Your St. Patrick’s Day Menu

March 18, 2024 at 17:47 PM EDT

Photo from Unsplash

Originally Posted On: https://spiceworldinc.com/tips-and-tricks/your-st-patricks-day-menu/

Top of the morning to you! St. Patrick’s Day began as a holy day to honor Patrick, patron saint of Ireland with religious services and feasts. Over time, St. Patrick’s Day has been transformed into a largely secular day of celebrating all things Irish, especially in the United States, with shamrocks, parades, leprechauns, and green galore. Here are a handful of Irish-inspired dishes to try this St. Patrick’s Day. May they bring you the luck of the Irish!

Zucchini and Potato Pancakes

Potato pancakes with a pop of green? Yes, please! In this recipe, the humble potato gets a boost of flavor and nutrition from antioxidant-rich zucchini, known for its mild flavor and immune-boosting nutrients, as well as oat flour, a good source of fiber, and onion, which can combat inflammation and contribute to bone strength. Try them for breakfast or serve as an appetizer.

Ingredients

2 russet potatoes, grated
1 large zucchini, grated
1/3 cup Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion
1/2 cup oat flour (or substitute with any other whole grain flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Cover two sheet pans with parchment paper.
Use a box grater or food processor with grating disc to grate the potatoes and zucchini.
Spread half of the grated vegetables and Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion on a clean kitchen towel, then roll and wring the towel to draw out the excess moisture. Transfer to a large mixing bowl. Repeat with the remaining vegetables.
In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and pepper. Add to the vegetable bowl and mix well, using your hands to evenly distribute the flour and baking powder.
Scoop about ¼ cup of potato mixture and hand-shape it into a semi-tight ball. Flatten with your palms and place the pancake onto the prepared pan. Repeat with the remaining mix, spacing the pancakes about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 12 minutes. Flip and bake for another 12 minutes, or to your desired level of crispness. Serve at once. Top with the condiment of your choice.

Vegan Irish Stew

A staple of Irish cuisine since around the year 1800, homemade Irish stew is considered the national dish of Ireland. This vegan twist replaces the meat with a hearty blend of mushrooms and root vegetables, including versatile and nutrient-dense garlic and onion, which may provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Ingredients

2 Tbsp olive oil
½ cup Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion
2 tsp Spice World Ready-to-use Organic Minced Garlic or Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic
3 large carrots, sliced
2 stalks celery, sliced
2 cups baby potatoes, halved
1 cup white mushrooms, sliced and quartered
1 cup frozen peas
1 tsp Italian seasoning
2 cups vegetable broth
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
3 Tbsp lower sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 sprigs rosemary
1 small bunch fresh thyme
2 Tbsp cornstarch
3 Tbsp water

Instructions

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil, then add Spice World Ready-to-Use Chopped Easy Onion and Spice World Ready-to-Use Organic Minced Garlic or Spice World Ready-to-Use Minced Garlic and sauté 3–4 minutes or until onion is translucent.
Add the carrots, celery, baby potatoes, mushrooms, and peas into the pot.
Cook for 2-3 minutes.
Add the Italian seasoning, vegetable broth, diced tomatoes, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, rosemary, and thyme. Stir and bring to a boil.
In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and water to form a slurry mix (to help thicken the stew). Add to the stew and stir.
Cover the pot, reduce the heat, and simmer for 45 minutes or until veggies are tender.

Classic Corned Beef

The tradition of eating corned beef and cabbage to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day likely started when Irish immigrants who came to the United States craved the comforting flavors from Ireland, substituting less expensive ingredients such as beef (for pork) and cabbage (for potatoes). This classic corned beef soaks up the flavors and aromas of cloves and allspice, which can help alleviate digestive issues, thanks to a compound called eugenol. Antioxidant-rich garlic and onion infuse additional deep flavor and may be beneficial for lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. Serve the corned beef with fancy mustard and your favorite vegetable side dishes, then enjoy leftovers on sandwiches.

