15 Welsh Recipes to Help You Celebrate St. David's Day (2024)

British Food

Elaine Lemm

Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.

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Updated on 06/26/19

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15 Welsh Recipes to Help You Celebrate St. David's Day (2)

In Wales, March 1st is St. David's Day. A day to honor Wales's patron saint, St. David, a Celtic monk who spread the word of Christianity across this region in the 6th century. During this day, the Welsh celebrate with fabulous regional food and drink.

On the day of, the Welsh will wear either a daffodil or a leek, two national emblems of Wales. The leek is associated with St. David. It also acquired mystic claims that girls who slept with a leek under their pillow on St. David's Day would see their future husband in their dreams. No wonder then that leeks feature heavily in St. David's Day Recipes and Welsh food.

Wales may be the smallest country in the British Isles, but this in no way reflects on the vast array of excellent cuisineto eat and drink. The Welsh are famous on a global scale for their meats and seafood, their cheeses are unique, and they even produce a delicious wine at Llanerch Vineyard near Cardiff.

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Welsh Breakfast Pancakes (Crempog)
The Welsh do love a good pancake for breakfast. These Crempogs—as they are called in Welsh—more resemble an American pancake than a usual British one and as they are so delicious, are far too good just to be eaten in the morning. Serve them just as you wouldany other pancake, with honey, homemadejam, or a little squeeze of lemon and a sprinkle of sugar.
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Welsh Breakfast Laver
As is common across Britain, a full breakfast is the expected meal on any special day, and St. David's isnodifferent. Laver Cakes are an essential part of a Welsh breakfast and are cooked as a side dish alongside roast meats. The cakes are a deliciousmix of seaweed (fresh or canned), oatmeal, and fat, making them both hearty and tasty fare.
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Welsh Leek and Stilton Soup
Leek and potato soup is a world classic, but the Welsh have claimed a version for themselves with theaddition ofa little Stilton cheese. Warming and hearty, this is a must for St. David's and you will be delighted at how easy it is to make. Plus, make the Welsh Leek and Stilton soup in advance and freeze, to make your cooking on the day so much more relaxed.
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Welsh Leek and Cheese Rarebit
What better choice for a light lunch or snack on St. David's Day than a traditional Welsh Rarebit?It is, understandably, one of the most famous dishes in Wales. Some call it "posh cheese on toast," but that does not do justice to this delicious dish. The rarebit can be served as a little snack, or team it with a fresh green salad for an easy lunch.
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Giant Welsh Oggie
A massive favorite for St. David's is the Welsh version of the Cornish Pasty—the Oggie. It may look like a pasty, but this one is at least twice the size of a regular one and packs a punch with its filling of leeks, lamb, and potatoes.
The Oggie can be eaten warm for lunch or dinner with fresh vegetables and gravy orserved cold as a snack on-the-go.
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Chicken, Leek, and Mushroom Pie
A lovely dish for your St. David's Day Celebration is a pie, and this Welsh version ofchicken, leek,and mushroomis absolutely delicious. Best part is, it contains in abundance the symbolic emblem of Wales:the leek.
The pie is perfect for a warm filling meal in and of itself and needs little else except a few boiled potatoes.
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Classic Cheese and Leek Soufflé
A classic combination of ingredients can be found here in this soufflérecipe, which makes a perfect dish for the special Welsh day. Thoughthe classic cheese and leek soufflé must be made last minute, do not let that put you off, it is so worth the effort. If you are a little afraid (unnecessarily) of making a soufflé, there is noneed. You will see that with a bit of help, it is not so difficult.
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Anglesey Eggs
This vegetarian dish comes from the Isle of Anglesey off the Welsh coastline, joined to the mainland by the Menai Bridge.
Anglesey eggsare loved in Wales, but such is its deliciousness, it has become popular throughout the British Isles and not just for this Saint's day.
The egg dish makes a stunning lunch and needs nothing else alongside being filled with greatingredients.
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Chicken, Leek, Caerphilly Cheese, and Prune Pie
This pie separatesout from the pack with the addition, unusually, of prunes andCaerphilly—a crumbly, strong-flavored cheese from Wales. Can't find it? Then use a crumbly strong Cheshire.
The handful of prunes add an unusual sweetness, which works so well alongside everything else.
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Traditional Welsh Cawl
"Cystal yfed o'r cawl â bwyta's cig"—"It is as good to drink the broth as to eat the meat," and in Wales, this is so true, primarily when referring to Cawl, because it is adish which is both a broth and a stew.
Cawl is considered the national dish of Wales, so any St. David's Day meal would not be complete without it.
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Welsh Cider-Baked Ham
Welsh ham baked with Welsh cider, what could be as perfect for this special day in Wales? Use the meat in sandwiches, aspart of a cold lunch, or awonderful supper dish served with a creamyparsley sauce.
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Simple Roast Leg of Welsh Lamb With Honey and Ginger
Welsh meat recipes will invariably feature lamb and beef, as Wales is famous for both. In this delicious recipe forroast leg of lamb with honey and cider, the dish contains other local Welsh flavors, such as honey, cider, rosemary, and ginger. Combined together, this meal has been enjoyed in Wales since it was brought back by the Crusaders.
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Stuffed Leg of Welsh Lamb
More famous lamb for St. David's Day arethose raised on the wonderful rich pastures and hillsides of the country giving the meat its distinctive sweet flavor. This stuffed leg of lambcomes with a pungent stuffing of herbs, bacon, and garlic. Delicious!
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Quick Easy Traditional Welsh Cake
There cannot be a St. David's Day celebration without a plate ofWelsh cakes. They are a lovely tea time treat and were initially cooked on the hot plate of a coal oven, but can just as easily be cooked in a heavy non-stick frying pan or griddle. To tastethem at their best, we recommend eating them soon after baking.
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Bara Brith
Every countryin Britain has its favorite fruit cake, and Wales is no exception. Known as Bara Brith, or"speckled bread," Wales' delectable fruity tea bread is a great treat for afternoon tea.