A Festive and Straightforward St. Patrick's Day Menu

Our recipe writer Maria Zizka doesn't include any gimmicks like green beer or shamrock cookies in this St. Patrick's Day menu — just some straightforward dishes, made with traditional Irish ingredients, that can be enjoyed by all. Click on the photo captions to link to the recipe. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Thyme Caraway Cheddar Crackers

This recipe is Maria's take on cheese crackers, made with sharp cheddar, fresh thyme, and caraway seeds. They have a little Irish in them, and they're best eaten alongside a pint of Guinness.

View the full recipe here.

Irish Soda Bread

One of the beautiful things about Irish soda bread is its speediness. As soon as a craving for soda bread hits, you turn on the oven, give the dough a few stirs, and bake it — no rising, no chilling, just hot bread in under an hour from start to finish.

View the full recipe here.

Apple and Cabbage Slaw with Mustard Seed-Caraway Dressing

This crunchy, tangy slaw is an ideal partner for corned beef, but it also makes a fine accompaniment to pulled pork, fried chicken, or just about anything barbecued. Popped mustard seeds and caraway give the creamy dressing a surprising, layered flavor.

View the full recipe here.

Stout-Glazed Corned Beef

You can make corned beef at home, or you can buy a pre-cooked one (look for it in butcher shops in March). This St. Patrick's Day, try serving your corned beef with a stout glaze.

View the full recipe here.

Homemade Mustard

Making mustard at home is simple and rewarding, but it does take some time. The mustard seeds must soak in liquid (beer for St. Patrick's Day, of course) for two to three days until the seeds are soft enough to break apart. After the mustard is blended, it tastes quite bitter and needs an overnight rest to mellow. All this waiting around is worth it — homemade mustard tastes much better than its supermarket counterpart.

View the full recipe here.

Irish Coffee Tart

An Irish coffee is hot, sweetened coffee that is fortified with Irish whiskey and topped with a crown of cold, lightly whipped cream. Here it is in tart form, with chocolate added for good luck.

View the full recipe here.