Ingredients

3-5 lbs. of corned beef
1 whole bay leaf
1 bulb of Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Fresh Organic Garlic
3 whole cloves
10 whole peppercorns
5 whole allspice berries (or two pinches of ground allspice)
1 whole yellow onion

Instructions

Put the corned beef in a large, heavy pot or Dutch oven and cover with water. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil and skim the foam that rises to the surface.
Lower the heat so the water bubbles occasionally rather than constantly. Cook for about 2 hours, turning every 30 minutes. Pierce with a thin-bladed knife, such as a boning knife; the meat may still be tough, but it’s time to begin checking.
Check every 15 minutes. The corned beef is ready when the knife can pass into the middle without much resistance. Drain the liquid, then, if you like, bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes to dry out the exterior.
Slice across the grain (as you would with brisket) and serve.

To prepare in advance: After cooking, wrap the cooked corned beef carefully in aluminum foil and refrigerate for up to 2 days. Reheat the foil-wrapped corned beef at 300 degrees F for 30 minutes, then unwrap and heat about 15 minutes more.

Mashed Cauliflower with Roasted Garlic

Low in carbs but high in flavor, mashed cauliflower offers a healthier alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. Cauliflower is an excellent source of vitamin C, folate, and vitamin K, as well as fiber, which is important for digestive and heart health. With its creamy and slightly sweet flavor, roasted garlic adds lots of antioxidants that may help reduce inflammation and fight off infection.

Ingredients

1 whole head of cauliflower, separated into florets
1 bulb of Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Fresh Organic Garlic
1 tsp olive oil
2 tsp fresh thyme
1/4-1/2 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Trim the pointy end of the bulb of Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Fresh Organic Garlic so that the individual cloves are revealed.

Drizzle olive oil over the exposed cloves, then wrap Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Fresh Organic Garlic in aluminum foil and bake at 400 degrees F for 40-50 minutes, until soft. Remove from the oven and cool slightly.
Meanwhile, set a vegetable steamer into a pot or saucepan with a lid. Add an inch of water to the pot and fill the steamer basket with the cauliflower florets. Cover the pot and bring the water to a boil. Cook cauliflower until fork tender, about 10 minutes.
Transfer cauliflower to a food processor. Squeeze the individual cloves of roasted Spice World Fresh Garlic or Spice World Fresh Organic Garlic into the cauliflower. Add the thyme and secure the lid on the food processor. Pulse the cauliflower mixture until there are no lumps and it’s smooth like mashed potatoes. This may take a few minutes.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with an extra sprinkle of thyme and a drizzle of olive oil before serving.

Stout Gingerbread Cake

It’s no pot of gold, but this Stout Gingerbread Cake is a delicious reward after a colorful, festive meal, with a wink to Ireland thanks to the Guinness, known as the king of Irish stouts. A hint of ginger adds warm spice to this sweet cake and may aid digestion.

Ingredients

3⁄4 cup stout beer, such as Guinness*
1⁄2 tsp baking soda
2⁄3 cup molasses
3⁄4 cup light brown sugar
1⁄4 cup granulated sugar
1 1⁄2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp ground ginger
1⁄2 tsp baking powder
1⁄2 tsp salt
1⁄4 tsp ground cinnamon
1⁄4 tsp finely ground black pepper
2 large eggs
1⁄3 cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger

*If you’re avoiding alcohol, you can substitute an equal amount of brewed coffee for the stout.

Instructions

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8×8″ square baking pan and dust lightly with flour.
Bring the stout to a boil in a large saucepan. Remove from heat and stir in the baking soda. It will start to foam. When the foam subsides, add the molasses and both sugars; stir until dissolved.
In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and pepper.
Whisk the eggs, oil, and Spice World Squeezable Minced Ginger into the stout mixture.
Whisk the wet mixture into the flour mixture, ideally in thirds so it mixes evenly, mixing thoroughly after each addition. Pour the batter into the pan and bake for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Leave the cake in the pan and cool on a wire rack for 1.5 hours. Cut into squares and serve.

Ready to cook up new traditions this St. Patrick’s Day? Find more tips and healthy menu ideas at Spice World Inc.