Yes, traditional Irish food contains a lot of meat and potatoes—but there are plenty of unique and unexpected dishes that hail from the Emerald Isle. You probably know what shepherd’s pie is, but how about boxty or champ? Follow along as we decode some of Ireland’s iconic dishes. (Psst! We also have the scoop on these 11 classic British foods.)
Boxty
You’d never tell from its name, but a boxty is a potato pancake. It’s made with both grated raw potatoes and mashed potatoes. It supposedly originated during the Irish Potato Famine, and it’s even mentioned in an old Irish rhyme: “Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get a man.” Learn how to make potato pancakes, here.
Coddle
A coddle is a one-pot stew made with leftovers from the week, such as sausage, bacon, potatoes and onions. Its name comes from “coddling,” or simmering, the ingredients for hours before it is ready to eat. It’s a favorite dish of Dublin. Here are more classic Irish recipes.
Barmbrack
Barmbrack, usually shortened to “brack,” is an Irish fruitcake filled with raisins, fruit and spices. It’s typically soaked in tea and whiskey overnight, making it an even more delicious snack with afternoon tea. It becomes a fortuneteller around Halloween, when Irish folks put little trinkets in the dough. If you find a coin, you’ll gain wealth; a ring and you’ll marry within the year.
Champ
Champ is very similar to mashed potatoes. It’s made with potatoes, milk, butter and scallions. What makes it even better than regular mashed potatoes is the well of melted butter in the middle. Hey, did you know butter is healthier than you thought?
Colcannon
You’ve probably heard of this one, even if you’re not sure what it actually is. Colcannon is creamy mashed potatoes with cabbage. It’s typically served with boiled ham in Ireland. Try our version of colcannon potatoes with bacon.
Black and White Pudding
Black pudding is pretty common in the United Kingdom. It’s a sausage made with pork meat, fat and blood. It doesn’t sound too appetizing, but it must be good if so many Europeans like it. The Irish like to enjoy their black pudding with white pudding, which is identical–just without the blood.
Irish Soda Bread
You know this one, right? Irish soda bread is a quick bread made with baking soda (not soda pop). The basic recipe is pretty simple, but many Irish families add their own twist by mixing in different fruit and spices. The recipes are passed down from generation to generation, making them family heirlooms.
Irish stew
Irish stew is a comforting one-pot meal, cooking slowly until the meat is ultra-tender. (Just like our favorite one-pot wonder recipes.) Mutton was used originally, but nowadays, lamb is the meat of choice. Potatoes, onions and sometimes carrots round out the dish.
Shepherd’s pie
This dish has made its way to America, where it is a popular way to use up leftovers. Traditionally shepherd’s pie uses lamb, whereas cottage pie uses ground beef. Today, many Americans use the term shepherd’s pie for both.
Irish coffee
With so much whiskey produced in Ireland, it’s no wonder they started mixing it with coffee! An Irish coffee is made with black coffee, Irish whiskey, a little bit of sugar and topped with cream. Try our spin on an Irish coffee on a cozy night.
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Emily Racette Parulski