• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About

Boulder Locavore® logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Free Bonus
  • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Free Bonus
    • About
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Holiday » St. Patrick's Day » Irish Potato Soup

    LAST UPDATED: June 17, 2020 • FIRST PUBLISHED: March 3, 2014 By Toni Dash 14 Comments

    Irish Potato Soup

    Jump to Recipe

    This post may include affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    A bowl of Irish Potato Soup

    My family tapestry is one that is very culturally eclectic. My maternal side of the family hails from the U.K. primarily, with deep roots in Scotland on my Grandmother’s side. As a Yank my heritage has always seemed distant and muddled; only relatable through family trees and Grandparent stories.

    I once was traveling in Scotland for business then stayed on to attend a workshop given by an American friend which was held in a tiny town outside of Edinburgh Scotland. I was in a small market with a friend when I spied a woman who bore some of the strong facial features of my Grandmother and Great Grandmother. I was slack-jawed in awe, not well concealed from this lovely, white-haired woman. She approached me to chat and I was as flustered as if I were 12 and had run upon One Direction buying chewing gum at a 7-11. I sputtered like a car that doesn’t really know how to get its start, feebly explaining in partial sentences that my maternal lineage is Scottish, that I’m from America and had never been somewhere where the people look like my relatives. My choppy description left the poor woman believing my Grandmother was deceased (which she wasn’t) making it all the more awkward though she graciously never showed it. She was completely kind and seemingly understanding though I can’t imagine the chat around her dinner table that evening.

    Irish Potato Soup

    My parents were divorced when I was one years old and my mother remarried my Step Dad when I was two years old. My ‘Dad’, as I’ve always called him, brought with him a bright and varied heritage within one generation. His father was Russian-Jewish and his mother Irish-Catholic. Can you imagine? The Jewish holidays were celebrated as were the catholic. A few houses down on the same street lived his maternal Aunt and Grandmother; Gram was Portuguese having immigrated to the U.S. and it was her husband who has been Irish.

    For me it was an exciting United Nations experience rolled up into two households. I remember Gram making homemade linguica, a delicious Portuguese sausage. My grandmother made fantastic Matzo Ball soup (and biscotti though I think that is Italian so not sure about those roots). A menorah sat prominently on the fireplace mantel and it always seemed so exotic to me. My favorite thing however was my Great Uncle Frank McGorty who, whenever a family gathering would occur, would bring the spirit of his Irish roots to life. He was warm and funny, and though I don’t quite recall, I believe he’d toss back a pint or two and singing would always ensue.

    Irish Potato Soup in a white soup crock

    Uncle Frank was my first taste of the Irish warmth of spirit and perhaps the predisposition to make me so at home when visiting Ireland itself. A huge part of the Irish culture is the pub scene which eludes Americans who may not have traveled there. You could think of it like a bar, but it’s more than that. Usually cozy and dark, pubs are a center of Irish culture. It’s common to meet friends and spend the entire evening enjoying a pint and some simple delicious food, chatting, laughing and catching up.

    One of my favorite pub offerings is a traditional Irish Potato Soup. A blend of potatoes, onions, some stock and milk dusted with parsley; that’s it. It is hearty, filling comfort food that is easy to make and to me celebrates simple food at its finest.

    Irish Potato Soup

    Irish Potato Soup

    This simple, food is true Irish comfort food. A few ingredients come together to form a perfect cold-weather dish. Light stock should be used in this soup and it is fantastic with homemade ham stock.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Save Recipe Recipe Saved! Pin Rate
    Course: Soup
    Cuisine: Irish
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 8 Serves 6-8
    Calories: 192kcal
    Author: Toni Dash
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon unsalted Butter
    • 2 medium Yellow Onions , peeled and chopped
    • 6 medium Russet Potatoes , peeled and chopped
    • 4 cup Stock (chicken, vegetable, or ham), homemade if available
    • 2 cups Whole Milk
    • Salt and Pepper to taste
    • Garnish: Chopped Parsley

    Instructions

    • In a large stock pot, melt the butter. Add the onions and potatoes; heat over medium heat, covered, stirring often until they begin to soften (15-20 minutes). Do not allow them to brown.
    • Add the stock and milk and allow to come to low simmer. Stirring often, cook until the potatoes and onions are fully soft.
    • For a smooth soup: Process in batches through a blender or use an immersion blender to achieve a smooth consistency. If after processing the soup is thicker than desired, pour it back into the cooking pot and thin with additional warm stock. If wishing a textured soup: no blending is required.
    • Salt and pepper to taste and serve garnishing the bowls with the chopped parsley.

