irish famine soup

(1 rating)
Recipe by
Colleen Sowa
La Crosse, WI

During the Irish Famine, this was a typical recipe to keep from starving. They didn't always have all of the ingredients, just did the best that they could. I posted this recipe to honor those who lived during this dark time in Ireland. I made this last summer for my grandchildren to teach them how lucky they are to be living in America.

(1 rating)
yield 4 gallons of soup
prep time 25 Min
cook time 1 Hr 20 Min
method Stove Top

Ingredients For irish famine soup

  • 1/2 lb
    beef (cooked and diced)
  • 1/2 c
    pan drippings
  • 5 md
    onions (diced)
  • peelings from a turnip (diced also the turnip greens diced)
  • celery tops (minced)
  • 1
    carrot (diced, including the carrot top)
  • 1
    potato in it's jacket (diced)
  • 4 gal
    water
  • salt
  • 1/3 c
    brown sugar

How To Make irish famine soup

  • 1
    Cook the beef in the fat/drippings. Put in large kettle. Cook the veggetables in the fat/drippings. Put in the kettle.
  • 2
    Put most of the water in the kettle. Pour fat/drippings in the kettle. Put skillet back on the stove and get it very hot. Add some water to it, and stir with a fork to get all the fat and cooked on drippings. When pan is cleaned, add the fat and drippings and remaining water to the big kettle.
  • 3
    Add the sugar and salt. Cook until flavors are melded together. Best served hot. *** Depending on the size of the family this should last the week.
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