Irish side dish ideas?

efcdcdb

So next week, we are having a St. Patrick's day lunch in my office. There is a sign up sheet going around. We are having a standard deli tray brought in for the main dish, so everyone has to sign up for an appetizer, side dish or dessert. So far, we seem to have a shortage of side dishes, so I thought I could call upon my MFP friends to give me some ideas of what I could bring. Ideally, it would be something that I can make ahead, and serve cold (or room temperature). Some kind of veggie dish or salad? I do have access to a refrigerator, microwave and a toaster oven...it doesn't necessarily have to keep with the theme - someone is bringing pasta salad, and someone is bringing fruit salad. But something authentic would be nice. Ideas?????

LuckyLeprechaun

Guinness?

Just kidding!

Just make some regular food, and color it green. Ireland doesn't even really celebrate this, it's an American thing anyway.......

UponThisRock

umm...potatoes?

treetop57

Black pudding. (No, it's not made with really, really dark chocolate.)

Thomasm198

We don't do "side dishes".

jojo52610

Cabbage?

bcampbell54

Crubeens and soda bread, maybe a boxty or two

Fred77

soda bread or potato bread (boxty)

both easy enough to make

Fred77

tayto crisps!!

7funnygirl7

Although not a typical "Irish dish" but, ~ Green (lime) jello is always great & add in some fruit/pineapple and Voila! You "could" use this as a side dish??

cmeade20

St. Pattys is more an "American Irish" holiday so I guess anthing goes. Skinnykitchen.com, skinnytaste.com and eatbetteramerica.com all have lots of side dish and appetizer recipes

california_peach

This is not really a side dish, but it might impress your co-workers and I think it would fit with Thomas's no side dish proclamation.

http://www.myveggietable.com/2010/03/happy-st-patricks-day-irish-soda-bread.html

monocot

Whiskey Soda bread. LOL

secretlobster

Check this out!

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_irish_recipes

secretlobster

Whiskey Soda bread. LOL

*like*
*like**like**like**like**like**like**like**like**like*

efcdcdb

Great ideas so far! Keep 'em comin'! There are a few of my coworkers who have been whining about not knowing what to bring, so I can share the wealth! :flowerforyou:

efcdcdb

Oh - any recipes where applicable would be good too. :bigsmile:

melaniecheeks

Well, i get the day off work, and there's a parade in Belfast, so I'd say we DO celebrate it here. In a different way, of course.

Irish side dishes:

Well, there's our fabulous bread. Soda bread is lovely, as is wheaten bread.

Or our potatoes - champ (mashed potatoes with green onion chopped through it) or colcannon (mash potato with cooked cabbage through it). Both of those could be prepared ahead and heated in the microwave. Or do a potato salad.

robert65ferguson

How about CHAMP which is an authentic dish. Boil some potatoes and then mash them when they are cooked. 5 mins before the potatoes are ready put some chopped spring onions ( called scallions in Ireland) in a bowl with some butter and microwave for about one minute. pour the contents of the bowl into the mashed potatoes. Combine gently until the spring onions are well mixed with the potatoes, season with salt and pepper. Enjoy - Not exactly the most healthy dish in the world but it is authentic and tastes great for St Patricks Day.

kryptonitekelly

Guinness?

I concur!

CnocNaCu

umm...potatoes?

spuds, that's the right word: SPUDS :bigsmile:

applekoko19

Of course we celebrate Paddy's day!!! Hmmm side dishes ... Calcannon is yummy and very Irish; just google for recipes.

BrilliantSugar

Ummm... St Paddy's Day, yes paDDy, is most definitely celebrated here. C'mon people, it's our national holiday!

Schnuddelbuddel

Here are a few ideas for side or starter type dishes:
-Colcannon (mashed spuds and cabbage -kale is lovely in it, much nicer than white cabbage!)
-Potato Pancakes (Boxty)
-Chips (that'd be steak fries in the US I think)

See the trend there? All made of spuds lol... anything seafood would be good too. Plenty of that around here, from crab and mussels to salmon and whatever else you can think of! With brown soda bread

Happy cooking

ps: It's St Paddy's Day... no offense, but it does curl my toe nails when I see 'Patty's Day' *shudder*

Picola1984

Leprechaun legs

robert65ferguson

Sorry to disagree with our American friends but we have been celebrating St Patrick's Day in the emerald isle for rather a long time. Every Irish regiment will be presented with shamrock sprigs and every newsreader will be wearing a sprig of shamrock to celebrate our national Saint's Day. There will be many celebratory church services and a pilgimage to Saul Cathederal the burial place of St Patrick. While our exiles do make it a large event across the pond those who did not emigrate celebrate on all sides of the community. Living on the genuine emerald isle we have no need for artificiality. Happy St Patricks Day!

BrilliantSugar

Here's an Irish site that has some ideas. http://www.bordbia.ie/aboutfood/recipes/stpatricksday/pages/default.aspx

LuckyLeprechaun

So in Ireland, you dress up like leprechauns, everyone has to wear green or be pinched, and you turn your beer green so as to get properly drunk, Right?

No?