    Notes

    Any way you make it this soup is filling and delicious. The soup may be made pureed at the end for a smooth, creamy consistency, or served with the onions and potatoes diced. If you will made the soup without pureeing it at the end, I suggest a smaller more uniform chop of the onion and potatoes. If you will puree the soup, the chopping may be larger and not as uniform.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 505mg | Potassium: 786mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 395IU | Vitamin C: 11.1mg | Calcium: 96mg | Iron: 1.4mg
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @boulderlocavore or tag #boulderlocavore!
    « Black Forest Gateau
    Double Irish Trouble {adult milkshake} »

    ABOUT THE AUTHOR

    TONI DASH
    Toni Dash head shot

    Toni Dash, is a Certified Nutrition Coach and the writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of Boulder Locavore®. She has been developing easy to make, well-tested recipes since 2010. Her seasonal recipes bring excitement to the dining table for both gluten-free and gluten diners. Toni has been featured in numerous publications and on culinary websites for her creative, delicious recipes and travel features. For more details, check out her About page.

    Free Email Course

    5 FAST & EASY 15-MINUTE RECIPES
    Spending too much time in the kitchen?
    These recipes are fast, easy, and perfect for every occasion.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. heather @french press says

      March 12, 2015 at 8:30 am

      there is Irish, English, and Scottish on both sides of my family and my husbands family, and potato soup is a staple in our house, especially during lent – this look positively delicious!

      Reply
    2. kate @veggiedesserts says

      March 12, 2015 at 7:27 am

      What a lovely look at your celtic heritage. And a beautiful Irish soup.

      Reply
    3. Jenn peas and crayons says

      February 28, 2015 at 8:35 am

      Ohmygosh ironically I am Russian-Jewish Irish-Catholic! We call it a cashew. haha 🙂 Love the soup Toni!

      Reply
    « Older Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    About Toni Dash

    Toni Dash BoulderLocavore.com Head Shot

    Welcome! I’m Toni. I’m a Certified Nutrition Coach and my goal is to MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER with delicious, well-tested recipes and travel tips! More About Me …

    AS FEATURED ON….

    BoulderLocavore.com Featured By Press

    Easy Dinners

    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs with lime wedges on a pewter platter Instant Pot Smoked Paprika & Garlic Chicken Legs
    • Korean BBQ Chicken title image Easy Korean BBQ Chicken recipe
    • Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket title image Instant Pot Corned Beef Brisket: an Easy One Pot Meal
    • Shrimp Salad title image Shrimp Salad Recipe
    • Green Chile Stew title image Hearty New Mexican Green Chile Pork Stew

    TRENDING RIGHT NOW

    • Hummingbird Cake title image The Best Hummingbird Cake recipe
    • Instant Pot Jambalaya Instant Pot Jambalaya Recipe: Quick & Easy Comfort Food
    • How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast title How to Make Moist Homemade Shredded Chicken Breast Recipe
    • LIMEADE IN A GLASS WITH ICE Fresh Homemade Limeade recipe
    • cilantro lime rice title image Easy Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice Recipe
    • Easter Rice Krispie Treats title image Easter Rice Krispie Treats: Fast & Festive with a Surprise Ingredient!

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pinterest
    • Instagram

    Contact | About | Privacy Policy | Disclosure Policy | Accessibility Statement | Cookie Policy


    SIGN ME UP to get FREE recipes directly to my inbox!

    Don't miss our TRAVEL SECTION!


    Copyright © 2010-2023 All Rights Reserved

    Boulder Locavore is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.