A smashing “Ballymaloe Chicken Pie”, from
Myrtle Allen’s Cooking at Ballymaloe House
Foods of the Celtic nations have been increasing in popularity. Where to find recipes? There are myriad blogs and books presenting everything from “neo-Celtic” haute cuisine to urban fusion styles and ubiquitous British empire dishes, and then there are traditional culinary ways persisting most strongly among the folk of the countryside. I love it all, but if I had to choose, gimme dat ole time flavor! Now, I may pass on a bowl of sheep’s head soup, but I can appreciate a savory Burns Nicht haggis, and colcannon is one of my favorite comfort foods. The characteristic flavors and techniques of traditional Celtic culinaria are unfussy, fresh, local, and seasonal.
As a self-styled “home chef”, my kitchen library includes the following list of 81 Celtic cookbooks. Although some are historical surveys rather than cookbooks per se, I have read and can recommend every title on this list. They cover the entire range of culinary styles from haute to traditional, and even ancient (see Bricriu’s Feast). Copies of all the books on the list below can be found through online booksellers such as Abebooks, Thriftbooks, Half Price Books, and Amazon.
In addition to cookbooks, here are three fun and informative online resources for recipes:
The Wee Larder: A website and Youtube channel on Scottish foods and culture.
Irish-American Mom: A website and blog on Irish foods and culture.
The Celtic Caterer: Youtube channel of Chef Eric McBride specializing in Celtic cuisines.
Beannachtaí,
~ Reverend Erika Rivertree
A Compendium of Celtic Cookbooks:
1. A Taste of Ireland, Theodora FitzGibbon
2. A Taste of Scotland, Theodora FitzGibbon
3. A Taste of Wales, Theodora FitzGibbon
4. A Taste of the West Country, Theodora FitzGibbon
5. The Scots Kitchen, F. Marian MacNeil
6. The Scots Cellar, F. Marian MacNeil
7. A Feast of Scotland, Janet Warren
8. Modern Ways with Traditional Scottish Recipes, Rosalie Gow
9. Maw Broon's Cookbook
10. Maw Broon's Afternoon Tea Book
11. Maw Broon's But an' Ben Cookbook
12. Hebridean Cookbook, Lillian Beckwith
13. Recipes from the Orkney Isles, Eileen Wolfe
14. An Orkney Feast, Alan Bichan
15.A Shetland Cookbook, Jennin Simmons
16. Land of Milk & Honey: The Story of Traditional Irish Food & Drink, Brid Mahon
17. Ireland's Green Larder: The Definitive History of Irish Food and Drink, Brid Mahon
18.A Little History of Irish Food, Regina Sexton
19. The Art of Irish Cooking, Monica Sheridan
20. The Ballymaloe Cookbook, Myrtle Allen
21. Myrtle Allen's Cooking at Ballymaloe House
22. The Complete Book of Irish Country Cooking, Darina Allen
23. The Festive Food of Ireland, Darina Allen
24. The Cookin' Woman: Irish Country Recipes, Florence Irwin
25. A Trifle, A Coddle, A Fry: An Irish Literary Cookbook, Veronica Jane O'Mara and Fionnuala O'Reilly
26. The Irish Heritage Cookbook, Biddy White Lennon and Gerogina Campbell
27. Delights of Ireland, Helen Walsh
28. Teatime in Ireland, Margaret M. Johnson
29. Favourite Irish Teatime Recipes, Francis S. Walker
30. Irish Teatime Companion, Conrad Jay Bladey
31.A Decent Cup of Tea, Malachi McCormick
32. Irish Country Cooking, Malachi McCormick
33. Irish Cooking Bible, Pil Publications International
34. Feasting Galore: Recipes and Food Lore from Ireland, Mayra Laverty
35. Traditional Irish Recipes, John Murphy
36. Traditional Irish Recipes, George L Thomson
37. Irish Farmhouse Recipes, Mac Publications
38. Irish Vegetarian Cookery, Patrick Cotter
39. The Irish Pub Cookbook, Margaret M. Johnson
40. The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook, Paragon Books Ltd
41. The Scottish-Irish Pub and Hearth Cookbook, Kay Shaw Nelson
