On The Hob: 81 Celtic Cookbooks
Na Déithe libh mo chairde,
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:
A Taste of Ireland, Theodora FitzGibbon
A Taste of Scotland, Theodora FitzGibbon
A Taste of Wales, Theodora FitzGibbon
A Taste of the West Country, Theodora FitzGibbon
The Scots Kitchen, F. Marian MacNeil
The Scots Cellar, F. Marian MacNeil
A Feast of Scotland, Janet Warren
Modern Ways with Traditional Scottish Recipes, Rosalie Gow
Maw Broon’s Cookbook
Maw Broon’s Afternoon Tea Book
Maw Broon’s But an’ Ben Cookbook
Hebridean Cookbook, Lillian Beckwith
Recipes from the Orkney Isles, Eileen Wolfe
An Orkney Feast, Alan Bichan
A Shetland Cookbook, Jennin Simmons
Land of Milk & Honey: The Story of Traditional Irish Food & Drink, Bríd Mahon
Ireland’s Green Larder: The Definitive History of Irish Food and Drink, Brid Mahon
A Little History of Irish Food, Regina Sexton
The Art of Irish Cooking, Monica Sheridan
The Ballymaloe Cookbook, Myrtle Allen
Myrtle Allen’s Cooking at Ballymaloe House
The Complete Book of Irish Country Cooking, Darina Allen
The Festive Food of Ireland, Darina Allen
The Cookin’ Woman: Irish Country Recipes, Florence Irwin
A Trifle, A Coddle, A Fry: An Irish Literary Cookbook, Veronica Jane O’Mara and Fionnuala O’Reilly
The Irish Heritage Cookbook, Biddy White Lennon and Gerogina Campbell
Delights of Ireland, Helen Walsh
Teatime in Ireland, Margaret M. Johnson
Favourite Irish Teatime Recipes, Francis S. Walker
Irish Teatime Companion, Conrad Jay Bladey
A Decent Cup of Tea, Malachi McCormick
Irish Country Cooking, Malachi McCormick
Irish Cooking Bible, Pil Publications International
Feasting Galore: Recipes and Food Lore from Ireland, Mayra Laverty
Traditional Irish Recipes, John Murphy
Traditional Irish Recipes, George L Thomson
Irish Farmhouse Recipes, Mac Publications
Irish Vegetarian Cookery, Patrick Cotter
The Irish Pub Cookbook, Margaret M. Johnson
The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook, Paragon Books Ltd
The Scottish-Irish Pub and Hearth Cookbook, Kay Shaw Nelson
The Scenic Manx Cookbook, Fannag Press
The Vintage Manx Cookbook, Robert Charles Phillips
First Catch Your Peacock: A Book of Welsh Food, Benny Freeman
Lamb, Leeks, and Laverbread: The Best of Welsh Cookery, Gilli Davies
Welsh Recipes, John Jones Cardiff Ltd
Welsh Recipes with Herbs and Spices, John Jones Cardiff Ltd
A Book of Welsh Country Cakes and Buns, Bobby Freeman
The Welsh Dresser: More Recipes from Wales, Sian Llewelyn
Cornish Recipes, Ann Pascoe
The Pasty Book, Hettie Merrick
Loving Breton Cuisine, Joseph Thorel
Cape Breton Pictorial Cookbook, Warren Gordon and Yvonne Le Vert
Celtic Folklore Cooking, Joanne Asala
New Celtic Cooking, Kathleen Sloan-McIntosh and Ted McIntosh
Celtic Cuisine, Gilli Davies
Celtic Cookbook, Helen Smith-Tweedy
From Celtic Hearths, Deborah Krasner
Celtic Tea with Friends, Elizabeth Knight
The Book of Bere, Liz Ashworth
From Petticoat Tails to Arbroath Smokies: Traditional Foods of Scotland, Laura Mason and Catherine Brown
Scottish Cookery, Catherine Brown
Strong Tea, John B. Keane
The Hebridean Kitchen, Willie Fulton
The Shetland Cookery Book, Margaret B. Stout
A Caledonian Feast, Annette Hope
Traditional Recipes From Scotland, Janet Murray
Traditional Scots Recipes With A Fine Feeling For Food, Janet Murray
Bricriu’s Feast: An Inquiry Into the Diet and Cooking Techniques of the Early Medieval Irish, Morgan Smith
The Scottish Cookery Book, Elizabeth Craig
Gourmet Recipes From A Highland Hotel, William Heptinstall
Orkney Spirit: Food Journeys With Liz Ashworth, Liz Ashworth
Recipes of the Highlands & Islands of Scotland, An Comunn Gaidhealach
Cook and Housewife’s Manual, Mistress Margaret Dods
Grampian Cookbook, Gladys Menhinick
Welsh Fare: A Selection of Traditional Recipes, S. Minwel Tibbott
The Book of Breakfasts, F. Marian McNeill
The Art of Scottish-American Cooking, Kay Shaw Nelson
The Scottish Vegan Cookbook, Jackie Jones
A Year In A Scots Kitchen, Catherine Brown
The Scot And His Oats, G.W. Lockhart
