Travelling to Ireland and want to try the local cuisine? Here are two words to remember: Irish stew! It’s literally an Irish stew based on lamb stew (if there’s no lamb, mutton or beef will do), served with potatoes and carrots.
Traditionally served in Irish Pubs with a pint of Irish stout, Irish Stew is a dish as simple as it is tasty… but above all it’s the star dish to discover, number one in the pantheon of Irish gastronomy!
Irish stew served at Five Points in Belfast
If there’s one Irish dish you’ve got to try, it’s Irish stew!
This traditional Irish stew is still very popular today, and is served in most restaurants and Irish pubs around the country. (In fact, it’s unlikely you’ll come across an Irish Pub that doesn’t!).
It combines rustic and traditional ingredients dear to the Irish:
All this is often served for under €10 per person, making it a dish that’s as tasty as it is reasonable for small budgets! It’s perfect for students looking for simple, effective meals, without sacrificing the quality of their food!
Irish stew – © cdkproductions
Don’t be fooled by the apparent simplicity of this stew. Behind this dish lie centuries of tradition, history and know-how.
After all, Ireland is a country that has endured some very harsh conditions. Poverty was often the order of the day, and the Irish built their gastronomy on simple, accessible products like lamb (remember, the Irish are great sheep farmers!) and potatoes!
Better still: the country is a master of these local products. As a result, the reputation ofKerry lamb has spread beyond Ireland’s borders… as has the finesse of their potatoes and other heirloom vegetables!
Add to that unrivalled expertise in beer brewing, and you’ve got a dish that’s a veritable concentrate of Irish identity!
The result is a warm, convivial meal with a deep attachment to tradition. Simplicity and rusticity are in no way a flaw: on the contrary, they bring the emotion and sensitivity so dear to the Irish!
And when it comes to taste, an Irish stew really deserves to be known! Because beyond being an economical dish, it’s above all a dish rich in flavor and taste. The lamb goes perfectly with the potatoes and onions, and the brown ale-based sauce is a real delight when eaten with butter spread on Brown Bread (a traditional Irish bread!)….
Add to that a pint of Irish beer, fresh, creamy and served the way it should be… and you’re in heaven!
Best enjoyed on a rainy day, after a good hike in the great Irish wilderness: Irish stew is far from being a summer dish, and may well warm you up more than you think!
Choose an Irish pub that offers concerts of traditional Irish music: you can’t beat it for authenticity! It’s a 100% authentic experience, and will make you feel like a real Irishman!
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