Irish cuisine is the style of cooking that originated from Ireland, or was developed by the Irish people. It has evolved from centuries of social and political change, and the mixing of the different cultures in Ireland, predominantly the English and Irish. The cuisine is founded upon the crops and animals farmed in its temperate climate.
The development of Irish cuisine was negatively affected by the English conquest of the early 17th century, which impoverished the masses by taking their land away and making the food supply provide for England and its armed forces. The English also replaced more sophisticated types of native cuisine with English norms. Consequently, the potato, after its widespread adoption in the 18th century, became just about the only food the poor could afford (which was the vast majority of the population). As a result, the potato is often associated with Ireland and “Irish potato” has come to mean any dense, white potato with a low starch content. Many elements of Irish cuisine were lost or abandoned during that time, with the loss being particularly acute between the Great Famine of the mid 19th century and the mid 20th century.
Modern Irish Food
By the 21st century, much of Irish cuisine was being revived. Representative traditional Irish dishes include Irish stew (made with lamb, mutton, or goat), shepherd’s pie (meat and vegetables, topped with potato), bacon and cabbage (with potatoes), boxty (potato pancake), coddle (sausage, bacon, and potato), and colcannon (mashed potato, kale or cabbage, and butter). Modern Irish Food, still uses these traditional ingredients but they are now being cooked by chefs with world influences and are presented in a modern artistic.
Notice the absence of corned beef and cabbage? That’s because CB&C is an American invention, and would be considered heretical to any Irishman f good taste. Ye, we can’t help ourselves because, shoot, it’s so darn tasty!