You
know when you have one of those unforgettable meals at a restaurant that you
can’t stop thinking about and where everything feels like an incredible
revelation to your tastebuds and brain? I love these experiences, and the
latest one occurred a few months ago when I discovered an Irish spice bag for
the first time at an atmospheric British pub while on a day trip. The pub had
lots of authentic English and Irish fare on the menu, and I was intrigued by
the description of this item that sounded so strange. Even stranger, my husband
and I have traveled all over Ireland and neither of us had ever heard of it before.
It’s
not an exaggeration when I say that this meal was amazing and one of the best
dishes I’ve had in a long time. It was fun, innovative, incredibly flavorful,
and like nothing I’ve ever ordered. I instantly knew I was smitten and was
committed to replicating a spice bag at home. After playing around with the
components, I was able to create an at-home version that was almost as
succulent. My teenager gobbled up every bit with record speed and declared,
“make this all the time.” I call that a win!
So
what exactly is an Irish spice bag? A trendy Dublin street fare snack, it’s
literally a brown paper “takeaway” bag that’s filled with fried chicken, fries,
peppers, and onions that are spiced and served with a creamy curry dipping
sauce. The bag is intended to be ripped open for convenient and immediate
snacking. You can vary up the elements but the sauce is what makes it so
crave-worthy. Here’s my at-home recipe for the curry sauce, as well as how to
assemble all components so you can try this fun pub food on your own.
Spice
Bag Curry Sauce:
·
2
tablespoons butter
·
1
onion, chopped
·
3
cloves garlic, minced
·
2
tablespoons flour
·
1
teaspoon coriander
·
1
teaspoon cumin
·
1
teaspoon turmeric
·
1
teaspoon paprika
·
2
tablespoons curry powder
·
2
cups vegetable broth
·
½
cup heavy cream
·
Salt
and pepper, to taste
1)
Heat
butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic. Sauté for 2-3
minutes.
2)
Sprinkle
in flour and all spices. Stir well to form a paste.
3)
Pour
in broth while stirring continuously. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat
to low.
4)
Simmer
for 10-15 minutes, stirring, until it thickens a bit.
5)
Pour
in cream and stir to combine. Simmer for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Assembly:
1)
Combine
fried chicken of your choice (store bought, take out, or homemade) and baked
French fries in a large bowl with sautéed sliced onions and pepper strips. Add
a spicy seasoning blend of your choice or a mix of paprika, salt, garlic
powder, onion powder, and cayenne to taste. Toss to combine, then divide
everything into brown paper bags. Give each bag another good shake, then serve.
