From Irish whiskey-soaked sponge cake to classic dishes like colcannon and stew, here are some must-make recipes for St Patrick's Day.
There’s a bit of a doom feeling surrounding St Patrick's Day this year, perhaps it's something to do with the fact that Covid started showing its face in Ireland exactly a year ago and now, 12 months later, we’re still at the whole social-distancing, stay-at-home thing. And although last year, spending St. Patrick's Day at home was a bit of a novelty, this year it's hard see March 17 as anything other than just another day in lockdown.
But we here at FOOD&WINE believe this St Patrick's Day has the potential to be just as special as the ones that came before. From transforming your living room into a pub, singing traditional Irish songs, watching Irish movies and even hosting a round of Irish musical bingo with your friends on Zoom, there's plenty of ways to celebrate St Patrick's Day from the comfort of your own home.
One sure-fire way to get you into the spirit is through food. Between meal-kits and takeaways, food has been at the heart of lockdown celebrations and there's no reason why this March 17 should be any different.
Ahead, we've rounded up five of our favourite classic Irish dishes to see out your celebrations. From a hearty side of colcannon to an Irish whiskey-soaked cake, these St Patricks Day recipes have the Irish touch needed for your celebrations.
Guinness Bread
Throughout lockdown, baking bread has become a worldwide obsession. While lots of people have become fascinated with tending to their sourdough starters, we still have a soft spot in our hearts for classic Guinness bread. This recipe is easy to master and freezes really well - double the batch and freeze one for later. Try the recipe, here.
Howth Bay crab claws and langoustine
Irish seafood is some of the best in the world, so utilise it in this recipe from Michael's of Mount Merrion. This is a real sharing dish so it's great if you're cooking for a full house and sharing over a bottle of wine. You can either buy the crab claws raw and gently poach in salted water for four to five minutes and crack them, or there are great options for pre-cooked and shelled ones. ‘Crabster seafood’ or ‘Lambay crab n Lobster’ are particularly great. Try the recipe, here.
Chicken and Rosscarbery Black Pudding pie
St Patrick's Day has a habit of being a cold, wet and windy day and while that was often a bad thing in the past, this year the bad weather won't be able to get in the way of our at-home celebrations. Combat the nasty weather by baking this comforting chicken and black pudding pie. Try the recipe, here.
Colcannon
Colcannon is a classic Irish recipe made of potatoes, cabbage and a whole lot of butter. Although usually associated with Saint Patrick's Day, colcannon is actually most seen on Irish tables on Halloween nights when it's tradition for the cook to hide little trinkets in the mash, each representing fortune, poverty, or perhaps the chance of a future marriage. There are as many recipes for this dish as there are cooks in Ireland but there's no beating this classic recipe from Maura O’Connell Foley. Try the recipe, here. 
Salted Caramel & Whiskey Cake
Edward Hayden's recipes are always winners but this one might just be the best of the bunch. With a silky-smooth caramel flavour and just the right amount of whiskey, this cake is the perfect modern Irish dessert. Try the recipe, here.
Irish stout beef brisket buns
Beef brisket might sound like an ordeal to cook, but this recipe from Ethna Reynolds takes all the hassle out of the process. Similar to Howth Bay crab claws and langoustine, you should get a few meals out of this brisket recipe and the buns are so easy to whip up. However, if you don't fancy repeating the buns, try the brisket with some mashed potato and roasted veg for a twist on the classic Sunday lunch. Try the recipe, here.
Bushmills Irish coffee
The combination of a smooth Irish whiskey with rich black coffee that's sweetened and topped with cream is an absolute delight sure to help you celebrate St Patrick's Day in style. It's cosy, delicious and extremely comforting. Try the recipe, here.
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