St. Patrick's Day Party Appetizer Recipes

You don't need the luck of the Irish to come up with fantastic St. Patrick's Day appetizers. This national holiday of Ireland has captured the hearts and taste buds of people from around the world. Create a magical evening with delectable appetizers and your guests will feel they've struck gold. Does this Spark an idea?

Guiness Skewers

Irish cuisine is known for including lots of lamb, beef and seafood into numerous dishes. Miniaturize some classic entrees for appetizers. Give your guests a taste of Irish beer by serving Irish Beef kabobs. Cut 2 lbs. of lean beef into cubes and place into a medium saute pan of 4 tbsp. of canola oil. Add 2 tbsp. of flour, 20 whole garlic cloves and salt and pepper. Chop up some onions and add to the mixture. Allow onions to become translucent and beef to brown. Pour in 1 bottle of Guinness and 2 tbsp. of tomato puree. Place in the oven at 350 degrees F for 15 minutes or until the beef is cooked to your liking. Spear the finished beef, onions and garlic onto skewers. Whip up a green goddess dressing to serve as an accompanying dip.

Cabbage Nests

Vegetarians don't need to be left out of the festivities. You can choose from many meatless traditional dishes. Boil whole cabbage leaves. Prepare your favorite traditional mashed potatoes. When cabbage leaves are cooked limp, take them out and run cold water on them. Dry them very well. Take out a cupcake tray and line with cupcake liners. Spray cooking spray in each liner and wrap cabbage inside of cupcake liner to form a nest. Give the nest a bottom by cutting a smaller piece of cabbage and laying it on the bottom of the liner. Add prepared mashed potatoes to the center of each one. Bake at 350 degrees F until cabbage is crispy. Take out and carefully unwrap each nest and serve.

Mini Corned Beef Sanwiches

These quick appetizers will satisfy corned beef cravings. Make a slaw using 1 cabbage, 2 tbsp. mayonnaise, 4 leeks, 6 green onions, 1 c. sugar and 1 c. white vinegar. Construct each sandwich with meat and slaw and hold it together with a toothpick. Cut off the crusts to make the mini sandwich.

Desserts

Prepare mini cupcakes with green icing or go for a traditional favorite with fruited soda bread (see Resources). St. Patrick's Day isn't complete without some green beverages. Serve beer with green food coloring, mint tea, or even green milkshakes with peppermint flavoring and green food coloring. Your guests will be excited to try a menu of traditional favorites prepared in an exciting way.