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What Truly Belongs on an Irish Christmas Table? Your Votes Revealed
When 297,000 members of Love Irish Cooking cast their votes, commented, and debated, we ended up with something beautiful: a living snapshot of what an Irish Christmas table really looks like today. It’s part tradition, part nostalgia, part creativity — and unmistakably Irish at heart.
Below is a breakdown of the dishes your community chose, based on poll percentages and the comments directly under your post.
The Big Christmas Stars (The Top-Voted Dishes)
These were the runaway winners of the poll:
1. Turkey with All the Trimmings – 18%
Still the champion. Whether paired with ham or served solo, turkey remains the centrepiece for many Irish families.
2. Glazed Ham – 12%
Honey-glazed, studded with cloves, baked slow — ham earned a firm second place.
3. Roast Potatoes – 12%
Crispy edges, fluffy centres. No Christmas table is complete without them.
4. Mash or Champ – 8%
Creamy mash or scallions folded through champ — comfort in a bowl.
5. Brussels Sprouts – 8%
Love them or hate them, sprouts are here to stay.
6. Freshly Baked Irish Soda Bread – 6%
A rustic loaf still has a place beside the roast.
7. Roast Beef – 6%
A traditional alternative for households who skip turkey.
The Desserts You Voted Onto the Table
8. Trifle – 5%
Custard, jelly, cream — the classic that never fails.
9. Christmas Pudding – 4%
Rich, dark, and deeply Irish.
10. Mince Pies – 3%
Small but mighty — a Christmas essential.
11. Baileys Cheesecake – 1%
A modern favourite with unmistakable Irish flair.
Your Traditional Extras & Regional Classics
12. Stuffing – 5%
A non-negotiable part of Christmas dinner.
13. Pigs in Blankets – 4%
Small but powerful crowd-pleasers.
14. Gravy – 1%
Simple, essential, and the glue that holds the plate together.
15. Bread Sauce – 0%
A quiet classic — still loved by many families.
Unique Contributions From the Community (From Comments)
These came straight from the replies — real family dishes shared with pride.
Pandy
Shared by Grayce Rose:
A stuffing-like dish made from smashed potatoes, mushrooms, sausage, onions, butter, salt and pepper.
This is exactly the kind of regional, passed-down recipe that brings Irish food to life.
“Jane Sons”
Submitted by Bee Mooring — very likely a typo or shorthand, but included here exactly as posted.
“We always go out for a nice curry”
Posted by Phil McChrystal — wonderfully honest, wonderfully Irish.
Not everyone cooks at home!
Squash, Carrots, Green Beans
Shared by Mary Jean Grant — simple, colourful veg that appear on many Irish tables.
Cabbage and Boiled Ham
A deeply traditional pairing still loved in several counties.
Roast Lamb
Submitted as an alternative centrepiece.
A Real Irish Christmas Table — As Irish People Actually Eat It
Thanks to nearly 1,200 votes and dozens of comments, the picture is clear:
An Irish Christmas table today is a mix of:
- Old favourites (turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes)
- Generational desserts (trifle, Christmas pudding)
- Local dishes shared through memory (Pandy)
- Modern twists (Baileys cheesecake)
- And the honest truth — some people skip it all and go for a curry!
It’s Irish. It’s family. It’s real.
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