6 Green Foods to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day
Shanthi Appelo, MS, RD
| 3 min read
Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, people around the world celebrate Irish culture with parades, music and festive food. The holiday honors Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland.
Over time, the celebration has grown into a global tradition and one of its most recognizable symbols is the color green. Green is closely tied to Ireland’s nickname, the “Emerald Isle,” as well as the famous Shamrock.
Today, wearing green and serving green foods has become a fun and festive way to celebrate the holiday. These naturally green dishes help bring the spirit of the day to the table:
Naturally vibrant and creamy, this smoothie blends tropical fruit with leafy greens for a drink that’s both satisfying and nourishing. Frozen pineapple and mango provide natural sweetness along with vitamin C and antioxidants, while spinach adds a boost of nutrients without overpowering the flavor. Creamy oat milk and vanilla Greek yogurt help create a smooth texture while adding protein to help keep you full. A few fresh mint leaves bring a bright, refreshing finish that ties everything together.
This green goddess dressing uses creamy avocado and tangy Greek yogurt as a base to enjoy the goodness of fresh herbs. Use as an antioxidant-packed salad dressing, dipping sauce or drizzled on top of grilled meats.
These green beans are bursting with flavor and have the perfect level of crunch. In this recipe, the green beans are seared first to ensure the other ingredients don’t burn. They’re then combined with Thai flavors like refreshing lemongrass and ginger alongside a spicy sambal oelek – an Indonesian chili paste – or spicy garlic sauce. Sesame oil, which is sensitive to heat, is added at the end for a smooth flavor. The red of the sambal oelek and sesame seeds makes this an eye-catching dish.
This salad may have only a few simple ingredients, but it’s balanced and complex in its flavor profile. The peppery nature of the arugula pairs excellently with the natural sweetness of the pears, while parmesan adds depth and a nice contrast to the zesty fresh lemon.
Cucumber and mint are summer staples that add freshness to any dish. This refreshing salad can be served as an appetizer or alongside grilled meats and vegetables.
This swordfish is lightly marinated and grilled to perfection. Swordfish is a great selection of fish to grill – it’s meaty enough to hold its texture compared to more delicate options that may fall apart. The salsa verde uses flat leaf parsley as the base herb where a small bit of jalapeño kicks up the heat and capers give it a complex, salty bite.
