Irish Cooking Guide

Article archived: May 2010

Irish cuisine, to the uninitiated, tastes hearty, makes easy work of meal prep and is based on common kitchen staples arranged to please the tastebuds. With our Irish cooking guide — and a few simple ingredients — you'll be making Irish staples such as classic, filling colcannon; pub-grub favorites like bangers and mash, rich and flaky scones, or sophisticated stews in no time. These foods play major roles in Irish culinary tradition — and many are deceptively simple to prepare.

Bonny main courses
Savory side-kicks
Memorable meal-enders

Bonny main courses

In kitchens across Ireland, people feed their families with quick, low-cost dishes like Irish bacon and cabbage. This Braised Mustard Green and Cabbage recipe incorporates the peppery flavor of mustard greens into the traditional mix.
The crowning glory of many evening meals, corned beef and cabbage, nourishes you nicely, while complementing a broad selection of stouts and ales. This classic recipe for Corned Beef Brisket with Cabbage makes any meal an occasion to celebrate. Want a lighter take on this tradition? Make this easy recipe for Corned Beef, Potato and Cabbage Salad.
The much-celebrated Irish stew, a staple of Irish cuisine, combines lamb or beef with seasonal vegetables — and in some versions, Irish stout. This thick and rich Irish Lamb Stew requires just a few simple main ingredients and several soup-spice staples.
Check the menu of a genuine Irish pub, and you're sure to find a hearty classic — bangers and mash. This simple and soulful dish consists of bangers, or sausage, placed atop mashed potatoes and topped with gravy. Make this savory Mixed Sausage Grill recipe according to directions, but without the rolls. Place your sausages atop yummy potato-and-rutabaga Mashed Roots with Buttermilk and Chives. To serve your bangers and mash up right, smother them in this heady, fragrant Portobello Gravy.

Savory side-kicks

Named after the Irish word for "white-headed cabbage" (cál ceannan), classic colcannon satisfies hearty appetites with its filling, casserole-like consistency. Make this Red Potato Colcannon with baby red potatoes and bright green cabbage, and enjoy a new take on tubers. Add a dash of chives or garlic powder for extra flavor.
What better way to end your day than with a steaming bowl of the Irish classic, potato and leek soup? This healthy eating version, Leek, Asparagus and Herb Soup incorporates fragrant green vegetables and spices into the recipe. Serve it with dinner rolls or warm slices of Irish soda bread.
As ubiquitous to Ireland as its lush green countryside, versatile soda bread tastes divine with any meal or dish. This simple recipe Whole-Wheat Irish Soda Bread combines buttermilk and flour for home-made grainy flavor. Serve this bread with an assortment of thick marmalades and jams, with a smear of butter or a dollop of cream cheese or dunk it in a fragrant stew.
Scones, a savory — or sweet — Irish favorite, taste rich and delicious with Irish breakfast tea or with a light meal. These cake-like treats hail from Scotland, but win hearts throughout Europe. Rich, dense scones make any occasion memorable — and can be flavored with ingredients as varied as ham, onions, cheese, or chocolate chips. Try these smoky, gooey Bacon, Cheddar and Chive Scones as a mouth-watering mealtime sidekick or snack.

Memorable meal-enders

If you're on the lookout for a dessert scone to round out your meal, try these lemon-kissed Blueberry White-Chocolate Chunk Scones with your favorite after-dinner tea or liqueur.
Irish cream liqueur provides a dreamy, mint-flavored base for this festive Irish Cream Cheesecake. A rich and delicious bottom crust made of graham crackers and butter adds a touch of decadence.
If you want to warm your bones and your soul quickly, pour yourself a steaming cup of Irish coffee. If you prefer your coffee in dessert form, make this cool, refreshing Irish Coffee Pie with a chocolate-cookie crust.