When you think of pizza, Ireland may not be the first part of the world that comes to mind. Italy, New York, Chicago, and Idaho Wiseguy Pizza Pie of course! But the Irish have some surprises and daring takes on this global fave. Here’s a fun peek into how the Emerald Isle does pizza.
Did you know that on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, you can find corned beef and cabbage pizzas? And pies with sliced and mashed potatoes? Kind of makes an Idaho Wiseguy consider what that might taste like…
The most authentic
Popular Irish pizza combinations:
- Bacon, cabbage, caramelized onion, leeks, and potatoes on a spinach crust.
- Chicken, blue potatoes, leeks, and Irish cheddar cheese.
- Cabbage, potatoes, bacon, and goat cheese
Not so different
Here are the top 5 most ordered pizzas, (according to the Irish Examiner) along with their locations. In this category, they really don’t differ much from Americans.
- The Margherita-Sano Pizza, Dublin – Tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella, & basil
- The Spicy Devil-Fallon & Byrne, Dublin- Tomato sauce, mozzarella, a spicy spreadable sausage from southern Italy, and an Italian beef and pork salami
- American-Milano, Galway- Pepperoni, mozzarella, and tomato.
- Friday-Tom Barry’s, Cork- Tomato sauce, mozzarella, arugula, prosciutto, cherry tomatoes, parmesan, and olive oil.
- Pepperoni- Pete’s, Dublin- Tomato sauce with loads of garlic and pepperoni
We also aren’t so different when it comes to favorite toppings with Ireland’s top 5 being:
- Pepperoni
- Ham
- Chicken
- Bacon
- Mushrooms
The weird and unusual
Many Irish also prefer sweet corn on their pizzas and that’s not something we see here in the States. The Irish Examiner also notes some of the more bizarre topping requests at pizzerias: Roast chicken with carrots, ketchup in place of tomato sauce, and one especially unusual one with tuna, anchovies, basil, and garlic. We hope it was served up with a breath mint! Here at Wiseguy the most outside of the norm request is probably anchovies- and people do like their ranch and hot sauces!
Irish pizza trivia
- Irish for pizza- píotsa
- The first pizzas in Ireland were made for private parties in the 1950s, and the first pizzeria didn’t open until the late 60s.
- Irish breakfast pizza is a thing! – Bacon, sausage, black pudding, tomatoes, and egg.
St. Patrick’s pizza treat
Looking for an Irish sweet treat this St. Paddy’s Day? Here’s a fun Irish pizza dessert you can make at home from The Irish Post:
What you’ll need:
For the Crust:
1 package of refrigerated sugar cookie dough, at room temperature
For the Chocolate Cream:
4 large egg yolks, beaten
1½ cups granulated sugar
¼ cup cornstarch
pinch of salt
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
2½ cups heavy whipping cream
½ cup BAILEY’S Coffee Creamer, The Original Irish Cream Flavor
¼ cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
For the Whipped Topping:
1 cup cold heavy whipping cream
½ cup powdered sugar
- Coat a 9″ inch springform pan with non-stick baking spray. Gently press the cookie dough onto the bottom of the pan using your fingers and a little flour.
- Bake for around 15 minutes before removing from the oven. Use a small spoon to press the dough up the sides of the springform pan to create the deep dish crust. Leave to set.
- Mix the egg yolks and granulated sugar using a stand or hand mixer. Once combined, add in the salt, cornstarch, and cocoa powder and mix at a lower speed. Finally, add in the heavy whipping cream and Bailey’s Coffee Creamer along with the milk. Mix, taking time to ensure the entire mix is thoroughly blended.
- Transfer the mix to a large pot and heat until it begins to boil. Whisk throughout.
- Once thick, turn off the heat and add the butter and vanilla using a whisk to create a glossy, smooth cream. Leave to chill until barely warm.
- Add the cooled filling to the cookie crust, ensuring it is spread out evenly. Pop in either the freezer for an hour or the fridge for three hours.
- Add the heavy whipping cream into a mixer and place on high speed until peaks develop. Add in powdered sugar and beat again until heavy peaks reappear.
- Spread the cream evenly over the pizza base and add your choice of toppings. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
