St. Patrick’s Dayis a feast day that honors the most acknowledged patron saint of Ireland and as well as the advent of Christianity in the said country. It is celebrated as a 4-day festival in Ireland where Irish folk music and dance, sports events like rugby and football, and joyous parades happen. March 17 marks the celebration of this day not only in Ireland but also in countries like the US, Canada, Argentina, and Great Britain to name a few.
The color green and shamrocks are two of the most common symbols associated with St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick was said to have taught the belief in the Holy Trinity using the green, shamrock leaf. If there is another tradition and association that is connected with a celebration like St. Patrick’s Day that can never be missed, that will be food. What are festivities without food, right? A Corned Beef dish or recipe is that one specific food that will always be in the hearts of the Irish especially during St. Patrick’s Day.
The Corned Beef, the Irish, and St. Patrick’s Day
Corned beef recipes and dishes are especially common to Irish immigrants in North America. When these immigrants came to the US, corned beef was the closest and cheapest that they can get to the ham and bacon that they were used to back at home. While corned beef is recognized as a traditional Irish food in North America, it is in fact not the case in Ireland because it is considered an indulgence food for tourists there.
Many people may have mistakenly thought that Corned Beef is made out of “corn grains”. Fact is it is the brisket part of the cow and it is preserved or cured using “corns of salt”. The main purpose of preserving the beef meat is to maintain its freshness, tenderness, and pink color. Corned beef is one of the types of treatment that can be made with beef meat.
But still, corned beef during St. Patrick’s Day in the US and in Canada is considered a tradition anyway. While the Irish in their native land would prepare bacon and cabbage dishes, the Irish in other parts of the world would have to make do with corned beef and cabbage recipes during St. Patrick’s Day. There are different recipes that can be made using corned beef as the main ingredient and this makes the Irish feel closer to celebrating their traditions away from their homeland.
Is Corned Beef Nutritious?
While corned beef is a sumptuous tradition for the Irish, its nutritional content may be a little alarming especially for people who are still watching their diet amidst the festivities during St. Patrick’s Day. Most of this dieting people are still on the lookout for the fat consumption during the holidays. While a Reuben sandwich, a corned beef hash, a pastrami, or a full corned beef dish is something you cannot avoid on this special celebration, you need to think twice about the nutritional content that corned beef brings.
If a person consumes 3 oz of cooked corned beef, this is what he gets:
Fat, cholesterol, and sodium are contributors to heart diseases and unhealthy weight gain. People with heart problems should have less or zero consumption of these contributors their diet. But then again, even if a person is not suffering from any heart disease, fat, cholesterol, and sodium should be consumed at the minimum.
To be on the safe and healthier side with corned beef, you can always choose an extra lean cut of beef for your dish. You can also apply healthy cooking techniques such as boiling and steaming. Plus you can combine corned beef with healthy ingredients like vegetables to balance the nutritional content of your dish. You don’t have to be guilt-ridden during St. Patrick’s Day if you keep these simple tips on mind when preparing your Corned Beef Dish.
A Healthy Sample of a Corned Beef Recipe for St. Patrick’s Day
Corned Beef and Cabbage Dish
Ingredients:
How to Cook:
1. Brown the corned beef on a non-stick skillet.
2. Place the browned corned beef on the top part of a slow cooker with the potatoes, carrots, and onions arranged at the bottom.
3. Combine the brown sugar, orange zest, apple juice, and horse radish mustard before pouring over the corned beef.
4. Top the corned beef off with cabbage and cook in low temperature for at least 8 hours.
5. Sprinkle the corned beef with celery and serve with the vegetables.
Now, this is one healthy corned beef dish that you and your family can really enjoy on St. Patrick’s Day. You don’t have to totally deprive yourself of a traditional corned beef dish even if you have to look out for your diet. Just know how to prepare and combine your corned beef the healthiest and yummiest way.
