11 Delicious Foods to Taste in Ireland

1: Irish Stew

Irish stew is a classic food in Ireland, a simple one-pot dish with deep roots in Ireland’s culinary history when ingredients were limited to what was locally available. Irish stew became a staple in Irish culture as a practical way for households to make the most of their meats and vegetables. It has adapted throughout the years with numerous variations by region and personal preferences. 

This dish is made with root vegetables and either lamb or mutton, potatoes, carrots, onions and parsley. In Ireland, it’s sometimes called “ballymaloe.” Irish stew became popular in the early 19^th century during harsh economic times, since all it took to make was a hanging pot, an open fire, and a few easy and inexpensive ingredients. Today, Guinness stout is often an added ingredient!

2: Irish Soda Bread

One of the most popular foods to try in Ireland is Irish soda bread. A bread that doesn’t require any yeast, Irish soda bread is instead made with baking soda and buttermilk. In Northern Ireland, it’s also called “farl,” with the bread cut into slices and and baked on a griddle. In Southern Ireland, Irish soda bread is baked in round tins with a cross carved into the top of the loaf. Tradition has it that the cross would ward off evil.

You can learn a lot from Irish soda bread. Its simplistic preparation shows the resourcefulness of the Irish when they had to endure hard times and rely on locally available ingredients. By swapping yeast for baking soda, creating the bread was much easier. While the basic recipe remains a constant in many Irish households, variations have been made throughout the years, with ingredients like raisins and dried currants added to create a sweeter rendition.

3: Shepherd’s Pie

The main ingredients in this comfort food are ground lamb cooked in gravy with onions, carrots, celery and a mashed-potato crust on top (and also sometimes on the bottom). In Ireland, shepherd’s pie is sometimes called “cottage pie,” and was considered a delicacy back when the potato was first introduced to Ireland in 1589 as an affordable piece of produce. 

4: Colcannon 

This meal has a bit of superstition attached to it. One myth is that a single woman from the home where the dish was to be cooked would be blindfolded and sent out to the garden to pick the curly kale or cabbage needed for the recipe. Once the meal was cooked, she would put the first and last spoonful of her colcannon into her stocking and hang it in front of the house. The next bachelor to walk through the door would become her husband! Colcannon is a creamy mix of mashed potatoes and cabbage or kale. It is usually served with bacon, ham, or sausage and fried eggs.

5: Boxty

This dish is typically served at breakfast along with bacon or sausage and eggs, and is similar to a potato pancake. It’s usually made with grated potatoes, flour, salt, pepper and oil. It can also include onions, butter, milk or cheese. The mixture is then pan fried. There’s even an old Irish rhyme about boxty: “Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan; if you can’t make boxty, you’ll never get a man!”

6: Barmbrack 

A sweet and "speckled" loaf, this is a bread containing fruit (usually raisins). Traditionally, it was served with afternoon tea, as a snack. Each slice of "brack" would be buttered before eating. There are some superstitions surrounding it. One custom is to cook an item into the loaf. Whoever ends up with that item on their plate will learn something about their future. For example, finding a coin would mean a prosperous year, and finding a pea would mean you would not get married that year. A cloth or a stick found in your slice of bread would be a bad omen.

7: Dublin Coddle

Traditionally, this meal would be eaten by the man of the house upon his return from an evening at the pub. In modern times, it’s a hearty meal for the whole family. It’s usually made with leftovers, like sausage, bacon, potatoes, onions and vegetables, all added to a pan with a little water and covered to steam and slow boil. It originated in Dublin, hence the name, and was supposedly a favorite of famous Irishmen like Jonathan Swift!

8: Irish Scones

On our most popular Ireland tours, you will be immersed in local culture, allowing you to experience Irish food and traditions firsthand. Irish scones are among the top breakfast items you will most likely enjoy on any tour of Ireland. These delightful baked goods are made with key ingredients like flour, sugar, baking powder, milk and sometimes eggs. These ingredients make a simple base that can easily be modified to infuse flavors like raisins, dried currants and berries.

Scones have been part of Irish baking traditions for centuries, making the perfect pairing for breakfast meals and afternoon tea. The recipe has evolved, with various regions making modifications to their preferences. Regardless of the finished recipe, Irish scones are known for their light, flaky texture and can be paired with clotted cream and jam.

9: Waterford Blaas

Another one of the top foods from Ireland worth trying is Waterford blaas. Blaas are found in the southeastern town of Waterford, where they were introduced by French Huguenots in the 17th century. Rumor has it that when the French brought their baking traditions to this area, the Irish misunderstood their word for flour (blanc) for blaa, giving birth to the Waterford blaa.

Waterford blaas are made with simple ingredients like flour, water, yeast, and salt. They are known for having a distinctive white floury crust. The wide selection you can choose from at Irish pubs and bakeries is what makes them a fan favorite on our Western European tours. Blaas can be filled with a variety of ingredients, including sausage and bacon, making them a hearty choice for breakfast or an afternoon snack.

10: Black Pudding

Don’t get confused. Black pudding isn’t the same type of pudding you would find in America. Instead, black pudding is one of the more interesting foods from Ireland, with a long history in Irish cuisine, with variations across Europe in areas like Britain and Germany. Black pudding is also known as blood sausage. It is traditionally made with pork blood, fat, a light filler like oatmeal or barley and a variety of spices. Black pudding became popular in Ireland because it was a dish that allowed families to use all parts of a slaughtered animal, serving as an economical way to fill up a family with limited resources.

While black pudding may seem unconventional, it’s a beloved dish that’s part of any traditional Irish breakfast. It’s often sliced and fried until crispy, making it a hearty and flavorful addition to any meal. Black pudding isn’t just reserved for the morning. This savory dish can also be prepared for dinner, pairing well with scallions, fish and tangy foods like cheese and other dairy products.

11: Bacon and Cabbage

And let’s not forget Bacon and cabbage to round out our list of food in Ireland you may want to try. As the name suggests, the primary ingredients in this dish are bacon and cabbage. It’s recommended to boil the bacon and serve it with a side of potatoes with cabbage. Bacon and cabbage is a comfort food in many Irish households, because it uses locally sourced ingredients with simple preparation methods. 

To prepare your bacon and cabbage, boil the bacon until it’s tender. Toward the end, add the cabbage and boil until softened. Once complete, drain the water and season with any preferred spices and sides, such as hash browns.

There are numerous Ireland famous food choices to pick from, and embarking on tours of Ireland allows you to savor Irish cuisine while understanding how their history and agricultural practices influence what they eat. At Road Scholar, all of our experiential learning programs in Ireland bring you to popular places across the country where you can try popular food in Ireland like the choices listed here. 

Want to discover even more reasons to visit Ireland? Get more information about our Road Scholar Learning Adventures in Ireland.