What to Serve with Irish Stew (Irish Side Dishes)
It’s officially stew season, and I couldn’t be happier. St. Patrick’s Day always marks the beginning of stew season in our house. Before that, it’s generally much too hot, but once the 17th March rolls around, I’m well and truly ready for all the slow-cooked stew sessions. So now that the cold has started to set in for the season, and with that in mind, if you’re wondering what to serve with Irish stew, these are the simple Irish sides I come back to every time…
Ps, If you have stumbled across this page and if you haven’t one already, my traditional Irish stew recipe is where I’d start – it’s the one I cook over and over again.
If you’re new here, you might not know I also run a small online store where I keep many of the tools I cook with every day, along with a few timeless homewares for good, slow living…
Now, while these Irish side dishes may pair beautifully with a good helping of Irish lamb stew, don’t be afraid to mix things up a bit. They also work particularly well alongside a pot of corned beef or my fish pie. FYI, it’s topped with a cheesy colcannon mash and has me dreaming of the Irish coastal villages in Kerry every time I take a bite- You should try it! Anyway, I’m off course, so whether you’re cooking up a simple Irish-themed Sunday supper or planning a St Patrick’s Day party, I’ve got you covered here with all the BEST Irish sides to serve up alongside a hearty pot of stew.
What to Serve with Irish Stew
There’s a reason Irish stew and simple sides go hand in hand. The stew does the heavy lifting. Rich, slow-cooked, full of flavour – and everything else on the table is just basically there to lend a hand and support it.
If I’m putting together a proper dinner around a pot of stew, this is where I start:
- Thick slices of Irish brown bread, still warm, and smeared with butter to mop up all the sauce.
- A bowl of creamy colcannon mash.
- Something green on the side, even if it’s just some marrowfat peas.
Nothing complicated. Just the kind of food that sticks to your ribs and leaves you feeling properly fed!
So, let’s get started. Here are 7 traditional Irish side dishes to turn a simple Irish supper into a feast. I’m not going to lie, there is a BIG fan of potatoes in our house, so hold onto your hat, there are a few potato side dishes on this one!
Irish Brown Bread
Let’s start with a traditional Irish side dish shall we? This Irish Brown bread recipe has me thinking about blistery coastal days perched by a fire, a pot of seafood chowder, & brown bread smothered with Kerrygold Irish butter.
My Super Simple Mushy Peas Recipe
Ok, so I’m pretty sure this Mushy Peas recipe is the easiest recipe I’ll ever share with you. Five simple ingredients. Under 10 minutes to make and you’ve got the perfect side dish for every roast you’ll ever make.
Traditional Irish Soda Farls
Soda Farls are FIVE simple ingredients. And they are all pantry staples Winner! Can you say BEST BREAKFAST SIDE DISH EVER?
Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Creamy mashed potatoes are the BEST side for a good roast or slow-cooked stew. Any leftovers can easily be fried up the next morning for an easy breakfast treat!
Guinness Bread
Here’s a quick and easy loaf of soda bread to whip up, with no yeast, and is super delicious alongside a hearty stew on a cold night. Oh, and don’t save this Guinness bread only for St Patrick’s Day, it’s delicious any day of the year!
Colcannon Mash – Creamy Irish Mashed Potatoes with Cabbage
Is there anything more comforting than mashed potato? Especially creamy mash with other bits in it like green spring onions and spinach? For me, Colcannon is king when it comes to Irish potato dishes.
Traditional Irish Soda Bread
This traditional Irish soda bread recipe is an easy, rustic loaf of bread that you can prep and bake in under an hour. Winner!
While we’re talking about Irish food, here are a few more Irish recipes you might like…
Well, there you have it! I hope you found some delicious sides for your Irish celebration. Btw, the green beer is optional, Irish cider is not 😉
x
