25 Fun St. Patrick's Day Recipes

By The editors of MidwestLiving.com
June 01, 2012
Here are some traditional—and not-so-traditional—recipes to help you celebrate St. Patrick's Day, from hearty Irish stew to rich Irish cream cheesecake.
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Smoky Cheese and Potato Soup

Smoked cheese, curry and paprika add depth of flavor to this easy potato soup. For St. Patrick's Day, decorate with shamrock-shaped toast topped with pesto.Smoky Cheese and Potato Soup

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Shamrock Smoothies

These fruity green Shamrock Smoothies will bring out the Irish in you--no matter where your family tree originated. Blend frozen kiwifruit and banana, then add green grapes, yogurt, orange juice and honey. If your St. Patty's Day calls for an even more vivid drink, add some green food coloring!Shamrock Smoothies

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Luck of the Irish Stew

Irish stew was traditionally a thick, filling dish made with ingredients that were both inexpensive and easily available. The stew almost always included lamb (or occasionally goat), potatoes and onions. You can make our version with either boneless lamb or boneless beef chuck roast. Serve with Irish Soda Bread; golden raisins give this bread a hint of sweetness that complements the stew.Luck of the Irish Stew recipeIrish Soda Bread recipe

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Salmon Potato Cakes

Bring a new flavor to salmon-a staple on the coasts of Ireland-with our quick-cooking fish-and-potato cakes. Serve on a bed of lettuce with honey-Dijon salad dressing on the side.Salmon Potato Cakes

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Currant-Orange Irish Soda Bread

Traditional Irish soda bread is made from just flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt. This recipe adds plump currants and orange zest for extra flavor. Toast leftover slices for breakfast!Currant-Orange Irish Soda Bread

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Squash and Sausage Shepherd’s Pie

Sweet Italian sausage and mashed butternut squash lend a contemporary twist to the traditional Irish Shepherd's Pie. Squash and Sausage Shepherd's Pie

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Chocolate-Irish Cream Cheesecake

Combine chocolate, cream cheese, sour cream and Irish cream liqueur for this decadently rich cheesecake. If you prefer a milder liqueur flavor, use a little less Irish cream and add whipping cream or milk to make up the difference.For an Irish cheesecake with coffee flavoring instead of chocolate, try Irish Coffee Cheesecake, a recipe from an Omaha bakery.Chocolate-Irish Cream CheesecakeIrish Coffee Cheesecake

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Beer-Glazed Sausage and Apples

Wheat beer lightly glazes smoked sausage, tender-crisp apples and green beans-a fresh take on the traditional Irish mix of sausage, onion and potatoes called Dublin Coddle.Beer-Glazed Sausage and Apples

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Sage Potato Rolls

These potato-based yeast rolls are perfect for St. Patrick's Day. For an elegant presentation, decorate each roll with a sage leaf: Lightly dip the top of each dough ball into flour or brush with egg white. Top each with a sage leaf, brush with egg white, and place on prepared baking sheets.Sage Potato Rolls

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Braised Beef Shanks with Mushrooms and Olives

Slow-cooking turns inexpensive beef shanks into tender, moist chunks. In this Irish-inspired recipe, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes carrots round out a flavorful beef broth. Braised Beef Shanks with Mushrooms and Olives

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Bacon and Baked Potato Soup

This cheesy potato soup with its salty-smoky crumbled bacon would be a great centerpiece for a St. Patrick's Day dinner. Bacon used to be a more common cooking ingredient in Ireland than corned beef because it was more readily available. Serve this hearty soup with scones or Luck o' the Irish Whole-Wheat Bread.Bacon and Baked Potato Soup recipeScones recipeLuck o' the Irish Whole-Wheat Bread recipe

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Corned Beef and Cabbage

Long, slow cooking tenderizes the brisket, which is the centerpiece of this hearty, one-dish meal. To round out your dinner, you could serve purchased shamrock-shaped cookies or shamrock-topped cupcakes and green tea or limeade.Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner recipe

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St. Patrick's Day Beef and Veggies

Simmer meat and potatoes in a flavorful broth for this traditional St. Patrick's Day dish. Spinach, carrots and onions add color plus an updated twist to the recipe.St. Patrick's Day Beef and Veggies

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Orange-Spiced Corned Beef

Dried fruit, orange juice, molasses, and spices dress up corned beef with lively new flavor in this slow-cooker recipe.Orange-Spiced Corned Beef

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Savoy Cabbage Salad

Cabbage has been a staple Irish flavor for years. This Savoy Cabbage Salad offers a fresh twist on this reliable side dish. We added the noodles uncooked. They soften some while chilling, but still add crunch.Savoy Cabbage Salad recipe

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Lamb and Vegetable Stew

Butternut squash, sweet potatoes, parsnip and celery highlight this traditional Irish stew.Lamb and Vegetable Stew

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Minty Roasted Lamb Chops

Coat lamb shops with a mixture of olive oil and fresh mint leaves for an easy, elegant holiday dish. Serve with pureed peas for an extra dollop of green!Minty Roasted Lamb Chops

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Boxty and Colcannon

Boxty (left) will remind you of potato pancakes. It gets a crispy crust when you fry the potatoes in melted butter.Another traditional Irish side dish is colcannon, a mixture of mashed potatoes and cooked cabbage, flavored with green onions and parsley.Boxty recipeIrish Colcannon recipe

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Twice-Baked Potatoes

Make your St. Patrick's Day side dish extra-special with cheese-stuffed Yukon Gold potatoes.Twice-Baked Potatoes

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Pancetta-Feta Red Cabbage

Our warmed red cabbage salad easily complements meat and chicken dishes. The dressing brings tang, and the baconlike pancetta offers addictive salty flavor.We also love this Savoy Cabbage and Fennel Slaw. If you're in a hurry, use purchased coleslaw mix to shortcut slicing the savoy cabbage.Pancetta-Feta Red Cabbage recipeSavoy Cabbage and Fennel Slaw recipe

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Irish Coffee Brownies

As warmly welcoming as the traditional Irish beverage, these brownies have a little whiskey in the batter and a little more in the glaze.Irish Coffee Brownies

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St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

Celebrate the luck o' the Irish by serving these festive green cupcakes loaded with chocolate chips.St. Patrick's Day Cupcakes

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Shamrock Cookies

Green food coloring, green colored sugar and a touch of peppermint (or vanilla) make these slice-and-bake cookies holiday-special.Shamrock Cookies

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Dandy Shandy

Choose your favorite stout beer and ginger beer or ginger ale for this British cocktail favorite. Another variation: Combine equal parts of beer and lemonade.Dandy Shandy

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Chocolate Stout Shakes

Stir crushed pretzels into this thick ice cream-and-stout drink for added crunch.Chocolate Stout Shakes

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By The editors of MidwestLiving.com