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Ireland is a destination full of character. From the elegant Georgian quarters of Dublin to the wild Atlantic coasts and the strong castles, the Emerald Isle offers a fascinating diversity. And that includes the food! Developed through decades of economic hardship and famine, traditional Irish cuisine incorporates the bare essentials to create simple yet delicious food. Today, the dishes served often display a more modern flair, adopting techniques and ingredients to cater to the well-heeled traveler.
Come with an empty stomach and a sense of adventure, because Ireland’s culinary scene is ready to surprise and delight you! 🍀
Bacon and cabbage
This is a beloved dish found throughout Ireland pubs. Simple yet satisfying, it consists of boiled back bacon served with boiled cabbage and sometimes potatoes. In times past, this dish was a staple for the Irish because the ingredients were easily farmable. Even today, it remains a common meal in many Irish households.
Irish stew
This classic Irish braise is created from beef, mutton, or lamb. Traditionally, mutton was often used because of its robust flavor and tougher texture, which benefits from slow cooking in a stew. The stew also incorporates onions, parsley, potatoes, and carrots to create a hearty meal.
Soda bread
Throughout the ages, this baked good has gained a bit of notoriety in Ireland. Wholemeal or white flour forms the base of the bread and may either be sweetened if wholemeal is used or fried if white flour is used instead. However, today you also see many modern versions using local grains like rye.
Champ or colcannon
This hearty dish consists of chopped spring onions blended with mashed potatoes, milk, and butter, seasoned to taste with pepper and salt. The dish is simple and rather inexpensive to make, but you’ll find it in even the finest restaurants in Dublin.
Bangers and mash
This traditional Irish dish actually has its origins in England, but it later became popular throughout Ireland. It’s a simple yet comforting meal of pork or beef sausages served with mashed potatoes, often accompanied by rich onion gravy. Another variation of the dish includes serving it with fried onions.
Boxty
Boxty is a delicious potato pancake. While the dish is mainly found in the north midlands, it’s also common to eat in Dublin. There are a variety of recipes for boxty, but they all use finely grated potatoes that are fried. Today, it’s common to incorporate flour, mashed potatoes, and eggs into the mix.
Crubeens
Once known as the original fast food of Ireland, this dish is not for the faint of heart. Crubeens are an Irish finger food made from pigs’ feet, which are doused in salt and corned. The snack is either boiled or eaten with cabbage.
