Traditional Irish Farmhouse Mains

 

We are only a few days away from Saint Patrick's Day now and I thought it would be fun to put together a collection of tasty Traditional Irish Farmhouse Main Dishes for you.  There is something here for every taste and every budget!

Irish Cuisine is known for being simple and rustic with main dishes which reflect this beautiful country's vast agricultural heritage.   Flavors are simple, cooking methods and techniques are simple as well, but the flavors are a beautiful testimony of the Irish capacity to create something incredibly delicious from simple, honest, basic and local ingredients, which is good news for us as that makes it much easier for us to recreate these delicious meals in the comfort of our own home.

One of  my greatest regrets from having lived over in the U. K. was that I never got over to visit Ireland. It was on my bucket list.  The Irish are beautiful people.   Our landlord was Irish and was always inviting us over to visit him in Country Kerry where he lived.

One of my favorite train rides was one we took from London up to Chester after we had taken my boys down to London for the day. There were a bunch of Irish fellas on the train on their way up to catch the ferry over to Ireland.  They kept us entertained and laughing the whole of the journey through. The Irish really do have the gift of the gab! A sweet and an honest people that it is easy to love.

What I am sharing here today is simple and deliciously hearty fare. Nothing is overly complicated.  All of the recipes use simple, common ingredients that most of us have access to. If I had to pick a favorite amongst them, I fear I could not. I love them all.

For side dishes I would suggest you also keep it easy and simple, with fresh ingredients and vegetables. Colcannon is a favorite as is  Champ.  Mind you, with the stews there is no side really needed, as they are complete dishes all in and of themselves.

You might want to bake a tasty loaf of Soda Bread however!

In any case, here are a few delicious main dish options to choose from that I felt you might enjoy!  Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

 

SMALL BATCH IRISH STEW - A delicious lamb stew for the smaller family.  Cubes of lamb are layered in a casserole with onions, carrots and seasonings, then topped with wedges of potato and covered with stock. Cover tightly, pop into the oven and then let the oven do the work. Quite simply delicious. 

You can find a full batch recipe here.  Potatoes, carrots, onions and lamb stewing meat, all put together in the most delicious way.

IRISH STEAK AND GUINESS STEW -A hearty stew made with lean cubes of stewing steak, carrots, parsnips, turnips and onions, cooked in a delicious Guinness gravy until deliciously fork tender. Plan ahead as this takes a good 2 1/2 to 3 hours to cook, but then again the best things in life are worth waiting for.  

IRISH HUNTER'S PIE - Buttery mash lines a pie dish that is filled with chunks of simmered lamb. The juices of the lamb are then made into a gravy which is poured through the top of the pie to moisten the filling, with any excess being served on the side.  Simple vegetables accompany this tasty dish.

BOILED BACON AND CABBAGE - There is nothing out of the ordinary here . . .  it's just simple ingredients . . .  cured pork, a few vegetables, water . . .  pepper.  Cabbage. Simple ingredients put together in a simple way with extraordinarily delicious results!  I made a mustard sauce to serve with it, and boiled new potatoes . . .  but a parsley sauce is just as delicious.

CORNED BEEF & PARSLEY SAUCE - Tender slices of juicy perfectly cooked corned beef, served thinly sliced with a variety of fresh and tasty vegetables on the side and a deliciously lush and creamy parsley sauce!  This really is delicious. 

DUBLIN CODDLE - A Coddle is a traditional Irish dish usually associated with the city of Dublin. Hearty and delicious it is a stew-type of dish created with good pork sausages, salty bacon, pearl barley, onions, potatoes and herbs.

BALLYMALOE HOUSE ROAST CHICKEN WITH HERB STUFFING - If you are not a lover of red meats, then this delicious roast chicken might be more your style. A recipe from a book entitled The Country Cooking of Ireland, by Coleman Andrews, this recipe for roast chicken is attributed to Myrtle Allen of the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland, where it is served with bread sauce, crisp bacon, homemade sausages, black pudding and Colcannon.  A hearty repast indeed! 

And there you have it, a tasty mix of fabulous main dishes for you to choose from to help you celebrate Saint Patrick's Day.  All simple, all hearty, all delicious!

May love and laughter light your days, 
and warm your heart and home. 
May good and faithful friends be yours, 
wherever you may roam. 
May peace and plenty bless your world 
with joy that long endures. 
May all life's passing seasons 
bring the best to you and yours! 
~An Old Irish Blessing 

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