Having a St. Patrick's Day dinner without white potatoes? Find out how we replace some of the most traditional dishes with alternatives, such as sweet potatoes or yuca.
With my family being of Scottish and Irish descendants, St. Patrick's Day was always a big celebration in my household. As my allergies kept evolving over the years, so did our method of cooking some of our favorite traditional Irish dishes. We faced our biggest challenge when my food allergy test came out positive against the nightshades category, which includes potatoes.
It is a centuries-old historical event that links the tradition of Ireland and potatoes together. Eliminating potatoes from my St. Patrick's Day festivities felt unethical but it was necessary for my allergy. Rather than cutting out potato-based dishes entirely, we learned how to substitute with yuca, sweet potatoes, and even Japanese sweet potatoes.
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We have created many recipes over the years and are excited to share our St. Patrick's Day menu with you. The following dishes are free from:
gluten
corn
dairy
soy
coconut
nightshades
nutmeg
mustard
Before we dig in, we wanted to share some brands we use to complete our "Free From" St. Paddy's Day meal:
100% grass-fed beef from TruBeef
100% grass-fed lamb from Circle C Farms: Use the link above to get 5% off your purchase!
Grass-fed corned beef - if you have a lot of food allergies to seasonings and spices as I do, you can try visiting a local butcher and talking to them about their brine. We found a butcher in Staten Island, New York. Hook and Rail Meats brine 100% grass-fed and finished beef brisket with safe seasonings and spices I can have for myself.
Our St. Patrick's Day Menu
What you will find in our round-up:
Gluten-Free Irish Soda Bread: My father and I used to fight over the last slice of Irish soda bread. Now, I get this whole allergy-friendly loaf to myself! Irish soda bread is a quick bread that does not require yeast. Instead, this gluten-free recipe uses baking soda and sparkling water. Best served hot with dairy-free butter.
Corned Beef: Since I cannot trust the pre-made spice packets, I make a homemade blend. Commonly spiced with mustard seed and red pepper flakes, I opt-in for turmeric and a cinnamon stick to make it nightshade-free.
Ingredients for Corned Beef Spice Blend:
1 tablespoon coriander
2 teaspoon peppercorns
1 tablespoon turmeric
1 teaspoon clove
1 teaspoon dill
1 stick cinnamon
4 large bay leaves
Optional: 2 tablespoons maple syrup to the water
To cook on the stovetop:
Place the corned beef in a large stockpot with the spices and add enough water to cover the beef completely.
Bring the water to a boil, then reduce the heat and cover, allowing it to simmer for 45 to 50 minutes per pound, or until the meat is tender.
For the last 20 to 30 minutes of the beef's cooking time, you can add the onions, carrots, and cabbage to the pot. Be sure to save the corned beef broth for a tasty recipe perfect for your leftovers.
To cook in a crockpot:
In the crockpot, place onion wedges and carrots at the bottom.
Add in the beef, fatty side up, and sprinkle with your corned beef spice. From there, add in your cabbage and fill with water until it mostly covers the beef.
Cook on high for 4 1/2 hours.
Nightshade-Free Shepherd's Pie: This potato-topped recipe we had to switch up to make it nightshade-free. Instead of white potatoes, we use yuca, Japanese sweet potatoes, or white sweet potatoes. Visit the recipe for the options.
Irish Sweet Potato Pie: Bacon was the original meat of St. Patrick's Day. Before Irish immigrants came to America, they would have bacon and cabbage to celebrate the day, since beef was too expensive. When they migrated to America, they discovered that bacon was now the expensive meat, therefore switching to the affordable corning process of beef instead. To pay tribute to the original traditions of the Irish, we make this Irish Potato Pie, which could be made with white potatoes or use sweet potatoes as we do.
Cabbage and Carrots Casserole: This recipe is perfect for leftovers after St. Patrick's Day. It is a great way to repurpose your leftover carrots and cabbage, and can even add in leftover corned beef if you like.
Lucky Charms Treats: Even though these treats are not something I could enjoy due to the corn-based ingredients, they were a magically delicious gluten-free treat to make for my family.
Ingredients:
1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter
1 (12oz) bag of mini marshmallows
½ teaspoon of salt
6 cups of Lucky Charms cereal
Directions:
Line a 9"-x-9" baking dish with parchment paper.
In a large pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Then add in the marshmallows and salt. Stir until all ingredients are completely melted.
Remove from heat and stir in the Lucky Charms cereal.
Pour into the prepared baking dish and smooth the top, being careful not to pack cereal too tightly.
Let cool completely before slicing and serving.
Wishing you a happy and food-safe St. Patrick's Day!
Hugs & Cookies,
