Summer Food In Ireland

When you think of Irish Food, do hearty dishes like mutton stew, shepherd's pie and coddle come to mind? While most of us love these Irish classics, they are not fit for a hot summer day in America, or even a warm, rainy day in Ireland. So what do the Irish eat in the summer months? Summer food in Ireland isn't all meat and potatoes, although you're still likely to see both on an Irish table. Summer food in Ireland tends to be on the lighter side, with fresh ingredients like salmon, trout, berries, mussels, crab and summer greens, along with staples like lamb, beef, and chicken. Additionally, Ireland has all the same global influences as America, so modern Irish food tends to have exotic notes of far away lands, such as Greece, India, Spain, North Africa, Southeast Asia, Mexico and even The United States. So, it's not surprising that you might find lamb kabobs, beef burritos, or even hot wings at an Irish picnic. Some of the more traditional Irish summer food that you might find are simple, delicious and wholesome dishes like steamed mussels, smoked salmon, Irish potato salad, assorted Irish cheeses, grilled or roast lamb and of course, or a simple sandwich and a bag of crisps. Here's the perfect traditional Irish Potato Salad Recipe courtesy of Irish Central  The Perfect Irish Potato Salad Recipe from Irish Central[/caption] Preparation time: 25 minutes Serves 5 / 6 people (as a side) Ingredients 500g/1 lb small new potatoes 1 tbsp butter 1/2 cup mayonnaise Salt and a little freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp. chopped fresh chives to garnish Method - Put the potatoes on the boil for 20 to 25 minutes. Until they fall off the knife when you stab them - Strain them and cut them into bite-sized pieces if needed. Pour into bowl - Add butter and stir until melted - Add mayo, and salt and pepper and stir until potatoes are coated - Garnish with chives - Clean off the side of the bowl and add a spoon to serve Enjoy!