7 Best Foods to Taste in Ireland

 

Famous as the birthplace of whiskey, fairytale Ireland can't boast such diversity in terms of traditional cuisine as Italy (with everyone's favorite pizza and Florentina steak) or Spain (with mouthwatering tapas and paella). But it doesn't mean that Ireland has no gastronomical surprises to offer! Yes, Irish cuisine might be less recognizable around the globe but it deserves your attention just as much as the whole region does. If you are thinking of Ireland travel and are wondering which culinary experiences to put on your bucket list, we are here to help. On this page, we've gathered some of the finest examples of traditional Irish dishes that became an essential part of the rich Irish heritage and are worth tasting.

 

What to Eat & Drink in Ireland

1. Irish Stew
Irish Stew

If you are looking for something filling and hearty, you can't go wrong with Irish Stew. This dish is a great example of what comfort food is all about! And as it often happens with traditional recipes, there is no way to cook it right. Some people prefer the old-school way that doesn't include anything but pork, onions, potatoes, and water. Others choose to enrich the taste by adding pearl barley, spices or root vegetables. Others prefer to use beef over goat meat. But regardless of the recipe, a hot plate of this Irish dish is perfect wintertime food with tons of flavor.

2. Boxty
Boxty

Another great example of Irish home cooking is called boxty, traditional pancakes made out of potatoes. Although there are a lot of variations of the classic recipe, all of them are based on the idea of raw potatoes being finely grated, fried till golden brown and crispy, and served hot, right from the pan. Boxty became such an important part of Irish culture that there is even a very old Irish rhyme, featuring this delicious dish: "Boxty on the griddle, boxty in the pan, if you can't make boxty, you'll never get your man".

3. Dublin Lawyer
Dublin Lawyer

This traditional Irish recipe was created over 2 centuries ago. What hides behind such an interesting name is a fresh lobster baked until juicy and tender with cream and high-quality Irish whiskey and served hot, accompanied by lemon wedges, mixed salad with fresh vegetables, and steamed baby potatoes. Sounds amazing, right? No one knows for sure where the name came from, although the most popular theory states that it's because back in the old days, Irish lawyers were posh, rich, and filled with whiskey.

4. Barmbrack
Barmbrack

If you happen to explore the beautiful country at the end of October - beginning of November, don't miss the chance to try barmbrack, also known simply as "brack". This traditional Irish bread is made right in the heart of Irish Halloween, and this "scary" holiday in Ireland without a slice of Barmbrack is just as unthinkable as the American version without the caramel apples is. There is a peculiar tradition of placing a small present inside a loaf (a ring, for example) and presenting it to your nearest and dearest. The person who finds this item is believed to be fortunate.

5. Irish Coffee
Irish Coffee

The perfection that is Irish coffee was created in 1943. The story says that it was invented by Joe Sheridan, the chef at Shannon Airport. One day, a flight from Foynes to New York was turned back because of terrible weather conditions and Joe was asked to come and make sure that the freezing passengers have some hot food and drinks to warm up. Trying to help the unlucky travelers, he poured some high-quality Irish whiskey into their coffees and put some whipped cream on top. There's no need to say that the drink turned out to be a huge hit.

6. Guinness
Guinness

Although Guinness is brewed in almost 50 countries around the globe, there is no better place to have a pint than the place that gave the world this iconic black stout (although it's not black, strictly speaking, its official color is ruby red). Moreover, Ireland is probably the only place where you can be sure that your glass of ice-cold beer was poured right. Did you know that it takes exactly 119 and a half seconds to pour a perfect pint of Guinness? This process consists of 6 steps and includes waiting for almost 2 minutes for the drink to settle after the first pour.

7. Irish Whiskey
Whiskey

Of course, this list of "must-tastes" won't be complete without a glass of original Irish whiskey. The island of Ireland is one of the biggest producers of this noble drink in the world. Despite Scottish whisky and Irish whiskey being quite similar at first glance, there are a few differences (apart from their spelling) that radically affect the taste. For example, Irish whiskey is usually made out of unmalted barley and is triple distilled, providing its iconic smoothness and guarantees its famous light and rich flavor.