIE

Shepherd’s pie is a hearty dish that is made with ground lamb or beef, mashed potatoes, and an assortment of vegetables. It’s a traditional Irish dish that is perfect for celebrating this holiday!

Ingredients:

1. 1 tablespoon olive oil
2. 1 tablespoon butter
3. 2 pounds lean ground lamb
4. 1 onion, diced
5. 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
6. 3 cloves garlic, minced
7. 1 tablespoon ketchup
8. 2 teaspoons minced fresh rosemary
9. 1 teaspoon paprika
10. 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
11. Salt and ground black pepper to taste
12. 2 1/2 cups of water (or as needed)
13. 1 (12 oz) pack of frozen peas and carrots, thawed
14. 2 1/2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and halaved
15. 1/4 pound Irish cream, shredded
16. 1/4 cup cream cheese
17. 1 tablespoon butter
18. 1 pinch ground cayenne pepper
19. 1 large egg yolk only
20. 2 tablespoons milk

How to assemble:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
• Mix olive oil and butter in a Dutch oven in medium heat and stir in the ground lamb and onions and stir until the meat is brown and crumbly – about ten minutes or so
• Stir in the flour until completely mixed in and then also mix in the ketchup, rosemary, paprika, cinnamon, salt, pepper, and garlic
• Mix in water to scrape off any bits sticking to the oven and then reduce the heat to medium/low and bring the mixture to a simmer. Then, cook until the mixture is thick
• Take the mixture off of heat and then stir in peas and carrots
• Spread the mixture into the bottom of a baking dish, and set it aside
• Place the peeled potato halves into a large pot of salted water and allow it to boil in the pot until they become tender. Drain the water and put the potatoes back in the put
• Mash together the potatoes with the Irish cream, cream cheese, and cayenne pepper
• Whisk together an egg yolk and milk in a small bowl and mix that with the potato mash
• Top off the lamb mixture in the baking dish with the mashed potatoes
• Bake the mixture in the dish in the oven (or until golden brown) – about 25-30 minutes

This recipe was found on allrecipes and even features the nutrition facts and reviews at the end!

IRISH CREAM BROWNIES

Just like the name itself says, these decadent brownies are made with chocolate and Bailey’s Irish Cream, a national favorite in Ireland. It’s a great dessert to serve on Saint Patrick’s Day or for any other holiday!

Ingredients:

1. 2 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
2. 1 teaspoon of salt
3. 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
4. 2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
5. 1 cup of unsalted butter
6. 1 1/2 cups of light brown sugar
7. 1/2 Irish cream
8. 2 large eggs
9. 1/4 cup of butter
10. 2 tablespoons Irish cream
11. 1 tablespoon whipping cream
12. 2 cups powdered sugar, sifted

How to assemble:

• This recipe can all be completely mixed in one microwave-safe bowl
• Melt the butter and chocolate together and let it cool off
• Mix together all the other ingredients and add in Irish Cream if being used
• Bake for about 40 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit and top with sugar or more Irish cream
• If you want to add frosting, mix together butter, Irish cream, whipping cream, and powdered sugar on the stove until its a good consistency

This recipe, as well as many more delicious brownie recipes, can be found on Recipe Girl.

IRISH WHISKEY CAKE

Finishing strong with another delicious dessert from Ireland. Whiskey cake is a moist and delicious cake made with Irish whiskey, spices, and raisins,

Ingredients:

1. 2 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter
2. 1 1/4 cups of sugar
3. 6 eggs, beaten
4. 2 cups of self-rising flour, sifted
5. 2 tablespoons of Irish whiskey
6. A pinch of salt
7. 1 1/4 sticks of unsalted butter, softened
8. Another pinch of salt
9. 4 1/2 cups of powdered sugar
10. 1-2 tablespoons of whiskey and milk

How to assemble:

• Line the bottom of round cake tins with parchment paper and grease the rest of the pan with butter or a spray and dust it with flour
• In a mixer, cream together the butter and sugar until it’s light and fluffy
• Add 1/3 of the beaten eggs and continue to mix
• Add also another third of the sifted flour and then add the rest of the eggs
• Turn the mixer to the lowest setting and add the rest of the flour and whiskey and mix
• Using a scale, divide the mixture evenly between two tins and cook for about 35 minutes
• Remove the cakes and allow them to cool
• To make the buttercream by mixing together all of the ingredients together in a bowl until the consistency is smooth
• Using a cake level or a serrated knife, even out the cake layers, and spread the buttercream on top of one side
• Top it with the second cake and glaze it or even dust with powdered sugar

This recipe was found on Christina’s Cucina.