Real Irish Food: 150 Classic Recipes from the Old Country

by David Bowers

People in Ireland are sometimes mortified by what Americans think of as “Irish food.” That’s because the real thing is much subtler and more delicious than any platter of overcooked corned beef and mushy cabbage could ever be. Real Irish food is brown soda bread so moist it barely needs the yolk-yellow butter; fragrant apple tarts with tender, golden crusts; rich stews redolent of meaty gravy and sweet carrots; crisp-edged potato cakes flipped hot from a skillet directly onto the plate. Forget meatloaf or mac and cheese—this stuff is the original comfort food.   Real Irish Food is the first comprehensive cookbook to bring classic Irish dishes to America with an eye for American kitchens and cooks, and with tips and tricks to help reproduce Irish results with American ingredients. Transform plain white fish by baking it with grated sharp cheese, mustard, and crumbs. Discover that celery takes on new life when sliced, simmered in chicken stock, and served in a lightly thickened sauce.   Homemade Irish Sausages Potted Shrimp and Potted Salmon Finglas Irish Stew with DumplingsWhiskey Chicken and Roast Goose with ApplesauceBoxty, Cally, Champ, and Colcannon Apple Snow, Almond Buns, and Summer Pudding Elderflower Lemonade, Black Velvet, and Ginger BeerCherry Cake, Custard Tart, and Brandy Butter   From hearty roasts to innovative vegetable dishes, from trays of fresh-baked scones to rich, eggy cakes, and from jams bursting with tart fruit to everything you can do with a potato, there’s no food so warm and welcoming, so homey and family-oriented, so truly mouthwatering as real Irish food.

Genres: Cookbooks, Cooking, Ireland, Nonfiction, Food, Reference, Ebooks

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2012

Reviews

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I almost didn't get this book from the library, but when I checked the brown soda bread recipe I knew I could trust it. A few simple ingredients creates a loaf so authentic you may wonder if you woke up in a hostel or B&B. I've tried a few of the recipes and they are delicious.

[Anna Nesterovich]

I wonder if reviews can be long enough to say something about every recipe.
p. 29 - exempt - Black Pudding - There is just no way I know of of finding fresh pig's blood where I live :(
p. 32 - 4 stars - White Pudding - Surprisingly good, at least I was surprised given the ingredients. I feel like I'm too old now for that many calories, but it would be good somewhere in the fields, working perpetually cold and soaked through.
p. 65 - 4 stars - Leek and Potato Soup - This soup looks like it was invented in very hungry times, but tastes ok.
p. 82 - 5 stars - Irish Seafood Chowder - I love this soup! It's not the same recipe I'm used to, but very good in its own way. Actually this is the best soup ever and this particular variation is the best one. Wrote down the recipe.
p. 108 - 4 stars - Stuffed Pork Chops - Tasty, but a lot of work and awkward to eat, maybe for guests :)
p. 171 - 3 stars - Cauliflower Cheese - An edible version of cauliflower.
p. 175 - 4 stars - Braised Fennel - It took me much more than the specified amount of time to get the described result.
p. 187 - 3 stars - Classic Brown Soda - A super easy and fast way to make bread, but not my favorite one.
p. 195 - 4 stars- Barmbrack - Way more fussy than any other bread I've ever made, with way too many steps, but the result is pretty good.
p. 222 - 4 stars - Irish Pancakes - Not my favorite version of pancakes ever, but simple, quick, and very useful when you need to make something out of nothing.
p. 225 - 5 stars - Digestive Biscuits - An undemanding recipe that allows to make a passable food out of almost nothing.
p. 236 - 2 stars - Apple Snow - First, it has a raw egg in it, which is a big no-no; second, it's supposed to be fast, but I didn't have enough patience to cook apples long enough to make puree; third, it's supposed to be not too sweet, but it was way too sweet.
p. 244 - 5 stars - Creamed Rice - A very expensive way to cook rice porridge, but quite tasty.
p. 298 - 5 stars - Lemon Curd - Delicious! Need to write down this recipe, only I eventually had to add starch, it just wouldn't thicken.

