Here's What People In Ireland Really Eat On St. Patrick's Day
St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner, and for many in the U.S., the holiday evokes images typically associated with the day — think four-leaf clovers, pints of green beer, and perhaps plates of corned beef and cabbage. But if you're looking to pay homage to the day in a way more true to how actual Irish folks might, it turns out that the commercialized, Americanized versions of St. Patrick's Day food and drinks aren't, surprise, what you'd find most Irish people eating on March 17.
Like many days of cultural significance, or holidays that originate in countries outside the U.S. — over time, the associated culinary traditions get somewhat lost in translation, taking on decidedly American slants. Think Cinco de Mayo, which many Americans know primarily as a day to drink margaritas and eat tacos; when in reality, there's a rich culinary tradition of over 40 Mexican recipes — such as mole and other indigenous foods — to honor the day with.
Similarly, while many pubs and restaurants across the U.S. are rolling out St. Paddy's day menus featuring corned beef and cabbage, if you were to take a jaunt across the pond and celebrate the Irish holy day in its place of origin, the food and drink options would look quite different. You'd find an array of traditionally-enjoyed dishes ranging from lamb and beef stews, potatoes, carb-loaded breads, desserts, and pies both sweet and savory. All hearty and stick-to-your-rib (yet simple) fare, leaning on seasonal ingredients and flavors.
Swap out corned beef and cabbage for a range of authentic dishes
To honor authentic Irish culinary tradition for St. Patrick's Day, try making a staple meal of bacon and cabbage — which is enjoyed year-round, not just on the holiday. Unlike the American corned beef so often served up in honor of Ireland's patron saint, bacon is a star item on many Irish menus on St. Patrick's Day. Canadian-style bacon has a long-standing presence in Irish cuisine, which some suggest morphed into the Americanized corned beef when Irish immigrants made their way to America, and were introduced to kosher butcher shops offering salted beef instead.
Beef or lamb stew, a beef pot roast, or a shepherd's pie topped with mashed potatoes are all commonplace and traditional Irish meals that you could expect to see on tables in family homes (or at restaurants) in Ireland. Colcannon — a rich buttery concoction of mashed potatoes combined with ribbons of cabbage — is another mainstay.
For dessert, chocolate pie or apple tarts are common, as are crumbly rustic loaves of soda bread made with buttermilk, or biscuity scones. As for the libations, known as an essential part of the holiday, many Irish people celebrate with pints of Guinness or glasses of Jameson. If that's not your style, try one of these 12 Irish-inspired cocktails for St. Patrick's Day and toast to Ireland's patron saint.
No one Irish food is customary, as everyone has their own customs
Just as there's no one way to celebrate or serve up an "authentic" Fourth of July spread or Christmas dinner, there's more than one way to observe St. Paddy's Day like an Irish person might. Each household and individual has their own preferred dishes and customs, so if you're envisioning a plethora of people only consuming culturally significant foods (like the ones mentioned above), that's an overly generalized view of the day. Don't forget, many of your everyday Irish citizens are eating their usual meals or the dishes their families prefer to celebrate the holiday with, by cooking up typical weeknight dinners, or — simply doing what we all do, and grabbing takeout.
Others may start the day's festivities off by ordering or cooking a traditional Irish breakfast (similar to a full English one, with a few differences). An Irish breakfast features meat pudding, porridge, toast, tomatoes, beans, sausages, and a strong base of carbs and fat to help pad out any partaking of alcoholic drinks that the rest of the day's festivities may entail. If you're looking to throw yourself a traditional St. Patrick's day celebration, remember this: Green beer may be nowhere to be seen, but pints of Guinness are flowing, and we'll cheers to that.