When you Google St. Patrick's Day recipes, one thing stands out: Corned beef and cabbage. If you'd never been to Ireland, that Google search would convince you that the Irish eat an awful lot of corned beef and cabbage. The truth? We don't! That's not to say that no one eats it in Ireland. I'm sure some people do. (This Irish girl has never tried it, though.) It has its origins in America, where those who emigrated from Ireland were attempting to recreate the dishes they missed from home. And while you won't find many people preparing corned beef and cabbage in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, it's not a million miles away from the traditional Irish meal of bacon and cabbage.

There's a misconception that Irish food is bland and boring, but Ireland is home to some of the most beautiful ingredients, and beautiful ingredients make for the tastiest of meals. From sought-after Irish dairy products to grass-fed meats, Irish food has never tasted so good. And while you're more likely to find brunch than boiled bacon on restaurant menus these days, the quality of the raw ingredients is what makes our food truly Irish. This St. Patrick's Day, ditch the corned beef, buy the best ingredients you can find and enjoy the most delicious recipes Ireland has to offer.

The Ultimate St. Patrick's Day Menu

From stews to crumbles, this is Irish comfort food at its best.

What to Eat For St. Patrick's Day Lunch

 

If you're skipping the parade this year, celebrate St. Patrick's Day at home with an Irish-inspired lunch. Ireland and potatoes go hand in hand, but don't boil your potatoes this Paddy's Day. Irish food writer Nessa Robins' Potato Cakes with Smoked Irish Salmon recipe is an elegant celebration of Ireland's love affair with potatoes.

If you can get your hands on some Irish cider, this simple but impressive Cider Braised Mussels with Bacon recipe from Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) is worth a try. As an island nation, Ireland has access to some of the most delicious seafood around, and mussels are no exception. Just make sure you have plenty of crusty bread to mop up the tasty juices. 

What To Eat For St. Patrick's Day Dinner

If you've taken my advice and ditched the corned beef and cabbage, you may want to replace it with something similar. Boiled bacon and cabbage is boring, though, particularly when the cabbage has been boiled within an inch of its life. (Slice it finely and saute it in butter. You're welcome.) Take this traditional dish to a new and delicious level with this Spiced Slow Cooked Bacon and Braised Red Cabbage.

Shepherd's Pie has its origins in the United Kingdom, but there are few Irish tables that haven't been adorned at some point with a bubbling dish of lamb and potatoes. These cute little Shepherdette Pies by Imen McDonnell are the ultimate in comfort food. Pop a few in the freezer for an easy dinner any day of the week.

It would be wrong to write about St. Patrick's Day dinner without mentioned stew. Irish Stew (the dish rather than the concept) uses lamb, but this Beef and Guinness Stew is, unsurprisingly, as Irish as it gets. Stew is always better when it's reheated (it's just the way it is), so make it the day before and keep it in the fridge until you're ready to eat.

What To Eat For St. Patrick's Day Dessert

Some might say that green beer counts as dessert, but we can do better than that. (Green beer is overkill, though, isn't it?) That's not to say that you can't turn alcohol into dessert. This light, delicate pavlova is topped with Baileys-spiked whipped cream. (Go ahead and make your own Irish Cream if you fancy.)

If you're in need of a comforting dessert to warm you up after the St. Patrick's Day parade, Irish chef Andrew Rudd's Cinnamon Apple and Rhubarb Crumble is the recipe for you. Crumbles have always been popular in Ireland, and this recipe is a warming, grown-up version of a classic.

Traditional Irish Brown Bread

 

There's nothing quite like a warm slice of traditional Irish brown bread smothered in Kerrygold. (If you're in Wisconsin, you'll have to travel out of state to find Kerrygold!) If you're going to make your own brown bread, you might as well choose an award-winning recipe. Margaret Sexton's Traditional Irish Brown Bread won the National Brown Bread Making Competition in 2015, and after a year on the shelves of Aldi, Margaret's Brown Bread recipe has made its way to Recipe Guru. This brown bread is as Irish as it gets. Serve it with a steaming bowl of potato and leek soup or simply devour it as a snack.

More St. Patrick's Day Food Inspiration

Still looking for St. Patrick's Day inspiration? Try one of these delicious Irish recipes. Proof that Irish food doesn't need to be bland!

Bangers and Mash with Black Pudding
Braised Lamb Shanks with Orange Flavour Gremolata
Brown Bread Ice Cream
Comforting Roast Chicken
Pan-Fried Sea Bass Fillets with Creamed Cabbage and Bacon

Happy St. Patrick's Day!