Classic St. Patrick’s Day Dishes Made Plant-based

For many Americans, St. Patrick’s Day is a day to celebrate Irish culture — the traditions, the people, and the cuisine.

You’re likely familiar with many of the iconic dishes: shepherd’s pie, soda bread, braised cabbage, potatoes colcannon, corned beef, etc., but you may not be aware that many classic St. Patrick’s Day recipes can be made completely plant-based — yes, even corned beef.

Don’t believe us? Read on to see how you can make Meatless Monday versions of your favorite St. Patrick’s Day dishes.

Braised Cabbage

Cabbage is a humble ingredient, but when gently braised it becomes nice and tender. Cook in butter (non-dairy), vegetable stock, dry wine, and apple cider vinegar for a flavorful side dish. Add a little sugar and carroway seeds for a livelier dish.

For the Braised Cabbage recipe, click here.

“Meaty” Mushroom Stew with Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Straight from The Meatless Monday Cookbook, this recipe uses cremini and shiitake mushrooms and tamari to recreate the rich umami flavor iconic of traditional slow-cooked Irish stews. Pair the stew with a topping of garlic mashed potatoes and dinner is set.

For the Meaty Mushroom Stew recipe, click here.

Orange Cranberry Scone

The scone is a welcomed reprieve from all of that rich St. Patrick’s Day food. This recipe is completely plant-based, utilizing coconut oil and coconut milk in place of dairy. Adding pumpkin spice, maple syrup, and orange zest to the sweet scone glaze makes this recipe perfect for any holiday.

For the Orange Cranberry Scone recipe, click here.  

Potatoes Colcannon

A classic Irish side dish, colcannon is a marriage of creamy mashed potatoes and crispy green cabbage. Although traditional recipes call for butter and cream, colcannon can easily be made plant-based by swapping out the butter and heavy cream for plant-based alternatives.

For the Potatoes Colcannon recipe, click here.  

Shepherd’s Pie

This completely plant-based version of Shepherd’s Pie can serve as the centerpiece of a St. Patrick’s Day feast. A smooth, creamy potato topping covers a hearty filling of lentils, cremini mushrooms, and diced veggies.

For the Vegan Shepherd’s Pie recipe, click here.

Soda Bread

A variety of cuisines have their own version of soda bread, which gets its name from the use of sodium bicarbonate as a leavening agent rather than traditional yeast. This version uses plant-based milk and dairy-free butter to achieve a firm but delicate texture.

For the Vegan Irish Soda Bread recipe, click here.

Plant-based Corned Beef

Yes, it is possible to make corned beef meatless. This recipe uses a seitan-substitute that is heavily spiced and mixed with a homemade beet puree. The loaf is then rubbed with spices and submerged in a slow-cooker brine with mushrooms, garlic, all spice, mustard, beet puree, and white wine vinegar.

For the Vegan Corned Beef recipe, click here.

Click here for more Meatless Monday recipes. When posting pictures of recipes to your social media network, tag @MeatlessMonday use #MeatlessMonday to show the plant-based community your creation.