St Patrick's Day menu
Celebrate St Patrick's Day with our Irish menu featuring some of the classics. From soda bread to Irish stew and Guinness puddings, put on a feast to remember.
All around the world, 17 March is marked by copious celebrations, complete with free-flowing pints of stout, street parades and dinner parties. So why not gather round your family and friends for a gourmet spread in ode to St Patrick and the emerald isle. We’ve put together a celebratory menu plan to serve six people, with optional drinks suggestions.
Start with a light smoked salmon and soda bread sharing dish, followed by a hearty Irish stew and creamy colcannon side. Finish with gooey Guinness chocolate puddings, washed down by an Irish coffee and you'll have yourself one satisfied crowd.
The recipes
Aperitif
Get the party started with a few glasses of – but not as you know it. Our black velvet cocktail mixes equal proportions of stout and champagne to make a super sparkly celebration drink. So raise a glass to St Paddy and prepare to impress your guests with a medley of Irish-inspired delicacies...
Starter
Smoked salmon, cucumber and capers with freshly baked soda bread
Serve up this easy help-yourself fish starter with freshly baked soda bread – an Irish staple. We've used smoked salmon, but smoked trout, gravadlax or prosciutto will work just as well. Take the bread out of the oven an hour before lunch and it will still be warm when it hits the table.
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Smoked salmon, cucumber and capers with freshly baked soda bread
Main
Irish stew
Many people have their different take on this classic meat and veg one-pot, so we've tried combining all the finest elements for a real crowd-pleaser. Traditionally composed of lamb or mutton with carrots, potatoes and onions, we've also added pearl bearley and bacon for extra taste and texture. Using a cheaper cut of braising meat such as lamb neck fillets or scrag ends means you'll reduce costs but maximise on flavour. Why not make it ahead and let it stew for a little longer until the lamb is extra tender, or see our slow cooker version of this recipe.
Side
Colcannon
The menu wouldn't be complete without this creamy Irish speciality enriched with melted butter and double cream. Add bacon and shredded cabbage to the mashed potatoes for a super fluffy, luxurious side dish which guests can enjoy alongside the stew.
Dessert
Guinness chocolate puddings
A sweet celebration of stout – these boozy little chocolate puds are a decadent and delightful way to end a dinner party. They may look like the result of a skillful stint in the kitchen, but only require five ingredients to whip up and baking them in individual ramekins makes it easy to portion out. Top your molten marvels with a spoonful of clotted or whipped cream for a stylish and sophisticated finish.
After-dinner drinks
End the evening's festivities with a classic Irish coffee digestif. This tasty tipple can be whipped up in just five mins by combining coffee with Irish whiskey and sugar, then topping with whipped cream and nutmeg. After all the celebrations, and perhaps the odd Irish jig, guests are sure to want some time to wind down with a warming drink.
Get more inspiration for how to throw a St Patrick's day party and see our St Patrick's Day recipe collection for more Irish recipes.
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How will you be celebrating St Patrick's Day? Leave a comment below...
