St. Patrick’s Day is a cultural and religious celebration held on March 17th every year. It originated as a commemoration of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, and has become a global celebration of Irish culture and heritage. One of the most iconic parts of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations is the food – green colors, Irish beers, and traditional Irish dishes are staples of St. Patrick’s Day meals and feasts.
When is St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick’s Day always falls on March 17th, which was the date of St. Patrick’s death in the 5th century AD. It has been celebrated in Ireland as a religious feast day for over 1000 years, and became an official public holiday in Ireland in 1903. Irish immigrants brought St. Patrick’s Day celebrations to America in the 18th century, and it is now celebrated across the world as both a secular and religious holiday.
Why do we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?
St. Patrick’s Day originated as a way to commemorate St. Patrick and recognize his contributions to introducing Christianity to Ireland. According to legend, St. Patrick used the three-leaf shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity concept of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Wearing green and shamrocks on St. Patrick’s Day recalls this story. Over time, the religious aspects combined with appreciating Irish culture and heritage to create the modern celebrations.
What foods and drinks are Irish?
There are many traditional Irish foods and beverages that are strongly associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations:
- Corned beef and cabbage – This classic dish combines brined or “corned” beef brisket with cabbage, potatoes, and carrots.
- Irish stew – A hearty meat and root vegetable stew.
- Shepherd’s pie – Ground lamb and vegetables topped with mashed potatoes.
- Irish soda bread – A quick bread made with buttermilk and baking soda.
- Guinness – The famous dark Irish stout beer from the Guinness brewery.
- Irish whiskey – Spirits like Jameson Irish whiskey.
What is included in a traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal?
While individual menus can vary, there are some dishes and components that are staples of the traditional St. Patrick’s Day feast:
Main Course
The centerpiece main course is often corned beef brisket and cabbage. Other common Irish main dishes are Irish stew or shepherd’s pie.
Sides
Typical St. Patrick’s Day side dishes include:
- Colcannon – Mashed potatoes with cabbage or kale.
- Soda bread – A traditional Irish quick bread.
- Potatoes – Mashed, roasted, or boiled.
Dessert
Desserts are often green-colored to align with the St. Patrick’s Day theme. Options include:
- Green velvet cake
- Mint chocolate chip ice cream
- Shamrock cookies
- Bailey’s Irish cream cheesecake
Beverages
St. Patrick’s Day drinks tend to be Irish beers, ciders, or whiskey:
- Guinness stout
- Smithwick’s ale
- Magners Irish cider
- Irish whiskey
- Irish coffee (coffee with whiskey and cream)
Classic St. Patrick’s Day Meal
A classic traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal may look like:
| Component | Dishes |
|---|---|
| Main | Corned beef brisket and cabbage |
| Side | Colcannon mashed potatoes |
| Side | Soda bread |
| Dessert | Shamrock cookies |
| Beverage | Green beer |
Traditional Irish Ingredients
Many traditional Irish dishes and St. Patrick’s day meals utilize ingredients that are commonly found in Irish cuisine:
- Potatoes – Potatoes have been a staple crop and food source in Ireland for centuries.
- Beef and Lamb – Irish meat dishes frequently feature beef or lamb.
- Pork – Bacon and ham are used in many traditional recipes.
- Seafood – Salmon, trout, and shellfish are part of coastal Irish cuisine.
- Dairy – Butter, milk, cheese, and cream are used heavily in Irish cooking.
- Cabbage – The national dish of Ireland, colcannon, uses cabbage.
- Onions – Onions are found in Irish soups, stews, and potato dishes.
- Oats – Oats are used in Irish oatmeal and in soda bread.
Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Decor
In addition to green food and drink, St. Patrick’s Day meals often incorporate decorations and themes honoring Irish culture:
- Shamrocks and four leaf clovers
- Green tablecloths
- Green plates, napkins, cups
- Leprechaun figurines
- Irish flags and decorations
- Shamrock garland
Easy Shortcuts for St. Patrick’s Day Meals
To simplify cooking for St. Patrick’s Day, time-saving shortcuts can help create Irish-themed dishes:
- Use packaged corned beef brisket instead of homemade corned beef.
- Purchase prepared cabbage, potatoes, and carrots instead of chopping from scratch.
- Make colcannon by mixing packaged mashed potatoes with canned or frozen kale.
- Use a cake mix to make quick shamrock cupcakes.
- Substitute canned Irish stew to skip making stew from scratch.
- Decorate store-bought desserts with green frosting and sprinkles.
Vegetarian and Vegan St. Patrick’s Day Meals
For vegetarian or vegan celebrations, there are many meatless options:
- Cabbage rolls – Stuffed cabbage without meat.
- Shepherd’s pie – Instead of lamb, use lentils, mushrooms, or veggie ground “meat.”
- Irish vegetable stew – Carrots, potatoes, turnips.
- Potato leek soup
- Soda bread
- Colcannon
- Vegetarian Irish “bacon” made from rice paper.
Where to Eat Out for St. Patrick’s Day
Many pubs and restaurants offer special St. Patrick’s Day meals. Popular options include:
- Irish pubs and gastropubs
- Steakhouses and BBQ joints for corned beef
- Bars and breweries for Irish beers
- Family restaurants with St. Patrick’s Day specials
- Buffets with Irish food stations
St. Patrick’s Day Meal Planning Tips
To plan ahead for St. Patrick’s Day, here are some meal planning tips:
- Check grocery store ads for corned beef and cabbage sales.
- Find an Irish soda bread recipe and buy ingredients ahead of time.
- Think about using a slow cooker or pressure cooker to save time.
- Make desserts 1-2 days before and store in the fridge.
- Prep ingredients like potatoes and carrots in advance.
- Consider ordering a corned beef brisket from a deli or butcher.
- Buy Guinness and Irish whiskey early while supplies last.
Conclusion
The traditional St. Patrick’s Day meal brings Irish culture to life through iconic food, drink, and decoration. By incorporating corned beef and cabbage, soda bread, Irish beers and whiskies, and green colors, you can create an authentic Irish celebration. While cooking a meal from scratch takes more effort, there are lots of time-saving tips and shortcuts to simplify Irish cooking. With some advance planning and preparation, you can serve a festive multi-course meal that both honors tradition and saves time in the kitchen.