March 17 is a great day for feasting. If you need a little help meal planning, consider one of these tasty St. Patrick’s Day Recipes.
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I’ll confess. I’ve not YET been to Ireland, but it’s on my list! And I’m happy to eat Irish food. So far as I can tell from my research, it’s hearty, wholesome fare.
History geek that I am, I love digging into cultures, particularly as it concerns food. My friend Gale is a chef and was born and raised in Northern Ireland, so you can bet that I’ve been quizzing her on all kinds of things, from pronunciation to how we Americans call certain dishes different words than they use across the pond.
For instance, what we call scones are referred to as rock cakes, and things like that.
And since I do not care for corned beef, I was more than relieved to learn that it is not Irish at all, but an adaptation of bacon and cabbage that Irish-American immigrants made when bacon was unaffordable. Who knew, right?
Over the years I’ve developed some of my own recipes that I hope would pass muster on the Emerald Isle.
If you’re looking for some inspiration for your St. Patrick’s Day meal planning, I suggest these good cheap eats:
Tips for Saving Money on St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations
As with all good cheap eating, these strategies will help you offset the costs of your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations:
- Shop the sales – Typically, you’ll find great prices on corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, and often chuck roast (a great stew meat). You’ll also find green tablescape items and other novelties on sale. They even get marked down considerably the last few days before St. Patrick’s Day. Consider buying extras of ingredients you’d normally use for other meals throughout the coming weeks. For instance, cabbage is great in lots of Asian recipes, so why not stock up?
- Stretch the meat – Meat is usually the most expensive ingredient in the meal, so load up on the less expensive side dishes and desserts, serving the meat as a smaller part of the feast.
- Host a potluck – Being on a budget doesn’t mean that you have to eliminate your celebrations, just tailor them to suit the funds you have.
- Keep things simple – You don’t have to serve a full meal to invite folks over. Go for dessert, serving an array of Apple Crisp, Chocolate Stout Cake, and Yellow Man. Don’t forget the Irish Coffee!
St. Patrick's Day Recipes
Easy Black Currant Scones (Rock Cakes)
Enjoy a spot of tea and these delicious Black Currant Scones, or Rock Cakes. You’ll be surprised how easy they are to make! It might take a little effort to track down black currants, but they’re worth the effort.
Irish Stew
This Irish Stew is simple to make. It just takes a few minutes to brown the meat and saute onions on the stovetop, and then you finish it off in the crockpot. Delicious!
Guinness Beef Stew
This Guinness Beef Stew is similar to my traditional Irish Stew but is enhanced with a bottle of Guinness and a good dose of mushrooms. Those two riffs add amazing flavor to the dish, beefing up the richness and savory goodness.
Shepherd's Pie with Cheddar Mash
Shepherd’s Pie is a hearty, filling dish featuring meat, vegetables, and gravy under a fluffy bed of mashed potatoes. Bake this up for some ultimate comfort food.
Easy Roast Potatoes
These Easy Roast Potatoes are a great accompaniment to Corned Beef and Cabbage, should that be on your menu already. So easy to mix up and slide into the oven!
Irish Soda Bread & Dubliner Cheese
This soda bread is super easy to mix up. No rising needed. Just stir up the dough, shape it, and bake. It is fantastic with stew and some Dubliner cheese.
Easy Apple Crisp Recipe
Top the evening off with an Easy Apple Crisp. It’s delicious with whipped cream or a wee bit of ice cream. Comforting and delicious!
Laura C
I made your Irish stew for St.Patricks Day. My daughter ate the leftovers 4 times! She even took it for lunch in a thermos. Pretty sure she was the only 8 year old with that for lunch! She said “You definitely need to make this again!”
Jessica Fisher
I’m so glad she liked it! Since it’s a crockpot recipe, it’s good all year round, too. 🙂
Stephanie M.
I’m not one bit Irish but they say we all are on St. Patrick’s Day so with that in mind, I really enjoy the day and make the most of it. About one week ahead of time, I make about 10 Irish Soda breads and give them out to friends and family. My bay window in the living room is all decorated in green. My dinner table is decorated in green and white, and I make traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage. But my favorite part of the meal is the corned beef hash I make with the leftover corned beef. Combined with a simple green salad, that is a meal I look forward to every time.