Belfast
What food is Belfast famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting the city!
What food is Belfast famous for? And what souvenirs to buy when visiting the city!
The table above lists all the local delicacies from Belfast and souvenirs to purchase on your visit. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that item.
Irish Stew
Belfast food is known for its unique recipes, these are very well known for being particularly flavoursome. Some of the most famous dishes include Irish stew, Ulster fry, champ, cawl, wheaton bread, fifteens and potato bread farl.
Although Belfast food is so well renowned, many people are unaware of exactly why this is. Belfast food has come down through the generations and each family will have their own recipes that they keep closely guarded to themselves.
One thing that all true Belfastians will be able to agree on though, is that Belfast food is full of flavour and delicious! Some people will argue that the best Belfast food comes from their own families, but no one can deny how tasty it all is.
Belfast cuisine: the unique ingredients and signature dishes!
In this blog post, we will be discussing what delicacies you can expect to find in Belfast.
From traditional dishes to more continental cuisine, there are plenty of tasty options on offer. Here are a few examples we recommend:
Irish Stew
It is said that the old saying "the way to a man's heart is through his stomach" was invented in Belfast. And there seems to be no better way to a Belfastian's heart than through their appetite for Irish stew! This tasty dish has been around since the days of Adam and Eve and is famous the world over. No matter where you are in the world, if you mention Irish stew, everyone knows what you're talking about.
Some people even claim that they don't like Irish stew but this is simply not true; it's just that they haven't had authentic Belfastian Irish stew yet! So be sure to try it on your visit.
Ulster Fry
One of the most famous dishes from Belfast is the Ulster fry. The dish consists of bacon, sausages, a fried egg(s), potato bread, black pudding and soda bread with other items sometimes included like baked beans and mushrooms. The meal is popular across the country where you'll find most cafe's with this as part of their breakfast menu.
It is so good that it must only be enjoyed every once in a while or you'll risk putting on the pounds. You can't just eat an Ulster fry every morning for breakfast, the ingredients are so simple but they come together to create something great.
Champ
Irish dish 'champ' is a traditional Irish recipe that people in Northern Ireland love. It consists of potato, scallions, butter and milk which are all chopped up and boiled together until they turn into a savoury but soft consistency. Then the mixture is poured into a pot and turned into a dish similar to mashed potato. When the mixture starts to thicken up, you have your yummy Champ ready to eat. Best served as a side with most meats or fish including cod, lamb or pork.
Wheaten Bread
Wheaten Bread
Wheaten bread is so good because it not only tastes delicious but also has lots of healthy benefits such as it being high in fibre and low in saturated fat making it very popular amongst health conscious people across Northern Ireland. It has more flavour than your average bread loaf and doesn't have to be eaten with butter.
It has a delicious taste, especially when served with Irish stew or fried eggs on toast. The wholemeal bread mix gives the bread a unique texture, so it's not as soft as other types of bread. Also known as 'Irish Soda Bread' so keep your eyes peeled for this delicacy whilst out shopping!
Potato Bread Farl
Potato bread farl is a traditional Belfast dish that they are very well known for. It can be made with floury potatoes, butter and plain flour and is usually served as part of your morning breakfast alongside other items like baked beans and black pudding.
It is so tasty because the combination of potatoes and flour makes it very soft and tasty. It also has a crispy outer coating that gives the perfect crunchy texture to balance out with the soft potato centre.
A favourite for university students due to the cheap ingredients and easiness to make, the potato bread farl will be an item you'll be making on your return home.
Fifteens by Keithawilliamson under license CC BY-SA 4.0
Fifteens
Shaped in a log, Fifteens is a traditional Northern Irish cake consisting of digestive cookies, coconut, condensed milk, marshmallows, and cherries. The recipe contains 15 of each ingredient which is where the name of the cake comes from. It can be found in numerous bakeries across Belfast and is enjoyed by locals with a cup of tea throughout the year.
And some souvenirs to take home...
Titanic Memorabilia
Where else to get Titanic memorabilia than from the city that the famous ship set sail from. You'll not only be able to buy your usual souvenirs but you can also purchase items from companies that supplied the ship itself.
You'll find lots of items in the gift shops throughout the city or from the Titanic Store at the Titanic Belfast museum.
Conclusion
I have had the privilege to visit Belfast and try some of their famous dishes. They were so tasty! Everything was delicious - even simple dishes like cawl and Irish stew tasted better than usual. You'll not have any trouble finding most of the dishes listed above in the city as they are options eaten daily by the local and tourists alike. I can't wait to go back there and eat some more! Next time you're in Belfast, why not give them a taste? You won't regret it!
If you're looking for some of the best Belfast delicacies to try when visiting the Northern Irish capital city, the blog post above is exactly what you need to read on your trip. To find out more about things to do in the area, click on the links below: