FÁILTE!

Is there anything more comforting than sitting down to a warming beef stew on a blustery winter’s night? From the wild Irish seas and rugged coastline to the fertile green fields covering this island, Ireland’s stunning landscapes have bred a rich and wonderful food history. It is not one that is overly complex, but rather rooted in the tradition of gathering friends and family around the table to eat, drink and be merry.

I find nothing more nourishing for the soul than being welcomed into my aunt Mary’s farmhouse in Castlebar, Co. Mayo with a hug and a cup of tea. We all chat around the stove that warms the room, everyone with a heaping plate of her signature bacon and cabbage. And with so many of us of Irish descent around the world, there is nothing that takes us back to our ancestors’ way of life quite like food and the traditions that surround it.

Easy Food magazine has been Ireland’s best-selling food magazine for over a decade, so we like to think we know a thing or two about Irish cooking! In these pages, you’ll find traditional favourites like Beef and Guinness Stew, Dublin Coddle and Bacon and Cabbage – the dishes that immediately take your taste buds on a trip to Ireland. Of course, no dinner is complete without something sweet to finish, so pop on the kettle, make your perfect cup of tea and sit down to a slice of Granny’s Apple Tart or some Brown Bread with butter and jam. We’re even taking you down to the local with pub grub staples like Fish and Chips, Bangers and Mash and even a toasty Irish Coffee to warm you up (and probably impart the legendary ‘Gift of the Gab’!).

But you’ll also find how Irish cooking has evolved and what Irish home cooks are making today, from the ever-popular Spaghetti Bolognese to Chicken Tikka Masala, and meat-free options like Pearl Barley Risotto. Today’s Irish kitchen features recipes from across the world, but it is always the authentic flavours of Ireland at the foundation: creamy butter, hearty grains, rich farmhouse cheeses, tender, grass-fed meat, fresh fish and garden vegetables. Is there anything better?

We’ve also included a full chapter on award-winning readers’ recipes from Irish home-cooks of all ages; some of their recipes have been passed down for generations, while others were last-minute quick-fixes that turned out to be crowd-pleasers! These are the real heroes of home-cooking, and we’re delighted to be featuring them here.

Whether you’re an experienced cook or a kitchen novice, these tried-and-tested recipes are the perfect way to bring a taste of Ireland home.

Happy cooking!