Traditional Irish Food - Gluten Free Irish Meals
Unfortunately most traditional Irish food is 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 traditional 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 traditional Irish meals! Potato Starch is a great example of a gluten free additive and is particularly useful for home made soups.
Traditional Irish Food - Bacon and Cabbage
The following traditional Irish recipe for bacon and cabbage is delicious and very simple to make. For a less salty taste, cook the cabbage separately. Try serving with Steamed vegetables and new potatoes for a modern take on this typically traditional dish.
Traditional Irish Food - Bacon and Cabbage - Ingredients
Large Piece of Back Bacon, smoked or un-smoked (according to personal taste)
1 large Cabbage
Potatoes, Carrots and Turnips (if required)
Traditional Irish Food - Bacon and Cabbage - Method
Place the meat in a pot (large enough for the meat and cabbage that will be added later)
Cover the meat with cold water and bring to the boil
Simmer for 30 minutes per pound of meat
cut the cabbage into quarters and add to the pot
Simmer for 30 minutes or until the cabbage is cooked (vary cooking time according to personal taste)
Drain and serve with boiled or mashed potatoes
Can also be served with Carrots and Turnips
Traditional Irish Food - Irish Beef 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!
Traditional Irish Food - Irish Beef Stew - Ingredients
1lb lean cubed beef
1lb carrots
1lb onions
1lb potatoes
salt & pepper
pinch of mixed herbs
Traditional Irish Food - Irish Beef Stew - Method
Put the beef in a large saucepan
Sprinkle the mixed spice over the beef
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
Traditional Irish Food - Treacle Bread
Treacle bread is made in the same way as traditional soda bread with the extra ingredient of treacle! Often the treacle is substituted with Molasses which is very similar, the choice between treacle or molasses is down to personal preference. Fruit is not usually added to treacle bread, again this is down to personal taste.
Traditional Irish Food - Treacle Bread - Ingredients
1lb All purpose Flour
7fl ozs of Milk (buttermilk can be used according to taste)
2 tablespoons of Treacle or Dark Molasses
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Teaspoon of Cream of Tartar
1/2 Teaspoon of ground Ginger
1 Teaspoon of Bicarbonate of Soda
Traditional Irish Food - Treacle Bread - Method
Preheat the oven to 200c
Heat the milk and Molasses (or treacle) in a saucepan
In a large bowl, sift in the flour
Add the sugar, salt, cream of tartar, ginger and bicarbonate of soda
Stir in the milk and molasses mixture until a soft dough is achieved
Lightly dust the work surface with flour and shape the dough into a circle shape
Using a large knife, cut a cross into the top of the bread (to achieve the result shown below)
Bake for approx 45 minutes
Serve warm buttered treacle bread with the essential pot of Irish tea, perfect!
Picture of a Traditional Irish Soda Bread with Raisins
Traditional Irish Food - Colcannon
Colcannon is a fantastic accompaniment to any traditional Irish meal. It goes well with both meat and fish dishes. Traditionally this great Irish recipe was served with even more butter but as there is already a lot of butter in this dish it its not really the most healthy choice! Traditionally, a little hole was made in the centre of the potatoes and a knob of butter was added, each spoonful of mashed colcannon could then be dipped in the butter.
Traditional Irish Food - Colcannon - Ingredients
1.5 kg potatoes
150g butter
210g sliced bacon (chopped)
1 Savoy cabbage or curly kale (shredded)
225 ml double cream
100mls Milk
Traditional Irish Food - Colcannon - Method
Peel the potatoes and cut in half
Place potatoes in a large saucepan of water and boil for 20 minutes
Melt 55g of the butter in a saucepan
Add the bacon and half of the Savoy cabbage or Curly Kale to the butter and cook for approx 6 minutes
Turn off the heat and put the pan to one side
Drain potatoes
Add the milk and mash potatoes until they are smooth
In a separate saucepan heat the cream (do not boil)
Add the warm cream to the potato and mix well
Add the bacon and cabbage mixture
Season with salt and pepper
Garnish with chopped parsley if required
