The vegetarian Irish recipes you’re looking for this winter

Looking for some vegetarian Irish recipes to stuff your guests at your next dinner party? Want something with a touch of class and tradition? Well look no further, all you need is in this list.

You’re not a carnivore, you’re not a vegan but something a little more in the middle, a fence-sitter if you will. I’m just kidding – I’m not judging you, I’ve even made you a little list of Vegetarian Irish recipes to prove it.

• Eight traditional Irish winter recipes
• New classics: Irish vegan recipes

1. Colcannon

Colcannon is a relatively easy one and I’m sure you don’t really need a recipe to tell you how not to put bacon inside… But you’re kidding yourself if you think you’re getting deliciously creamy potatoes without my help.

Time: 45 mins    Serves: 4

Ingredients:

• 1kg potatoes, peeled and diced
• 250g savoy cabbage, finely sliced
• 1 bunch of spring onions, finely sliced
• 2 tablespoons of butter
• 75ml of milk
• Sea salt and black pepper
• Fresh parsley for garnish

Method:

2. Boxty

This traditional vegetarian Irish recipe is a classic (well, it does have potato in it). All you need to do is fry up last night’s mashed potatoes with some veg. Super simple. Super yum.

Serves: 4     Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• 250g of raw potatoes, grated
• 250g of leftover mash
• 250g of all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp of baking powder
• Salt and pepper to season
• 1/4 cup of milk
• Butter or oil for frying
• 6 spring onions, finely sliced
• 100g cheddar cheese, grated

Method:

3. Dublin Coddle

Although my nan was nuts about boiling the bacon, I’m not so hot on it. In fact, I think that this vegetarian Irish recipe beats any coddle with meat in it.

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
• 100g pearl barley
• A good handful of fresh parsley, roughly chopped
• Sea salt and ground black pepper
• A generous helping of butter
• 1 bay leaf
• A handful of parsley, chopped

Method:

4. Pub Style Vegetarian Guinness Stew

Now of all the vegetarian Irish recipes on this list, this is, for me, the most exciting. Why put yourself through the pain and agony of having a disappointing pub lunch of boiled lentils when you could whip up this dream in the comfort of your own kitchen?

Serves: 6   Time: 70 mins

Ingredients:

• 14-ounces of seitan, cut into thin strips
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 2 tablespoons of soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon of steak sauce
• 3 tablespoons of butter
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 sticks of celery, chopped
• 2 carrots, chopped
• 2 medium potatoes, chopped
• As much garlic as you like, minced
• 3 cups of Guinness stout (this makes for quite a strong stout flavour so if preferred use 1½ cups of Guinness combined with 1½ cups of vegetable stock)
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme, chopped
• Optional: 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

5. Butternut squash and Goats cheese pie

Now who doesn’t love a good hearty pie? For this recipe you don’t need much, just an eye for perfection and a devout love of stuffed pastry crust.

Serves: 4  Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 butternut squash, cut into 1cm chunks
• 2 red peppers, sliced lengthways
• 2 red onions, quartered
• 1 tbsp of butter
• 400g of mushrooms, finely chopped
• As much garlic as you like, crushed
• 2 tsp mixed herbs
• 15g of fresh parsley, finely chopped
• 200g of baby spinach leaves
• 200g of goat’s cheese
• Olive oil
• Sea salt and black pepper
• 4 sheets of ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry
• 1 egg, whisked

Method:

6. Lasagna

This is one of the few vegetarian Irish recipes my dad makes almost every Christmas. I don’t know, I guess that after a lifetime of being Irish he finally just couldn’t be bothered with potatoes anymore, even on Christmas. But lasagna is good. We know this. But have you tried this recipe?

Serves: 6  Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:

• 1 butternut squash, cut thickly
• 2 onions, quartered
• olive oil
• 50ml of vegetarian stock
• 1 tbsp of butter
• 600g of mushrooms, roughly chopped
• As much garlic as you like, crushed
• 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 6 sage leaves, finely shredded
• 1 packet of lasagne sheets
• 500g ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• Quarter tsp nutmeg
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 ball of mozzarella cheese
• 3 tbsp grated Parmesan

Method:

7. Shepherds pie

Shepherd’s pie is a classic here in Ireland. In England too, it has graced dinner tables for many years. There are many ways of making the perfect vegetarian lasagne, but of all the vegetarian Irish recipes out there for lasagna, we think this one is the best.

Serves: 6  Time:

Ingredients:

• 1 vegan stock cube
• Olive oil
• 100g mushrooms, quartered
• 3 large carrots, chopped
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• As much garlic as you like, minced
• 300g of Quorn mince
• 200g of spinach
• 1 x 400g tin of chopped tomatoes
• a handful of chopped walnuts (optional)
• 1 dessertspoon miso paste
• Sea salt and black pepper to taste
• A splash of red wine (optional)
• For the mash topping:
• 1kg of potatoes, peeled and diced
• As much garlic as you like, minced
• 250ml of unsweetened milk
• 1tbsp of olive oil, plus extra for drizzling

Method:

8. Guinness and walnut soda bread

Have you always thought about turning your hand to bread making but thought the task may be too daunting? Well, it’s a lot easier than it sounds and this is one of the many Irish vegetarian recipes that prove it! It’s simple, delicious and a great place to start.

Serves: 4  Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup brown of sugar
• 12 ounces Guinness
• 2/3 cup walnuts (chopped)
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• Optional: dash nutmeg

Method:

Four steps? Yes, four steps. I told you this was a simple recipe.

Have you made any of these vegetarian Irish recipes? Let us know in the comments section below and tag your creations on our Instagram @babylonradiodublin!