St. Patrick’s Day is Thursday, March 17, but don’t think that means you’re stuck with lukewarm green beer and soggy corned beef! These charming Irish cookbooks, full of glorious photos, will inspire you with plenty of ideas for an Irish feast, ranging from traditional dishes to creative seafood and hearty pub fare. Or you could bake up a loaf of soda bread with this handy mix and slather it with salty butter and jam for a cozy Irish afternoon tea. Enjoy the tastes of Ireland with these St. Patrick’s Day cookbooks!

Clodagh's Irish KitchenClodagh’s Irish Kitchen: A Fresh Take on Traditional Flavors
Author: Clodagh McKenna
I want you to know I didn’t just choose this cookbook because the author’s name is Clodagh. Well, not entirely. Clodagh McKenna is billed as Ireland’s Rachael Ray, and her latest cookbook takes the well-known Irish dishes that Americans know and gives them a more authentic, contemporary twist. That means a traditional Irish breakfast presented as a Spanish-style tortilla, or Cork-spiced beef with beet and horseradish cream. But don’t worry, you’ll find favorites like Guinness cake, colcannon, and soda bread in there, too. The baked oaty pears sound delicious year-round!

 

 

 

Coast: Ireland's Wild Atlantic WayCoast: Recipes from Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
Author: Rachel Allen
This brand-new cookbook has been published just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, but it’s more than heavy pub food. It’s packed with over 100 simple, rustic seafood dishes and satisfying comfort food. Entrees like sausage and bean casserole with kale and hazelnut pesto, or cockles with chorizo, feature Irish cuisine with updated, international ingredients. Check out some free recipes and learn more about Allen’s culinary travels through Ireland.

 

 

 

The Farmette CookbookThe Farmette Cookbook: Recipes and Adventures from My Life on an Irish Farm
Author: Imen McDonnell
Another brand-new release, this cookbook gathers recipes from Imen McDonnell’s popular blog, Farmette. American-born Imen fell in love with an Irish farmer and moved to Ireland, and this book chronicles her adventures in Irish cooking. Follow along as Imen learns the traditions of Sunday lunch, pudding, and tea; how to forage in the countryside for wild edibles; and the best way to bargain with your local fishmonger. Many of the Irish recipes have been given an American twist, but they all emphasize fresh local ingredients and time-honored methods.

 

 

Irish Cooking BibleIrish Cooking Bible
Want to keep it traditional? This comprehensive cookbook is stuffed with 120 recipes for satisfying, filling country-style food. Yes, there’s the beloved corned beef hash… but there’s also Irish whiskey-cured salmon! Classic pub food like lamb and vegetable pie, beef stew, and homemade breads round out the menu. If you’re looking for old favorites, this Irish cookbook covers all the basics.

 

 

 

 

Irish Traditional CookingIrish Traditional Cooking: Over 300 Recipes from Ireland’s Heritage
Author: Darina Allen
Here’s another treasure chest of traditional Irish recipes. This huge collection of over 300 recipes was originally published almost 20 years ago, and this revised and updated version brings these traditional recipes into the 21st century. Sure, you may not ever find a need to cook sea spinach soup or potted Ballycotton shrimps with melba toast, but it’s fun to read about these bits of Irish culinary heritage. Author Darina Allen traveled all over Ireland to learn how regional specialties are made with local ingredients and special techniques, and this cookbook contains plenty of stories, historical facts, and information about Irish customs. You’ll find everything from soups and vegetables to fish and game and delicious sweets. Perfect for travel lovers and foodies!

 

 

Real Irish FoodReal Irish Food: 150 Classic Recipes from the Old Country
Author: David Bowers
If corned beef and cabbage is not your idea of the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, then this cookbook is for you. Real Irish food, argues the author, is so much better than the American stereotype — dishes like homemade sausages, whiskey chicken, Irish stew with dumplings, and roast goose with applesauce. Cherry cake, brandy butter, and apple tarts finish off the meal, with elderflower lemonade and ginger beer to wash it all down. Sound amazing? We think so! Plus, 200 photos to drool over and plan your perfect St. Patrick’s Day dinner.

Stephanie Perry
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