Most Irish dishes are simple affairs, using basic ingredients such as potatoes. The potato was introduced into Ireland in the 16th century and eventually became the staple crop of the region. Meat was not a large part of many people’s meals because it was generally considered a luxury for the most affluent until the late 19th century.

Today, some examples of Irish cuisine include bacon and cabbage, boxty (a type of potato pancake), and colcannon, a dish of potato and kale or cabbage. Irish Soda Bread is another traditional food, made without eggs or any butter.

If you are vegetarian, or just trying to eat more healthfully, check out some of these wonderful meatless recipes built on the Irish tradition of comfort foods.

Vegetarians in Paradise has a hearty Potato, Onion and Leek Soup made with vegetable stock and an Irish Soda Bread that uses unsweetened soy milk in place of the traditional buttermilk.

Recipe Zaar has a recipe for a Vegetarian Irish Stew that uses root vegetables such as carrots and turnips, red lentils, and a British ingredient called marmite (try using nutritional yeast if you can’t find it). For the textured vegetable protein chunks, many large grocers will carry vegetarian “steak” strips that can be used.

The Irish Vegetarian offers lacto-ovo vegetarian recipes such as potato cakes, colcannon, and stuffed peppers. Vegans can use soy cheeses, soy or rice milk, or a canola oil for the dairy products listed.

The Vegetarian Society offers a full menu for St. Patrick’s Day, including colcannon, champ (a potato pancake), St. Patrick’s Soup made with cabbage, boxty, soda bread and of course, Irish Coffee.

VegCooking by Peta gives you a great excuse to open a Guinness with a hearty Steak” and Stout Pie recipe. They also have a vegan Irish Whiskey Cake.

“The Irish — Be they kings, or poets, or farmers, they’re a people of great worth, they keep company with the angels, and bring a bit of heaven here to earth.”