There’s nothing authentically Irish about these recipes, but if you’re looking to bring Ireland’s trademark hue to your party fare, here are some ideas to bring a little green to every course on the menu.
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RecipePea & Parmigiano Soup
This brightly colored soup gets its color from peas, of course, and its silky texture from finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano instead of heavy cream. -
RecipeEdamame Hummus with Spiced Pita Chips
This fresh, creamy green dip has all the classic hummus flavors of garlic, cumin, and lemon. Its mellow, bright flavor and smooth texture make the perfect companion to bold, spicy pita chips. -
RecipeBarley Salad with Peas & Asparagus
Fresh green peas, sugar snaps, and asparagus imbue this simple grain salad with the essence of spring. -
RecipeGarden Party Cocktail
Agave syrup, cilantro, lime juice, and cucumber give this tequila cocktail a flavor that's just as green as its color. -
RecipeSpring Tonic
Watercress’s bracing vibrancy makes it an invigorating addition to green juice, especially when paired with a tart apple. A sweeter apple will make a more mellow juice. If you don’t have a juicer, you can make this in a blender and strain it.
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RecipeAvocado Green Goddess Dip
This healthy dip uses avocado, rather than sour cream or mayonnaise, as a foundation, with just the right amount of vinegar and buttermilk to balance the fresh herbs. Pair it with pita chips, fresh-baked tortilla chips, or fresh vegetables for dipping.
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RecipeAsparagus Soup with Saffron Croutons
The best thing about this creamy soup is that it can be served warm or cool; perfect for unpredictable early-spring weather. -
RecipeForty Shades of Green Salad
A nice starter or side for spring menus, this light, refreshing salad is named for a song by Johnny Cash about Ireland. -
RecipePea & Mint Soup with Lemon Cream
Frozen peas work just as well as fresh ones in this soup, making it the perfect antidote to spring fever. -
RecipeBoiled Asparagus with Salsa Verde
Salsa verde gets its verde from a good amount of fresh parsley, but its punchy flavor comes from lemon juice, anchovies, and capers. -
RecipeSpinach & Herb Risotto
To keep the color bright in this creamy risotto, you make a pesto of spinach and fresh herbs, which gets stirred in just before serving. -
RecipePoached Flounder with Mint Beurre Blanc
This classic shallow-poached fish is served with a minty French butter sauce. It’s delicious with a simple rice pilaf and tender green spring vegetables like peas or baby spinach.
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RecipePea Sauce with Fresh Mint
Fresh or frozen peas and fresh mint turn into a creamy (but cream-free) sauce for simply cooked meats. This sauce is especially good with grilled or seared lamb chops, or flaky white fish.
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RecipeSalade aux Lardons Pizza
This salad pizza replicates the flavors of a French bistro salad, complete with a shortcut version of lardons (diced bacon that’s been blanched and fried). Here, the bacon is simply sautéed and then baked on the pizza.
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RecipeSpinach Malfatti with Sage Butter
Malfatti is Italian for "poorly made," a reference to the rustic, irregular shape of these spinach dumplings. They're made and cooked much like potato gnoochi, and served in a rich sage-infused butter sauce. -
RecipeMinty Melon Granita
You can make this granita with any kind of melon, but honeydew gives it a beautiful two-toned effect with flecks of dark green mint, the perfect light ending for a St. Patrick's Day meal. -
RecipeAvocado Frozen Yogurt
Rich, creamy, and the prettiest pale green, this frozen treat is a surprisingly delicious showcase for avocados.
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RecipeHoneydew-Cucumber Shake with Cucumber Granita
So pale is this shake's green shade that you could almost call it silver. A cap of luminous, icy, cucumber-flavored granita, even paler green, completes the look. -
RecipePistachio Brigadeiros
Brigadeiros are Brazilian candies that owe their melt-in-your-mouth texture to sweetened condensed milk, cooked down until it's thick and fudge-like. Though chocolate brigadeiros are the classic, pistachio is a tasty flavor variation.