[Bridget Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born in County Galway, Ireland, food writer David Bowers has an intimate knowledge of Irish cooking and Irish customs, which he shares in this delightful book full of traditional Irish recipes. There are recipes for breakfast, stews and chowders, seafood, meat, game, and poultry, as well as breads (classic brown soda), desserts, beverages, and preserves and jams. Bowers teaches us that there is so much more to Irish cuisine than the mushy corn beef and cabbage Americans slop onto their plates every St. Patrick's Day. Irish food, made using the recipes in this book, is simply delicious. And, the author's personal anecdotes were entertaining and even funny, but most importantly, they opened a door to the Irish way of life that other cookbooks cannot do.

To say I loved this cookbook is putting it mildly. I had originally put it on hold at the library where I work back in February, because I was planning a special cookbook club meeting for St. Patrick's Day. Then, of course, the virus came along and upended everything. I did manage to squeak by with my program before the library closed, but then, there I was with loads of time on my hands and nowhere to go but the grocery store. This book was a gift from heaven! Even after the library reopened, I kept the book and continued to try new recipes. My favorites include the Cottage Pie (absolutely melt-in-your-mouth delicious...so much better than the so-called shepherd's pie I grew up with), cauliflower cheese, and lemon curd. Because it is summer now, I have refrained from trying the stews and chowders, but I've ordered my own copy of Real Irish Cooking and will gladly spend fall and winter experimenting with these wonderful old Irish recipes. Five stars all the way!

[Argum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful cook book. Easy to follow recipes with tasty results. Excellent selection and great organization. Authentic Irish recipes and great flavor of the culture mixed in with the recipes. Several recipes have received rave reviews on my first attempts.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Bowers was born and raised in Ireland, moved to the United States as a young adult and returned to Ireland (with an American wife) in maturity. His writing about Irish cooking is dismissive of the mock-Hibernian dishes which appear in restaurants in the US around March 17th. Instead, he draws upon the cooking of his parents and grandparents to depict truly typical Irish cuisine. The stories about his father making marmalade and his grandmother making Irish stew with dumplings are well told and becoming. Not every ingredient which is plentiful in Ireland can be found in the USA. Bowers recommends substitutions for such items as sloes, caster sugar and Kerr Pinks potatoes. He even includes recipes for home made Irish candy. The photography in this book is homely and beautiful.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love cookbooks that have a blurb before the recipes explaining the ingredients or just telling a little story about when and how it came about. A gimps into the country and it people. This is such a book. I have started making some of the dishes. One was not a hit with my hubby. I was out of fresh potatoes so made it as directed and put it over mashed potatoes. Too different for him but I like it. It desires 5 stars. The breads are next and peerhaps I should start the desserts.

[Leslie A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laddie, you need to read this

The recipes are all fairly simple, and I will definitely write some down to keep. However the greater value is the history and cultural descriptions he includes.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yummy descriptions

Delightful descriptions, a bit lengthy. Some yummy sounding food ideas. Glad I got this from library, because cost is outrageous.

[Deborah Cleaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book but it didn’t make me want to immediately cook the recipes.

[Jean MacLeod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Splendid book. I really enjoyed it.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alal

[Patty · Rating 5 out of 5]

lots of great recipes

The book has a good blend of commentary with many excellent recipes. It also includes links to U.S. websites that sell key Irish food ingredients

[ElCee · Rating 5 out of 5]

These are great YA reads

[Sarah F · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my partner, who's from Ireland. He loves it!

[Maura Danehey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really entertaining cookbook!

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this cookbook. I am not familiar with Irish food, but this book gives me confidence. I am sure, by following the instructions in this book, that I can make Irish dishes I never even heard of!

[Sandra Noel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing I had friend coming for an extended visit who had visited Ireland and was actually getting ready to move over there, I bought this book to cook some real Irish food for them. I've always been interested in British cooking anyway, so I couldn't wait to dig into this cookbook. I nearly had to physically restrain her from stealing this book from me! Recipe after recipe was pointed out that they had enjoyed in Ireland, and the wonderful photos were nearly cried over. This book is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach! We made Champ (Cally), a lovely mashed potato dish for potluck at church the following Sunday, and it was a huge hit. We bought some Irish Bangers to enjoy, but I can't wait to try the homemade Irish Sausages on pg. 34. Cauliflower Cheese in on my menu for later this week as well as are Roasties and Cottage Pie.

This is a wonderful cookbook that is as much fun to read and browse leisurely through the photos as it is to cook from! An added bonus is having the measurements in the English system rather than metric. I don't mind converting from metric, but it's nice not to have to.

Happy Cooking!

[Lara Maynard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read and cooked from three new to me Irish food cookbooks in March 2020, of which this was my favourite. The onion marmalade has become a staple in our house, especially on sandwiches, and I will be putting stout in many more recipes from here on out after enjoying the beef and barley stew.

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos, delicious recipes.

On page 163 under "Vegetables and Side Dishes" you'll find CHIVE POTATO SALAD.
(serves 4) 1 1/2 pounds boiling potatoes, scrubbed skins on, halved
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 bunch fresh chives(about 3/4 cup chopped)
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Juice of 1 lemon

1. Cook the potatoes until tender. Drain & cool in large glass bowl. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them into bite-size pieces. Remove any lare pieces of skin that slip off as you work, but pieces of skin that cling to the potato should remain.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, chives, salt, pepper, and lemon juice. Pour over the potatoes and stir gently to combine. Chill until ready to serve.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Food is lovingly described, with reminiscences and overviews, so it really is a book to read. There are gorgeous photos of food and shops and countryside. I read a library copy, but plan to buy one for my own kitchen. Some of the foods are those my non-Irish mother made, just good country food. Some are particular to Ireland, I assume. These recipes are Minnesota-friendly, with the northern climate and short growing season. Berries, not melons, for example. I made colcannon this week, which will now be part of my standard repertoire, and look forward to working my way through the book.

[Cindy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos and fun, informative writing. When I started baking from it, though, I ran into trouble, and I'm a very experienced baker. The coffee cake fell flat and the Guinness cake called for a "9-inch pan" which must be way deeper than the American 2 inches. I used two pans and the cooking time was twice what it should have been (of course). This book is better for looking than cooking, in my experience. Maybe it's an Irish/American translation problem.

[Joy Matteson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think a big part of me always knew that Irish food tasted better than what I've seen or heard people say. A lot of Irish food jokes about how terrible their food was made me sad to hear. But! This cookbook proves them all wrong. An amazing collection of true Irish food that looks incredible, and uses (for the most part) every day ingredients. Wish I owned it!

[Dez · Rating 3 out of 5]

I checked this book out of the local library and was not disappointed. I like the pictures in the books for the recipes and the variety of dishes. I made the Irish coffee cake which was amazing and I have since cooked it twice for others and all enjoyed it. The other dish I made was the Irish stew. Very easy to make, but very flavorful. I enjoyed the book so much I ended up buying my own copy.

[Mary LynneLeiter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A treasure!

As the author suggests , most Americans think of corned beef and cabbage as the epitome of Irish dining. This author dispels that thought and provides with some amazing authentic recipes, complete with stories and explanations. ( interesting and entertaining. Love this book because of these tales and because of the approachable and sumptuous recipes.

[Sallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has many intriging recipes like Chocolate Guiness Cake and the Irish version of potato pancakes for starters. The pictures were beautiful and everything looked mouth watering. If you have Irish in your bloodline, this is a book you will like.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first cookbook I've ever read from front to back, mainly because it read more like an autobiography than a straight up cookbook. Lots of simple wonderful recipes, cute anecdotes and interesting food history.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked looking through this book to see what people in the Irish culture ate however I wouldn't eat any of it myself. There were lots of great pictures of the Irish countryside but not a lot of pictures of food. I like to know what my food is supposed to look like...lol!

[Sherri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitly worth adding to your cookbook corner of ethnic foods. Beautiful photos and commentary of each section and recipe itself. It shows how simple but delicious authentic Irish food is.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice little commentary before each recipe, also a beautiful photo for each. I haven't cooked anything yet , but it is tempting me.

[Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the pictures and the narration but haven't tried any of the recipes yet. They look like they will be tasty.