Irish Potatoes... not so Irish?
St. Patrick’s Day will
soon be upon us, and with it, the influence of Irish cuisine onto our plates.
Of course, one of the most prominent items will be showcased as usual – the potato!
Mashed potatoes will sit atop the shepherd’s pie, and
underneath the sausages with Guinness onion gravy.
There will be roast potatoes alongside
the roast lamb, and champ potatoes capping the beef stews.
And let us not forget, the shredded potatoes mixed
into the boxty – the Irish potato pancakes – or the taters whipped
up with cabbage or kale in the good old Colcannon.
No matter the bar, tavern, pub, restaurant, or household,
potatoes are
guaranteed to find their way onto your plate for the most Irish holiday outside
of Ireland.
There are few things more synonymous with Ireland and the
Irish than potatoes. Yet, what if I told you that potatoes are not Irish? What
would you do equipped with the knowledge that this famous tuber, which we have
come to love in Irish cuisine, is not even from Ireland?
Well, after some digging around (pun intended) I
discovered that the potato originated in what we know in modern times as
the country of Peru. This famous tuber, which is the fourth most widely grown
crop in the world, was harvested as far back as 8,000 BC by the Inca who
inhabited the region at the time. It was widely used because it was easy to
grow and gave the person eating it a wide amount of nutrients. Potatoes can
be an excellent source of carbohydrates, fiber (especially in the skin),
vitamin C, vitamin B6, niacin, folate, potassium, manganese, magnesium, and
phosphorus. It’s no surprise then that the potato was transported to the
European continent by the Spanish Conquistadors sometime in the 16th
century to provide a better form of sustenance than the traditional wheat and
oats grown in Europe.
It wasn’t until 1589, a mere 432 years ago, that the potato was
taken to Ireland and grown widely due to its ability to feed large amounts of
people from a small growing area. And so, the birth of the Irish potato began.
Throughout these last four hundred or so years, the Irish
have taken the spud that was delivered to them by means of the Spanish and English,
and created their very own cuisine around it. They have become masters of the
potato craft, inextricably linking themselves to the tasty tuber and all it has
to offer. Many have enjoyed this Irish staple o’er the four and half centuries
it has melded with Irish cuisine. And, if you have the luck o’ the Irish,
you’ll be able to enjoy some of it on St. Patrick’s
Day too!
DY
Sources:
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-potatoes#TOC_TITLE_HDR_3
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