New classics: Irish vegan recipes

Want a wholesome, traditional Irish meal but can’t find anything that caters to both your old fashioned and vegan needs? Well look no further! These hearty Irish vegan recipes will sort you right out.

It is no secret that, when talking about food, Irish vegan recipes are words that historically have never gone together – until now. The once a Sisyphean-like task of a vegan trying to find someone delicious to eat on this Emerald Isle is finally over. Here is a list we’ve made of some traditional Irish vegan recipes to warm your souls this winter.

1. Vegan Dublin Coddle

Now let’s kick things off with one of the classics – but with a twist of course. Typically, Dublin coddle is a recipe made up of the week’s leftovers thrown together in a big pot and left to simmer on the hob for a couple of hours. My nanna would be turning in her grave at the idea of this classic dish becoming a traditional Irish vegan dish it but alas, dear Nanna, times have changed!

Serves: 4   Time: 60 mins

Ingredients:

• 5-6 of your favourite vegan sausages (potato based ones aren’t ideal as they may disintegrate)
• 3-4 potatoes, cut into small chunks
• 2-3 white onions, sliced
• 500ml vegetable stock (vegan stock cubes can be bought The Health Store)
• 100g pearl barley
• A good handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• Sea salt and ground black pepper
• A generous helping of vegan butter
• 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke flavouring
• 3/4 cup dark beer optional
• 1 bay leaf

Method:

Sweet Potato Shepherd’s Pie

Next up is a simple but effective dish to get your stomach rumbling. Even your fussy dinner guests who are convinced they’re allergic to vegan food will be begging for you to make this one again. This is one of those Irish vegan recipes you’ll be wanting to make over and over again.

Serves: 8   Time: 1 hour 30 mins

Ingredients:

• 600g white potatoes, roughly chopped
• 600g sweet potatoes, roughly chopped
• 40g margarine
• 2 red onions, finely sliced
• 2 carrots, finely sliced
• As much garlic as you like
• 2 sticks of celery, finely sliced
• olive oil
• 350g of your choice of mushrooms, roughly chopped
• 12 sun-dried tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• vegan red wine
• 100ml organic vegetable stock
• 1 tin of lentils
• 1 tin of chickpeas
• 5 sprigs of parsley, roughly chopped

Method:

3.  Vegan Boxty

If you know traditional Irish food, you know boxty – so I know what you’re thinking. You’re wondering how on earth something so creamy and melt-in-your-mouthy could work without its essential knobs of butter, generous splashes of milk and bags of grated cheese. How could we propose something so preposterous? Well, this is how:

Serves: 6  Time: 30mins

Ingredients:

• 2 large potatoes, grated
• 1 large white onion, diced
• As much garlic as you like, finely chopped
• ¼ cup of flour
• 1tsp of baking powder
• canola oil
• Salt and pepper to taste as you please
• Optional: A splash of unsweetened soy milk

Method:

4. Tofurkey with Mushroom Stuffing

I disagree, but many would say Christmas isn’t Christmas without a turkey. Years ago when I tried it once I thought it was just dry and bland. So, let’s amend that phrase and scream it from the rooftops: Christmas isn’t Christmas without a tofurkey! (Note: for the best possible results start draining the moisture from your tofu as soon as possible – even the day before if you can). This is the most intricate of all the Irish vegan recipes listed on this page, but if we didn’t think it was worth it, we wouldn’t have included it.

Serves: 8  Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil,
• 1 mini-baguette cut into small cubes
• 1/2 cup raw pecans, coarsely chopped
• 1 onion, chopped
• As much garlic as you like, finely chopped
• 5 sprigs of thyme
• 8 ounces of portobello mushrooms, coarsely chopped
• 1 celery stick, sliced thickly
• 1 cup of vegetable stock
• 1/3 cup of white wine
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of maple syrup
• Smoked paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• 3 packages of extra-firm tofu
• 3 tablespoons of white miso paste
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• Garlic powder
• Chopped parsley

Method:

5. Vegan Guinness mustard

Did you know that Guinness is vegan? And so are pretty much all mustards, apart from Dijon which is made with white wine and honey mustard which is made with, well, you know.

Serves: 6   Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• 175g of coarse-grained mustard
• 2 tablespoons of regular mustard
• 2 tablespoons of Guinness
• 1 tablespoon of minced shallots
• 1 teaspoon of golden brown sugar

Method:

6. Irish Stew

Irish stew is a staple in every Irish household, even for those who are culinarily deficient, they’ll still have their own recipes for this classic. The only difference here is that we would rather cuddle lambs than stick ‘em in a stew. This is a great addition to your arsenal of Irish vegan recipes this winter.

Serves: 8  Time: 1 hour 10 minutes

Ingredients:

• canola oil
• 150g of soy chunks
• 35g of all-purpose flour
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• As much garlic as you like, minced
• 3 sticks of celery, finely chopped
• 2 carrots, chunked
• 6 medium potatoes, roughly cut
• 240ml of Guinness

Method:

7. Vegan Gravy

Now, we could give you some knock-off run of the mill Jamie Oliver style recipe, but where would the fun be in that? Here is a vegan gravy recipe with some ingredients you probably weren’t expecting…. But just trust us, okay?

Serves: 4    Time:  20mins

Ingredients:

• ¼ cup of vegan butter/margarine
• 1 onion finely chopped
• As much garlic as you like, crushed
• 4 tbsp of flour
• 1 cup of unsweetened coconut milk
• 2 tbsp of dark soy sauce
• 2 cups of vegetable stock
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

8. Chocolate Guinness Cake with “Baileys” frosting

Let’s round everything off with a nice dessert that everyone knows and loves, the chocolate Guinness cake. Of all Irish vegan recipes, this one is essential – people just can’t get enough, especially with that soft creamy bailey’s frosting…. (PS – My mum makes it better than yours!)

Serves: 1  Times: 45minutes

Ingredients:

• 250g of plain flour
• 120g unsweetened cocoa powder
• 2 tsp of baking soda
• 220g of caster sugar
• 100 g of light brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 480ml Guinness
• 120 ml of vegetable oil
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the “Baileys” frosting:

• 250g of vegan butter/margarine
• 1 tsp of vanilla extract
• 600g of icing sugar
• 2-3 tbsp of Irish Whiskey
• 1/2 tsp of cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp of strongly brewed coffee (none of that instant malarky)

Method:

The frosting:

Now it’s your turn! Do you have any of your own Irish vegan recipes to share? Any tips? Have you tried out any of the recipes above? Share your results by tagging us on our Instagram @babylonradiodublin!

If you were inspired but ultimately want to sink your teeth into something a little meatier, why not check out our mouthwatering  Traditional Irish winter recipes?