Religiously speaking, since St. Patrick’s Day or Lá Fhéile Pádraig falls during Lent, the Church traditionally lifted prohibitions against eating meat. And who wouldn’t want to celebrate the good saint with a little dancing, drinking and feasting to honor the Emerald Isle?
I would never turn down what I know as a New England Boil (boiled corned beef with cabbage, carrots and potatoes). But if you want an authentic boil the way it’s done in Ireland, you will need pork, not beef, and said pork will have to be a brined, non-leg joint such as a shoulder. That is a bit much to find around these parts, so want a quick delicious feast that is easily adjusted to serve two or ten? Follow along.
This is a moment for me to geek out a bit on Irish food.
“Bradán” is Irish for Atlantic salmon, a native fish. It is celebrated in Irish lore, and if you are curious, look into the tale of Fionn MacCumhaill. The tale begins with a salmon that ate some wild hazelnuts, ones that happened to contain all the knowledge of the world.
“Biolar” is Irish for watercress, an aquatic plant that grows wild in Ireland. The nutrient-dense super food has pepperiness reminiscent of arugula or a mild radish. Story-wise, it’s an old folklore remedy for lunacy, a 16th century cure for scurvy and connected to the long life of St. Brendan.
We cannot avoid the non-native potato. Was it Sir Walter Raleigh that brought the spud ashore or did it wash up from a wrecked Spanish ship? Either way, it became a staple in all its delightful, fluffy ways. If you’ve never had champ, it is a must for the kids like me that loved mixing the mashed potatoes on their plate with whatever was next to it. Typically, the potatoes are mashed with boiled milk, mixed with a varying selection of vegetables (crispy onions, dulse, kale, peas, leeks, et cetera) and studded with delicious little lumps of melting butter. Champ, too, has it’s own story and schoolyard songs.
Notice a trend of food and stories? I think most of us can relate, Irish or not. This St. Patrick’s Day, try these recipes for salmon and champ or discover your own island fare from fair Ireland. Sláinte chugaibh ~ cheers y’all!