Oh. Because in America, St. Patrick's Day celebrations have nothing to do with church, and everything to do with green beer. We have changed it the same way American celebrations have changed Cinco de Mayo.

I'm not saying it isn't Irish, I'm saying the way America does it barely resembles the origin.

kevinlynch3

Grew up in Ireland..it was just another holy day with the added benefit of a parade and searching for shamrock to pin on. I don't think that celebrations are the term that comes to my mind for Saint Patrick's day in Ireland unless you lived in a major city.

Here on the other hand..its a big event.

Soda bread's a good side dish although as Thomas rightly says..we don't do side dishes...lol

You could also do ham soaked in cabbage.

monocot

Whiskey Soda Bread--- Could use any other kind of booze, Spiced rum is nice in there XD
3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup whiskey
1/4 cup butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a small bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk, whiskey and melted butter. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 30 seconds, incorporating more flour as needed if dough is sticking to your fingers. Make a round loaf and place on the baking sheet.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Shamrock Salad

First Layer
1 small box lime gelatin
1 small can undrained crushed pineapple

Dissolve gelatin in one cup hot water, then cool. Add pineapple. Pour mixture into large mold and chill until set.

Second Layer
1 small box lemon gelatin
6 ounces cream cheese
10 marshmallows
2 cups whipping cream

Dissolve gelatin in one cup hot water. Mix one package cream cheese with one cup whipping cream. Pour mixture on top of set lime gelatin. Chill until set.

Mix remaining cream cheese with one cup whipped cream and the marshmallows cut into small pieces. Turn out mold on lettuce green and top with this mixture.

Whip 1/2 cup cream and add drained maraschino cherries and drained pineapple slices, arranged to form an attractive circle on top.


Corned Beef Potato Salad

1 can corned beef (the kind you have to open with the attached key), chilled, fat scraped off, and cut into 1/2" cubes
3 large potatoes, any kind, about 1 1/2 lbs.
4 green onions, minced
1 can (about 1 1/2 c.) sauerkraut, drained and rinsed and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped/diced
1/3 c. minced dill pickles (Clausen brand is the best)
1 small jar diced pimientos (optional, for color)

Dressing:
1/2 c. low-fat mayo or salad dressing
1 c. low-fat sour cream
2-4 T. prepared mustard (we like the spicy brown mustard)
1-2 T. horseradish
1/4 c. milk or broth or pickle juice
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Combine last 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Boil whole potatoes in skins until barely tender. Peel and cut into large pieces (2" x 2"), and place in dressing mixture while still warm. Toss to coat thoroughly. Stir in other ingredients. Refrigerate. Taste and adjust for salt several hours later.

Serve cold on lettuce. Garnish with cherry tomatoes, sliced.

YIELD: 4-6 Servings as a Main Dish

efcdcdb

Whiskey Soda Bread--- Could use any other kind of booze, Spiced rum is nice in there XD
3 1/2 – 4 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1/4 cup whiskey
1/4 cup butter, melted

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine 3 1/2 cups flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a small bowl, combine the egg, buttermilk, whiskey and melted butter. Add to the flour mixture and stir until just combined.
Place dough on a lightly floured surface and knead for about 30 seconds, incorporating more flour as needed if dough is sticking to your fingers. Make a round loaf and place on the baking sheet.
Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Shamrock Salad

First Layer
1 small box lime gelatin
1 small can undrained crushed pineapple

Dissolve gelatin in one cup hot water, then cool. Add pineapple. Pour mixture into large mold and chill until set.

Second Layer
1 small box lemon gelatin
6 ounces cream cheese
10 marshmallows
2 cups whipping cream

Dissolve gelatin in one cup hot water. Mix one package cream cheese with one cup whipping cream. Pour mixture on top of set lime gelatin. Chill until set.

Mix remaining cream cheese with one cup whipped cream and the marshmallows cut into small pieces. Turn out mold on lettuce green and top with this mixture.

Whip 1/2 cup cream and add drained maraschino cherries and drained pineapple slices, arranged to form an attractive circle on top.


Corned Beef Potato Salad

1 can corned beef (the kind you have to open with the attached key), chilled, fat scraped off, and cut into 1/2" cubes
3 large potatoes, any kind, about 1 1/2 lbs.
4 green onions, minced
1 can (about 1 1/2 c.) sauerkraut, drained and rinsed and chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped/diced
1/3 c. minced dill pickles (Clausen brand is the best)
1 small jar diced pimientos (optional, for color)

Dressing:
1/2 c. low-fat mayo or salad dressing
1 c. low-fat sour cream
2-4 T. prepared mustard (we like the spicy brown mustard)
1-2 T. horseradish
1/4 c. milk or broth or pickle juice
1/8 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. salt

Combine last 7 ingredients in a large bowl. Boil whole potatoes in skins until barely tender. Peel and cut into large pieces (2" x 2"), and place in dressing mixture while still warm. Toss to coat thoroughly. Stir in other ingredients. Refrigerate. Taste and adjust for salt several hours later.

Serve cold on lettuce. Garnish with cherry tomatoes, sliced.

YIELD: 4-6 Servings as a Main Dish

Great ideas AND recipes. Thank you. Thank you!