If you like Irish stew, then Skirts and Kidneys is another traditional Irish dish that might just appeal to you! Originating in Cork, Ireland, this stew is a classic of the local cuisine, and is usually enjoyed in the pub by the crackling flame of a roaring peat fire!
Cork cuisine is known for its generosity… but also for its flavours and authenticity!
Skirts and Kidneys is a fine example! Although less well-known than Irish stew, this dish remains one of the flagships of Irish cuisine, and is the pride of the people of Cork, the city where it was born.
Because it’s considered an alternative version of Irish stew… a traditional stew known throughout Ireland.
The difference? The meat we use!
Because it’s a stew made from kidneys and pork skirt (which includes the ribs and trimmings of the spine). The whole thing is slow-cooked in a flavorful sauce that includes beer, onions and aromatic herbs. It is usually served with melting potatoes or seasonal vegetables.
Skirts and Kidneys are thought to have originated in Cork at the time of the Cromwellian conquests. At that time, Cork was under British rule, and the best cuts of meat were reserved for English garrisons.
The Irish population then had to make do with the leftovers: pork offal, kidneys, skirt… The Irish vied with each other in inventiveness to accommodate “ungrateful” cuts and make nourishing family dishes.
And so Skirts and Kidneys was born: a simple, economical (but tasty!) dish that could feed an entire household!
Since then, the tradition has never ceased to live on, and Cork still considers this dish a symbol of its local gastronomy.
Today, Skirts and Kidneys are still enjoyed in Irish homes, as well as in Cork’s pubs and restaurants.
For added indulgence, enjoy with crusty bread (like Brown Bread or Guinness Bread), and a little peasant butter.
This combination creates a dish rich in flavors and textures, which warms the heart and stomach, especially on the cold, rainy days so characteristic of Ireland.
But beware: because of the meat used, the dish may please, as well as displease… It’s not for everyone. It should be avoided if you don’t like kidneys, spinal column trimmings or ribs, which can be fattier than other, more noble cuts.
If, however, your palate is more accustomed to this type of meat, you’ll discover a comforting dish that’s a little more rustic than the traditional Irish stew. He has a taste for the simple, but strong in character. A fine example of what Cork terroir has to offer!
This type of dish is more easily found in Cork, whether in a restaurant or a cosy, intimate Irish pub.
Expect to pay between €10 and €15, depending on the establishment. Of course, family-run establishments with a strong commitment to tradition are the best places to try an authentic Skirts and Kidneys, true to the original Cork recipe!
3.83/5 (6 votes)
