When I specifically think about Ireland's cuisine, though, this was a adventure all on its own. I found out that it is so much more than just meat, potatoes, cabbage, and Guinness (though a Guinness a day was one of my biggest accomplishments while visiting...don't judge me). Ireland's cuisine is so much more.
I think of 5 specific meals when I think about when we discovered this amazing country. I grew so crazy about these 5 Irish "dishes" that I knew I had to have them again...even if that meant making them at home. Here are my top 5 favorite meals I had in Ireland, along with some recipes I have used (or will use) to make them at home:
1. Traditional Irish Breakfast: We had this meal almost everyday in Ireland. It was the perfect start of the day because it was not only delicious, but it kept us full up until dinner most days. Because of this cheap and filling meal, we saved quite a bit of time as well as money on snacks and meals throughout our days there. Money saved and more time for exploring...that's a win-win.
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| Irish Breakfast. Airbnb Cork, Ireland. |
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| Irish Breakfast. Airbnb Doolin, Ireland. |
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| Irish Breakfast (yes, I drank a Guinness for breakfast when we landed...when in "Rome", right?). Kealy's Restaurant. Near Dublin, Ireland airport. |
I have made my own version of this meal three or four times since we first had it in Ireland:
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| My version of the traditional Irish Breakfast. |
Eat It At Home:
Here are the ingredients that make up a very traditional Irish Breakfast: The Spruce Eats: What Makes Up a Full Irish Breakfast?. Best breakfast ever.
2. Coddle: Considered the "Poor Irish man's stew", the taste is far from it. This meal was one of my favorites while meandering in Dublin. Served with white and black pudding, flaxseed bread, and a Guinness or Irish-brewed beer, this stew was by far one of my favorite stews I've ever had in my life.
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| Coddle Soup. The Bachelor Inn. Dublin, Ireland. |
Eat It At Home:
Since it is considered the "Poor Irish man's stew", it really shouldn't be all that difficult to make. However, you're going to need just need the right ingredients and recipe to make it work. Try out this recipe for traditional coddle: Wholefully's Dublin Coddle Recipe (Irish Sausage and Potato Stew)
Use this recipe for the flaxseed bread: Food 52's Irish Flaxseed Soda Bread
Make sure to buy Guinness to go with your meal. I prefer Guinness out of a can, for the bottles seem to lose a lot of its carbonation and can taste flat (in my opinion). The perfectly poured Guinness with it's creamy head will add just the right touch with this meal.
Learn how to pour Guinness the correct way here: How to Pour the Perfect Guinness...from a Can. This is extremely important. Don't skip this step!
3. Bangers and Mash: Not your typical meat and potatoes. Pork, lamb, or beef sausage links and mashed potatoes seasoned in beef broth and topped with sauteed onions was by far one of the best dinners I had in Ireland. This traditional bangers and mash meal will always be one of the first meals that pop up in my head when I think of our time in Ireland. It was DELICIOUS!
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| Bangers and Mash. Bruxelles Restaurant. Dublin, Ireland. |
Eat It At Home: This quick, easy, and minimal ingredient recipe looks absolutely delicious and is completely traditional. Add peas and top it with fried onions to make this recipe even more traditional and tasty: All Recipe's True Bangers and Mash with Onion Gravy
4. Pickled herring, Irish Cheddar, and Soda Bread: We ate this meal while exploring Sky Road on the oceanside while staying in Galway. Views of Ireland's rolling green hills, sheep meandering, light mists of rain, and barely any souls in sight is one of my flashbacks of Ireland. Adding pickled herring, Irish cheddar, and soda bread to this experience made it even more memorable and special.
Many Fridays we do a wine and cheese night where we buy many types of cheeses, crackers, breads, olives, and wines to eat as our dinner. One of my all-time favorite cheeses is Kerry Gold's Dubliner Irish Cheddar. For the longest time, I didn't know you could find it at local supermarkets here in the states...until one day we came across it (I swore I heard angels sing). I'm not quite sure if I love it more because it brings back memories of our trip to Ireland and our Sky Road experience, or because of its creamy texture. Regardless, it continues to be one of my favorites.
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| Pickled herring, Irish cheddar cheese, soda bread. Supermarket in Galway, Ireland. |
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| My version of the traditional Irish Soda Bread. |
Eat It At Home:
Go to your local grocery store and you will most likely find Kerry Gold's Dubliner Irish Cheddar by the fancier cheeses. While you're at the store, pick up the ingredients you will need for pickled herring and traditional Irish soda bread.
I have yet to find safe and good pickled herring for a good price in the states, but I'm sure you can find some if you look hard enough. If you're feeling extra adventurous, make your own pickled herring by following this recipe: Chowhound's Pickled Herring
As far as Irish soda bread goes, I have made it a dozen times. In fact, during this quarantine, I have already made it 2 times because it's extremely easy and requires very little ingredients (probably ingredients you already have in your pantry).
The best, easiest, and most convenient traditional Irish soda bread recipe I have used is from All Recipe's: Brennan's Irish Soda Bread. I specifically searched for a recipe that doesn't require buttermilk (I never have it on hand), and this awesome recipe popped up. Now, I'm sure buttermilk does add a bit of flavor to soda bread, but I'm pretty certain that this recipe is just as tasty being with out it.
5. Grilled Swordfish with Fresh Salad and Chips: If I had it my way, I would eat this meal that we had in Cork everyday. This perfectly seasoned and grilled fish with the crunchiest chips (french fries to us Americans) was the perfect combo. And though a salad doesn't sound all that special, this specific one was one of the best salads because of its dressing (sorry, I didn't think to ask what was in the dressing). You may just have to come here to find out for yourself. I promise it would be worth the trip.
I must admit that we have never attempted to make our own swordfish. Honestly, we've never made the effort to search for it. We have made our own marlin while vacationing in Hawaii, though that doesn't quite count (I would imagine it would taste pretty similar though). You may be lucky enough to find it at a local grocery store.
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| Grilled swordfish, salad and chips. The Fish Wife. Cork, Ireland. |
Eat it At Home:
If you can't find swordfish anywhere nearby, you can buy some swordfish steaks online through Giovanni's Fish Market and Galley or Amazon. You could even try searching, "Best Fish Market Near Me" and some places should pop up. Though swordfish can be a little pricey, it could be worth it for a fancier dinner. The meat is so thick that it will keep you full and satisfied for a long time.
Once you find your swordfish, use this recipe to make it delicious: Master Class' How to Cook Swordfish: Quick and Easy Pan-Roasted Swordfish Recipe
Have you ever had chips with malt vinegar or curry sauce? These condiments are far tastier than plain ketchup. I tried chips with malt vinegar for the first time visiting England and fell in love. We then tried chips with curry sauce for the first time in Scotland and fell in love. Both condiments are popular in Ireland and the UK. If you have never tried either of these with chips, you too will fall in love with one or the other (or both) once you give it a try.
Use this recipe to make your own crispy chips and curry sauce: Irish American Mom's Chips and Curry Sauce
If you want to try the malt vinegar way, use Sarson's Malt Vinegar from Tipperary Stores (online) for the best kind to dress your chips.
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Ireland has many more recipes to choose from if you are eager to get a taste of Ireland from home.
But why stop there?
If you love and miss travel as much as I do (or would like to travel more), you love to cook (or would like to cook more), and/or you've adopted cooking as your hobby during this quarantine (instead of drinking), try making some recipes of foods from anywhere abroad! Be sure to stay tuned for more ideas! Not only will you temporarily fill your wanderlust, you'll fill your mind, heart, and bellies of you and your family!
Safe Travels (Well, in your kitchen for now),
Veronica
