10 Vegetarian and Vegan Dishes for St. Patrick’s Day

On March 17, many people all over the world will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. Some will be dining on traditional Irish foods, some will be relaxing with friends and family, and others will be drinking green beer just because it is acceptable to do so on this particular holiday. The most common Irish-American dish to be served on St. Patrick’s Day is corned beef and cabbage, but that is a meal that vegans and vegetarian won’t find appealing. So what is a vegan or vegetarian to do? Look to Ecorazzi, of course, for some Irish-inspired vegan and vegetarian alternatives.

Here are our top 10 recipe picks for vegans and vegetarian to have a fantastic St. Patrick’s Day feast:

[Note: Where possible, we have added photos that we feel best represent the final delicious result. However, as these are stock photos, we have no way of knowing for sure whether they are pure vegan or vegetarian.]

Potato and Leek Soup

A simple soup is a great way to start off any meal. A deliciously easy to make soup is an even better way to start off the meal. Boil 6 diced potatoes for about 15-20 minutes and drain well. In a large skillet, saute six leeks and two cups of sliced mushrooms in 2 ½ tablespoons of margarine (vegan butter is a great substitute) until the leeks and mushrooms are soft (approx. 6-8 minutes). Add one cup of vegetable broth and the potatoes to the skillet. Cook for another 5-7 minutes. Pour the skillet mixture into a food processor and blend until desired consistency. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Whole Wheat Vegan Irish Soda Bread

If you are starting out your meal for St. Patrick’s Day with potato and leek soup then you will definitely want to add an Irish-inspired bread to clean up the bowl with. Happy Herbivore offers a fantastic whole wheat vegan version of traditional Irish Soda Bread by using non-dairy milk, apple cider vinegar, whole wheat pastry flour, raw sugar and raisins.

Colcannon

Colcannon is a traditional Irish dish that mainly consists of mashed potatoes with kale or cabbage. There are a variety of recipes available on the web that use Colcannon as a base. A veganized “traditional” version of the dish uses soy milk instead of milk or cream. To make this dish boil 5 potatoes in large pot for approx. 20 minutes or until tender. The potatoes can be boiled with or without skin. If potatoes are chopped prior to the boil process they become tender quicker. In a separate pot boil 1 head of chopped green cabbage for 15 minutes. Drain and set aside. In a skillet, soften leeks by cooking them in 1 cup of soy milk until tender (about 15 minutes). After potatoes, leeks are cooked combine together and mash with ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg and salt and pepper to taste. Stir in cabbage.

Vegan Shepherd’s Pie

Shepherd’s pie quickly became a staple of the Irish diet when the potato was adopted as a food crop in 1780 by Ireland. Traditional Shepherd’s pie is made with meat, gravy, vegetables and a mashed potato topping that is baked in the oven and then eaten like a pie. Becky Striepe of Glue and Glitter offered her readers a recipe she dubbed as a family fave in 2009. Her recipe is without a doubt still a family fave today. Her recipe uses soy milk, white pepper, potatoe, tofu, mushrooms, veggie broth and frozen peas and carrots. It is the perfect hearty dish for St. Patty’s Day.

On some occasions fake meat can be used to indulge in a traditional recipe. On St. Patrick’s Day the dish considered as traditional Irish fare is corned beef and cabbage. Fat Free Vegan offers a vegan twist on this traditional dish by using vegetarian “beef” and red wine making it indulgent and delicious.

PETA offers up another hearty recipe that is perfect for anyone celebrating St. Paddy’s Day this year. PETA’s recipe calls for vegan steak strips, veggie bacon, pastry crusts, raisins, parsley, carrots, bell pepper, vegetable stock and over a cup of dark beer. Barnivore offers vegans an A-Z list of vegan beers, wines, and liquors. Ireland does not offer much in the way of vegan stout beers, but Killian’s Irish Red is vegan friendly.

Vegetarian Times has the perfect recipe to add “green” flair to your St. Patrick’s Day feast. Vegetarian Asparagus Scones are deliciously hearty and are a great way to use up any left over asparagus spears you might have on hand. These tasty treats make a delicious side companion to PETA’s ‘Steak’ and Stout pie and vegan Shepherd’s pie.

VegParadise, a blog about all the wonderful things vegetarian, offers up some delicious recipes for the green holiday. Everything from colcannon to a cinnamon orange sauce recipe is available for those who want to treat themselves to delightful vegetarian recipes. The best on the list is VegParadise’s recipe for Apple Orange Blood Pudding made with orange, lemon, apples, wheat bread, cinnamon sticks and two types of raisins. It is the perfect dessert to end your holiday feast with.

Vegan Irish Whiskey Organic Coffee

Since St. Patrick’s Day is considered a drinking holiday in America we couldn’t very well give you a list of great foods and fail to give you a few great drinks to go with those foods. Luckily, vegans can drink some Irish whiskey’s because they are animal friendly. Jameson’s Irish Whiskey is suitable because it contains no animal byproducts, according to Barnivore. Add some to your favorite coffee for a traditional Irish whiskey drink. Try an organic coffee that supports farmers in Ethiopia or one that supports environmental causes like the brand Leonardo DiCaprio launched in February.

For those who might not care for beer or whiskey and would choose to have a cocktail instead, VegParadise offers up a fruity green drink that is vegan and vegetarian friendly. It is also a pretty cool shade of green when it is done. The Sean O’Reilly’s Cocktail calls for kiwis, organic sugar, water, lemon juice, fresh ginger, and trimmed green onions used as stirrers.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Please be safe and don’t drink and drive.

Vegetarian, Raw and Vegan with Bill & Sheila
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