Picture of a Traditional Irish Cauldron or Pot
traditionally used for cooking Irish Meals
Irish Meals - Gluten Free Irish Meals
Unfortunately many traditional Irish meals are not gluten free but the recipes can be adapted to suit those on a gluten free diet. Soda Bread can be made with gluten free flour and other dishes such as soups and stews can be made gluten free. It is important to check the labels of any additives added to food as well, many thickening agents also contain gluten. Gluten-free flour can be made from almonds, rice or corn for example. Gram flour is also a suitable alternative to normal flour which is made from wheat which contains gluten. Corn starch or eggs are ideal additives to soda bread, they act as a rising agent and give the bread its fluffy texture. Potatoes are gluten free, this is particularly good news as the potato features in many Irish meals! Potato Starch is a great example of a gluten free additive and is particularly useful for home made soups.
Irish Meals - Irish Stew Recipe
Irish stew is a great dish to serve on a cold winters evening! Try cooking the stew in a slow cooker, simply add the ingredients in the morning and it will be cooked to perfection when you return from work, delicious! Serve with warm homemade wheaten bread with lots of Irish butter, perfection!
Irish Meals - Beef Stew - Ingredients
1lb lean cubed beef or lamb
1lb carrots
1lb onions
1lb potatoes
salt & pepper
pinch of mixed herbs
Irish Meals - Beef Stew - Method
Put the meat in a large saucepan
Sprinkle the mixed spice over the meat
Fill the pan with enough cold water to cover the meat
Bring slowly to the boil
Simmer for an hour
Add peeled and chopped potatoes, carrots and onions
Season with salt and pepper
Continue cooking until meat and vegetable are soft
Serve with warm home made wheaten bread or cabbage
Irish Meals - Corned Beef and Cabbage
This traditional Irish recipe is unfortunately not really a traditional Irish dish at all! It is popular among many people of Irish descent but its history only dates back to the Irish emigrants to North America and Canada. In an attempt to recreate the traditional Irish dish of bacon and cabbage, the Irish emigrants substituted bacon for corned beef. Although corned beef was available in Ireland it was often too expensive for the Irish natives. Once they settled in America, they discovered that the salt used to preserve the beef and the beef itself was much cheaper than back home in Ireland, hence the invention of the 'traditional' recipe of Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Irish Meals - Corned Beef and Cabbage - Ingredients
1 onion (medium)
4 large potatoes
1 pound baby carrots
3 cups water
3 chopped garlic cloves
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 teaspoon black pepper
3lb corned beef
1 cabbage
Irish Meals - Corned Beef and Cabbage - Method
Cut the onion into wedges
Cut the potatoes into quarters
Chop the carrots into small pieces
Cut the cabbage into quarters
Place the Carrots, potatoes and onion in a large casserole dish
Add the water, sugar, garlic, pepper, vinegar and bay leaf
Place the corned beef joint into the pan
Cover with cabbage
Cook until the meat is tender
Don't forget to remove the bay leaf!
Try cooking the ingredients in a slow cooker for a hassle free meal. Add other spice according to taste, all spice, mustard and marmalade are all ways to personalise this recipe as your own.
Picture of a Traditional Irish Cottage
Irish Meals - Irish Coffee Recipe
Irish coffee is a great liqueur to serve at the end of any good Irish meal and is served in restaurants all over the world.
Irish Meals - Irish Coffee - Ingredients
Irish Meals - Irish Coffee - Method
Add the measure of Irish Whiskey and sugar to a large glass
Pour in the black coffee stirring until the sugar has completely dissolved
Fill the glass with coffee leaving approximately 1 inch at the top of the glass (need room for the cream)
Hold a spoon over the glass and gentle pour the cream over the rounded part of the spoon so the cream slides slowly on top of the coffee forming a layer on top.
Serve immediately!
