St. Patrick's Day Recipes

Whiskey and beer-friendly recipes are the way to go on St. Patrick's Day. Try these recipes for a taste of a traditional Irish meal.

Fat Stout Onion Soup

1/4 cup olive oil, or more if needed

3 large onions, thinly sliced

Salt and pepper to taste

6 cups beef or rich chicken stock

2 bottles Guinness Extra Stout

2 bay leaves

1/2 tsp dried thyme

Pinch of allspice

Blue cheese

Beer croutons

In a large soup pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and salt and pepper. Cover the pot and cook the onions until light brown — about 30 minutes — stirring occasionally.

Add all the remaining ingredients, except the croutons. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

Cook for 30 minutes, or until the onions are quite soft and the broth has a nice onion flavor.

Season with salt and pepper and a little vinegar if desired. Garnish with croutons and blue cheese.

Recipe: Guinness Recipes

Corned Beef with Cabbage

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

4 lb corned brisket of beef

3 large carrots, cut into large chunks

6 to 8 small onions

1 tsp dry English mustard

Large sprig fresh thyme and some parsley stalks, tied together

1 cabbage

Salt and freshly ground pepper Put the brisket into a saucepan with the carrots, onions, mustard and the herbs. Cover with cold water and bring gently to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Discard the outer leaves of the cabbage, cut in quarters and add to the pot. Cook for a further 1 to 2 hours or until the meat and vegetables are soft and tender.

Serve the corned beef in slices, surrounded by the vegetables and cooking liquid. Serve with lots of floury potatoes and freshly made mustard.

Recipe: Darina Allen, epicurious.com

Irish Soda Bread

Yield: 8 servings

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup whole wheat flour

2 tbsp flax seeds or sesame seeds

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1-1/2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup vegetable oil

Topping

1 tbsp all purpose flour

In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, flax seeds, sugar, baking soda and salt.

In a small bowl, whisk together buttermilk and oil. Add to dry ingredients all at once; stir with fork until soft dough forms.

On lightly floured surface and with floured hands, press dough into ball; knead lightly 10 times. Place on greased baking sheet; gently pat out dough into 6-inch (15 cm) circle.

Topping: Sprinkle flour over loaf. With sharp knife, score large X on top of loaf.

Bake in centre of 375ºF (190ºC) oven for about 45 minutes or until golden and tester inserted in centre comes out clean.

Recipe: Canadianliving.com