Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with these appetizers, entrees and desserts! You don’t have to resign yourself to corned beef and cabbage to get in the spirit of IrishFest and St. Patrick’s Day. There are dozens of St. Patrick’s Day party food ideas to try.
Last year we gave you a collection of ideas for drinks, food and decor for throwing your own St. Patrick’s Day party. We’re replenishing that list with a few recipes collected from the most creative chefs in the blogosphere.
Appetizers
Fruit Rainbow
This clever idea (via San Diego Cooks) is as simple as it sounds. Slice up strawberries, mandarin oranges, pineapple, red and green grapes and blackberries to create a colorful spread of rainbow fruit. Just arrange all of your fruit on a white plate and create rainbow arcs. Cut up some banana slices and grab a handful of marshmallows to create the “clouds” of your rainbow and you have a creative and delicious treat for your guests to enjoy throughout the evening. If you’re feeling particularly festive, consider placing gold coins in two small bowls and placing them at the end of the rainbow.
Homemade Shamrock Chips & A Pot o’ Gold Dip
Southern blogger Shannon O’Neil wrote a fun post on how to make St. Patrick’s Day chips & dip using just a few simple ingredients. See how she did it below:
Shannon’s Shamrock Chips
Make your shamrock chips using spinach tortillas and a cookie cutter. Just cut shamrocks out of the tortilla using a 3″ shamrock cookie cutter, coat them in olive oil and salt and bake them in the oven at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes for an extra crispy snack. Make sure you flip the chips over at the 8 minute mark for best results.
Shannon’s Pot o’ Gold Dip
Making the Pot o’ Gold is even easier than the shamrock chips. Pour a can of Rotel into a pot on medium heat. While the sauce is heating up. chop a block of Velveeta cheese into small squares and drop it into the pot. Stir the mixture for 5-6 minutes or until all the ingredients have blended together into a gooey, cheesy mess.
Pour the dip into a bowl and place next to your shamrock chips and you have yourself a green and gold appetizer that will please everyone.
Main Course
IrishFest Shepherd’s Pie
Photo courtesy of Steven Depolo
Coming straight from our kitchen is this delicious recipe for Shepherd’s Pie! You can taste it for yourself at IrishFest or you can try and make it yourself. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 large Onion finely diced
- 3 -4 large carrots, finely diced
- 1 cup frozen peas
- 3 -4 sprigs fresh thyme, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 glass Guinness Beer
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup beef stock
- mashed potatoes (estimating 1L or 6 cups, fresh or leftover)
- 1 egg, beaten
- grated parmesan cheese
Directions
1. Pre-heat oven to 200C/400°F.
2. Sauté carrots in the olive oil until starting to get tender.
3. Add in the onions and sauté for a minute or two then add the meat.
4. Season with black pepper and thyme.
5. Cook until browned then drain fat.
6. Add the butter and peas.
7. Sprinkle with flour and stir through.
8. Add tomato paste, wine and Worcestershire sauce.
9. Let this reduce slightly then add the chicken stock. Allow to reduce down until you have thick meaty gravy. Season to your taste.
10. Remove from heat. Grease an oven proof dish (9×13 works for me, as does an oval baker) with butter and add the sauce.
11. Spoon or pipe the mashed potatoes over top. Brush with egg and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese if using.
12. Bake for about 20 minutes or until the potato is nice and browned on top.
Pot of Gold Irish Potato Soup
Mary from Home Is Where The Boat Is shared a clever way to incorporate St. Patrick’s Day into a potato soup bread bowl:
Mary used a recipe from an old Southern Living magazine (see original ingredients and cooking instructions here) and swapped some of the traditional potato soup ingredients for Yukon Gold Potatoes, Kerrygold Irish Butter and a scoop of Kerrygold cheddar cheese. The result is a tantalizing, hearty Irish Potato Soup! To add that St. Patrick’s Day flair, simply use a shamrock cookie cutter and cut out a shamrock shape on the lid of the bread bowl.
Desserts
Mint Chocolate Push Pops
Liz from Hoosier’s Homemade published a fun, quick-to-make dessert that will have your guests seeing green stars as they sink into sugary heaven. Purchase push pop containers at your local craft store, then follow Liz’s instructions below to get baking!
Hoosier’s Homemade Irish Cream Push Pop Recipe
Liz created a recipe that can be used for push pops or for a classic trifle dish. To see the full recipe and list of ingredients, click here.
Do you have any fun St. Patrick’s Day party foods you like to make? Tell us in the comments below!
No Comments