Everyone is Irish on March 17th! During the 7 days leading up to the annual feast which celebrates Saint Patrick, the foodies at Chop on the Block will be featuring a traditional Irish recipe. Sláinte!

The recipe and introductory text below are from Irish Traditional Cooking by Darina Allen. Be sure to read the companion piece for this recipe prior to preparation.

Corned Beef and Cabbage

Although this dish is eaten less frequently nowadays in Ireland, for Irish expatriots it conjures up powerful nostalgic images of a rural Irish past. Originally it was a traditional Easter Sunday dinner. The beef, killed before the winter, would have been salted and could now be eaten after the long Lenten fast, with fresh green cabbage and floury potatoes.

Ingredients

4 lb corned brisket of beef
3 large carrots, cut into large chunks
6 to 8 small onions
1 teaspoon dry English mustard
large sprig fresh thyme and some parsley stalks, tied together
1 cabbage
salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions

Put the brisket into a saucepan with the carrots, onions, mustard and the herbs. Cover with cold water, and bring gently to a boil. Simmer, covered, for 2 hours. Discard the outer leaves of the cabbage, cut in quarters and add to the pot. Cook for a further 1 to 2 hours or until the meat and vegetables are soft and tender. Serve the corned beef in slices, surrounded by the vegetables, potatoes and freshly-made mustard.

Coming tomorrow: Oven-Roasted Potatoes with Thyme