Corned Beef: Giving New England’s Most Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Meal A Twist

Ask almost everyone who grew up in the northeast, and chances are they have memories of corned beef and cabbage for dinner every St. Patrick’s Day. The holiday meal’s origins date back generations and is actually considered more of an American tradition started by Irish immigrants.

Do you prefer the red or grey variety of corned beef? Both are brisket, but the difference is in the curing process. Red corned beef gets its color from sodium nitrate, while salt is the only ingredient used to cure grey brisket, which is most commonly associated with New England. Butcher Boy offers both!

For the classic St. Patrick’s Day boiled dinner menu, check out our recipe, which is familiar to most of us, or this one that adapts a similar recipe for a slow cooker. Have you tried corned spareribs? We carry these as well at Butcher Boy, and they’re amazing roasted in the oven.

If you’re looking for a new twist on convention or a way to get a second day out of your St. Patrick’s Day dinner, we found some ideas for unique culinary celebrations:

• These Guinness BBQ corned beef and cheddar sliders are proof that you don’t have to wait for leftovers to make sandwiches.
• Maybe call them Irish-inspired tacos, but no matter the name, corned beef is the star. Stick with the fusion theme and consider making Irish nachos. Forget the tortilla chips, though, and use crispy potatoes as the base.
• If you’re feeding a crowd, create the ultimate giant Reuben sandwich for sharing.
• All the delicious flavors of the Reuben can also be turned into a flatbread.
• Warm up the evening with a hearty corned beef and cabbage soup.
• Don’t wait until the next morning – how about breakfast for dinner with corned beef hash and eggs?

So many choices, you might as well put corned beef on your dinner menu all year long. But no matter how you serve it this St. Patrick’s Day, don’t forget the Irish soda bread.

What’s YOUR favorite way to enjoy corned beef? Let us know. And don’t forget to stop by Butcher Boy for all the fresh ingredients you need for your Irish feast.