If it was your mission to design a new signature dish for Ireland, suitable for service in the finest restaurants, then just what would that dish be?
That’s the question being asked of chefs and cooks, professional and amateur alike, in a competition being run as part of the Só Sligo Food Festival. The festival, one of an increasing number of food-centric events to be found gracing the Irish calendar, will see that particular corner of the north west awash with edible possibilities from the 16th to the 20th of this month.
As to the question of the signature dish, well, I don’t suppose a bowl of coleslaw would cut it?
An Irish coleslaw: it's certainly got the national colours going for it
And yet this slaw is, in its own little way, an ode to the possibilities of Irish food; a demonstration of what you can do even if native Irish fruit and vegetables are thin on the ground (as they were on my last trip to the supermarket). On that trip, I did, however, manage to find natively-grown savoy cabbage, carrots and bramley apples and introduced them to some Donegal rapeseed oil and a splash of David Llewellyn’s cider vinegar for what was a satisfyingly Irish (and Paddy’s-Day-worthy) slaw.
For all its merits though, I doubt that the restaurants of Ireland will be falling over themselves in the race to serve up a new national coleslaw. As an emblematic Irish dish, it falls down on one point above all else: there are no spuds. Personal bias aside, there is no other food so closely bound to the Irish psyche, so a national dish must, of necessity, have potatoes. That doesn’t mean that they can’t cut a dash, though – might I suggest some individual potato cups as just one way to spruce up the spud.
There are, of course, many other things that can justifiably compete for a spot on the national plate: our grass-fed beef, award-winning black pudding, bacon, whether with or without the cabbage, smoked salmon, trout and mackerel, world-class farmhouse cheeses and, most especially on the western seaboard, our native seaweeds. It is a truly daunting task to decide how best to distill that abundance into a plated essence of Ireland. So much so, that I think, perhaps, I will leave that job to the competitors and stick to the coleslaw after all.
An Irish Coleslaw
Not having been organised enough to get my greens elsewhere, I found myself in the supermarket skirting past broccoli from Spain, celery from Holland and Chinese cabbage from Turkey (if that’s not a contradiction in terms). Apart from potatoes, other Irish-grown produce was scarce, so this is what I made with the cabbage, carrot and apples that I managed to find. A coleslaw-like dish seemed inevitable.
I opted for a vinaigrette rather than mayonnaise-based dressing and, while you can obviously use the oil and vinegar that you have to hand, it’s good to know that there are native Irish choices available, like Donegal rapeseed oil and David Llewellyn’s cider vinegar. I also used local honey and a homemade Irish beer mustard as part of the recipe.
For the dressing:
- 1 tblsp rapeseed oil
- 1 tsp cider vinegar plus a bit extra for tossing on the apples
- 0.5 tsp mustard or more to taste
- 0.5 tsp honey or to taste
- coarse salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper to taste
For the slaw:
- approx. 125g carrot (about 1 med. sized carrot)
- approx. 125g bramley apple (about ½ a large apple)
- approx. 125g savoy cabbage (about ¼ of a small head of cabbage – any dark, tough, outer leaves removed)
- 2 spring onions, finely sliced
- 2-3 tblsp chopped flat leaf parsley
- squeeze of lemon juice (optional)
You’ll also need:
- A grater or food processor for grating the carrot and apple.
The Steps:
- Make the dressing by whisking together the rapeseed oil, cider vinegar, mustard, honey, salt and black pepper. Taste and adjust seasonings if you need to.
- Peel and grate the carrot and apple and sprinkle the apple with a little cider vinegar.
- Shred the cabbage, toss together with the carrot, apple, spring onions, parsley and dressing. Brighten with a squeeze of lemon juice if you like, then eat and enjoy.
The Variations:
- Of course this doesn’t have to be an exclusively Irish affair – you can add whatever else takes your fancy. Personally, I wouldn’t be averse to some added interest from, say, toasted sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts.
The Results:
- Serves 3-4 as a side dish
Before I go, here’s one for the road…
If there’s a signature dish for Ireland, then, surely, there should also be a signature drink.
To that end, the good folks at L Mulligan Grocer have set out to develop an Irish coffee that brings together the best Irish produce available made by people who are passionate about what they do.
Throughout February and March, they have been serving Irish coffees made with hand roasted coffee supplied by three different roasteries, Ariosa, Hasbean (supplied and chosen by 3FE) and Bailie’s in conjunction with Coffee Angel. The coffees were chosen to complement the selected whiskey, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, distilled by Ireland’s only Irish owned distillery Cooley. The cream is being supplied by Glenisk, a collective passionate about Irish organic dairy farming.
They are looking for people interested in being part of a blind tasting panel on the evening of 15th March 2011 where the ‘Ultimate Irish Coffee’ will be crowned. The event shall be attended by representatives of each of the three roasteries, distillery and creamery. There is no charge for the event but places are limited and booking is essential. To book, email: irishcoffee@lmulligangrocer.com
Love this. As you know I’m all about eating local and seasonal, and feel it truly is not only healthier from eliminating transit times but more satisfying. Not sure exactly why but it certainly is for me. The slaw looks so delicious and love the colors (and photos). Love it when locals rise to the challenge of truly featuring their own spoils. Some pretty inspired things come out of that.
Hey, Boulder Locavore, I knew this would be right up your street. And you’re absolutely right – it can be surprising and, at times, inspiring what can come from actually using what is in your own back yard.
What I don’t get is why you didn’t just go ahead and put some spuds into the coleslaw…
Actually that’s a good question, CN, I put spuds in just about everything else, lol
St. Patrick probably never ate coleslaw, but I think I’d still scarf a bowl of that version to mark the day!
Yeah, I think you’d be pretty safe in the assumption that good ol’ St. Patrick never ate coleslaw :) You’d be equally safe in saying that he never had spuds, but I would think it perfectly acceptable to celebrate his day with both (and perhaps a drop of the black stuff as well!)
The coleslaw looks terrific, so colorful, healthy and delicious!
Made your Potato, Salmon And Cream Cheese Chowder tonight for dinner, it was awesome! Thanks so much!
Thanks Natasha! I’m so pleased to hear that you enjoyed the chowder – I must make some more for myself soon :)
Love the way you cropped the photo. My eyes are drawned to the beautiful colors of the coleslaw :-]
Thanks so much Jackie, glad the photos proved to be such a draw :)
Irish beer mustard. Now THAT sounds like quite the thing for a number of dishes. Great color in the slaw too
I am with Duo…Irish beer mustard must go in some tator salad in my house and soon!
My goal is to try every cole slaw I come across, but my defeat maybe this one, because it is a long flight and my arms are tired today…have a bite for me!
Duo Dishes: you need to try the mustard guys, would love to know what you think
Chef E: and I see that the mustard *did* get put to use in your house, so pleased about that – meanwhile, I’ll happily chow down on some of that coleslaw for ya :)
I love the colours in your coleslaw. Definitely very patriotic.
It could have been a contender I reckon. See the winning dish right here:
http://irishfoodguide.blogspot.com/2011/03/chef-joe-clinton-wins-new-national.html
made it, loved it, favourited it and will be making it again and again! Thanks Daily Spud
Móna: thanks for passing on the link to the competition winner, sounds like he probably had a slight edge on the coleslaw with his dish :D
Irish Italian Kitchen: why thank *you*, I love to hear that