42. The Scenic Manx Cookbook, Fannag Press
43. The Vintage Manx Cookbook, Robert Charles Phillips
44. First Catch Your Peacock: A Book of Welsh Food, Benny Freeman
45. Lamb, Leeks, and Laverbread: The Best of Welsh Cookery, Gilli Davies
46. Welsh Recipes, John Jones Cardiff Ltd
47. Welsh Recipes with Herbs and Spices, John Jones Cardiff Ltd
48. A Book of Welsh Country Cakes and Buns, Bobby Freeman
49. The Welsh Dresser: More Recipes from Wales, Sian Llewelyn
50. Cornish Recipes, Ann Pascoe
51. The Pasty Book, Hettie Merrick
52. Loving Breton Cuisine, Joseph Thorel
53. Cape Breton Pictorial Cookbook, Warren Gordon and Yvonne Le Vert
54. Celtic Folklore Cooking, Joanne Asala
55. New Celtic Cooking, Kathleen Sloan-Mcintosh and Ted Mcintosh
56. Celtic Cuisine, Gilli Davies
57. Celtic Cookbook, Helen Smith-Tweedy
58. From Celtic Hearths, Deborah Krasner
59. Celtic Tea with Friends, Elizabeth Knight
60. The Book of Bere, Liz Ashworth
61. From Petticoat Tails to Arbroath Smokies: Traditional Foods of Scotland, Laura Mason and Catherine Brown
62.Scottish Cookery, Catherine Brown
63. Strong Tea, John B. Keane
64. The Hebridean Kitchen, Willie Fulton
65. The Shetland Cookery Book, Margaret B. Stout
66. A Caledonian Feast, Annette Hope
67. Traditional Recipes From Scotland, Janet Murray
68. Traditional Scots Recipes With A Fine Feeling For Food, Janet Murray
69. Bricriu's Feast: An Inquiry Into the Diet and Cooking Techniques of the Early Medieval Irish, Morgan Smith
70. The Scottish Cookery Book, Elizabeth Craig
71. Gourmet Recipes From A Highland Hotel, William Heptinstall
72. Orkney Spirit: Food Journeys With Liz Ashworth, Liz Ashworth
73. Recipes of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, An Comunn Gaidhealach
74. Cook and Housewife's Manual, Mistress Margaret Dods
75. Grampian Cookbook, Gladys Menhinick
76. Welsh Fare: A Selection of Traditional Recipes, S. Minwel Tibbott
77. The Book of Breakfasts, F. Marian McNeill
78. The Art of Scottish-American Cooking, Kay Shaw Nelson
79. The Scottish Vegan Cookbook, Jackie Jones
80. A Year In A Scots Kitchen, Catherine Brown
81. The Scot And His Oats, G.W. Lockhart
53. Cape Breton Pictorial Cookbook, Warren Gordon and Yvonne Le Vert
54. Celtic Folklore Cooking, Joanne Asala
55. New Celtic Cooking, Kathleen Sloan-Mcintosh and Ted Mcintosh
56. Celtic Cuisine, Gilli Davies
57. Celtic Cookbook, Helen Smith-Tweedy
58. From Celtic Hearths, Deborah Krasner
59. Celtic Tea with Friends, Elizabeth Knight
60. The Book of Bere, Liz Ashworth
61. From Petticoat Tails to Arbroath Smokies: Traditional Foods of Scotland, Laura Mason and Catherine Brown
62.Scottish Cookery, Catherine Brown
63. Strong Tea, John B. Keane
64. The Hebridean Kitchen, Willie Fulton
65. The Shetland Cookery Book, Margaret B. Stout
66. A Caledonian Feast, Annette Hope
67. Traditional Recipes From Scotland, Janet Murray
68. Traditional Scots Recipes With A Fine Feeling For Food, Janet Murray
69. Bricriu's Feast: An Inquiry Into the Diet and Cooking Techniques of the Early Medieval Irish, Morgan Smith
70. The Scottish Cookery Book, Elizabeth Craig
71. Gourmet Recipes From A Highland Hotel, William Heptinstall
72. Orkney Spirit: Food Journeys With Liz Ashworth, Liz Ashworth
73. Recipes of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, An Comunn Gaidhealach
74. Cook and Housewife's Manual, Mistress Margaret Dods
75. Grampian Cookbook, Gladys Menhinick
76. Welsh Fare: A Selection of Traditional Recipes, S. Minwel Tibbott
77. The Book of Breakfasts, F. Marian McNeill
78. The Art of Scottish-American Cooking, Kay Shaw Nelson
79. The Scottish Vegan Cookbook, Jackie Jones
80. A Year In A Scots Kitchen, Catherine Brown
81. The Scot And His Oats, G.W. Lockhart
