Hailey Stevens, Sophomore
Celebrate this St. Patrick’s Day with a tasty blend of traditional and modern Irish recipes!
Irish Soda Bread:
Irish soda bread is a classic recipe, getting its name from the baking soda used in place of yeast. There are several varieties and mix-ins that you could choose from, but this particular recipe includes orange zest and currants. As for other ingredients, you will need all-purpose flour, sugar, baking soda, kosher salt, cold unsalted butter, cold buttermilk, and one large egg. Make sure to preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and line a sheet pan (or your favorite bread-baking pan!) with parchment paper.
First, combine the dry ingredients in an electric mixer. Next, add the butter and mix on low speed until it’s blended with the flour. In a measuring cup, mix the buttermilk, egg, and orange zest with a fork until everything is combined. While the mixer is on low speed, slowly add the buttermilk mixture into the bowl. Combine the currants with an additional tablespoon of flour, then add to the wet dough mixture. Once you have made the dough, transfer it to a floured work surface and knead until you have created a rounded loaf. Move the dough to your prepared pan and cut an X shape into the top. Finally, place it in the oven for 45-55 minutes, or until a cake tester comes out clean. Once your bread has cooked and cooled, you can enjoy it!
Shepherd’s Pie:
As for the main course, Shepherd’s Pie (or Cottage Pie) is a delicious Irish-American dish. The difference between the two is that Shepherd’s Pie uses ground beef and Cottage Pie uses ground lamb; technically, Cottage Pie is more of a traditional Irish recipe, but you can use whichever meat you like as this recipe works for both. This recipe is also a bit more difficult, but only in terms of the amount of ingredients. You will need olive oil, chopped onion, lean ground meat (beef or lamb), Worcestershire sauce, garlic, flour, tomato paste, beef broth, assorted vegetables, and a number of additional spices. You will also need mashed potatoes to cover the top; you can make these however you’d like or you can use the recipe linked below.
To make the meat filling, warm the oil in a large skillet and add the onions, cooking for about 5 minutes. Next, add the ground meat and break it up into small pieces. Add the spices (found in the recipe below!) and mix until the meat is browned. Then, add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic (mix) and the flour and tomato paste (mix). To finish the filling, add the broth and vegetables (such as carrots, peas, and corn), and then combine and mix.
Before putting everything together, make sure your oven is preheated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Spread the mixture into a baking dish and spoon mashed potatoes on top. Bake for about 25-30 minutes or until the mashed potatoes are golden brown. Make sure your casserole has cooled (about 15 minutes) before serving.
Irish Potatoes:
And finally… dessert! Though not very traditional, Irish potatoes are a simple, sweet, and savory treat with only a few ingredients. For the “potatoes”, you will need cream cheese, unsalted butter, salt, vanilla extract, powdered sugar, sweetened coconut flakes, and ground cinnamon.
Mix the first four ingredients in a stand mixer until blended, making sure you’re scraping the sides occasionally. Next, add the powdered sugar and mix until fully incorporated. Add the coconut and mix until combined. Spoon small scoops of “dough” onto a tin foil-lined baking sheet and place in the fridge to set. After about 30 minutes, remove from the fridge and form into potato-shaped balls. Finally, roll the potatoes in ground cinnamon until fully covered. Enjoy!
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