3 traditional Welsh recipes (2024)

FAQs

What are traditional Welsh dishes? ›

Dishes such as cawl, Welsh rarebit, laverbread, Welsh cakes, bara brith (literally "speckled bread") or the Glamorgan sausage have all been regarded as symbols of Welsh food. Cawl, pronounced in a similar way to the English word "cowl", can be regarded as Wales' national dish.

While meats and cheese were traditionally a highlight of Welsh foods, vegetables and herbs were less readily available. The most widely used vegetables and herbs were cabbages, leeks, thyme, savory, and mint. Over time, more variety was introduced as it became more accessible.

Although lamb is the meat most often associated with Wales, in the past this was a meat eaten only on high days and holidays: the pig was the staple meat for the family. Traditional Welsh cooking derives from the diet of the working man: fisherman, farmer, coal miner or labourer.

Welsh Rarebit is perhaps the most famous Welsh dish of them all and like Scottish Haggis and Irish Stew you'll find the world over.

The Welsh Breakfast is a unique combination of some of the most symbolic food of Wales, such as Welsh bacon, Laverbread, and Penclawdd co*ckles. The breakfast begins with thick slices of Welsh bacon. Historically, bacon was kept and used as a staple source of fat in most kitchens throughout Wales.

Leek. Why is a leek a Welsh symbol? The leek has been associated with Wales for hundreds of years. It is thought that the patron saint of Wales, St David, told Welsh soldiers to wear the leek on their helmets, so they could better spot each other when in battle against the Saxons who wore similar armour.

Caerphilly is a hard, crumbly white cheese that originated in the area around the town of Caerphilly, Wales. It is thought to have been created to provide food for the local coal miners.

Steeltown Vodka Cosmonaut – A simple and refreshing spring co*cktail. If vodka is your thing, this delicious Steeltown Vodka Cosmonaut is out of this world! A delicious spring co*cktail with layers of lemon, Welsh vodka, cranberry juice, and simple syrup. Get the recipe and make your own Steeltown Vodka Cosmonaut.

These include Denbigh Plum, Bardsey Apple and Cariad Cherry. These are rare and special varieties that have a long interesting history in Wales. Especially the Bardsey apple that if found nowhere else in the world. This variety of apple is believed to date back to the 13th Century when it was grown by monks.

What is Wales national animal? ›

The Dragon: Everything You Need to Know About the Welsh National Animal. The red dragon, or “Y Ddraig Goch” in the native tongue, is a symbol of all things Welsh. Sitting front and centre on the national flag, it has proudly posed as the national animal for thousands of years.

Staple fruits of the land include oats, barley, wheat and vegetables, including the famous Welsh leek – an enduring symbol of Wales and found in traditional dishes, such as Glamorgan sausage and the hearty broth known simply as cawl. Nothing showcases the Welsh tradition of simple wholesome fare more than cawl.

Welsh Bacon: the Welsh cure produces very salty bacon with a good flavour. The bacon is not smoked after curing. It is not easily available other than in West Wales.

Staple fruits of the land include oats, barley, wheat and vegetables, including the famous Welsh leek – an enduring symbol of Wales and found in traditional dishes, such as Glamorgan sausage and the hearty broth known simply as cawl. Nothing showcases the Welsh tradition of simple wholesome fare more than cawl.

Proudly sported every St. David's Day on 1st March and at every international rugby match, the leek is now widely recognised as the national symbol of Wales.

The leek. Before there was the daffodil, there was the humble leek. This root vegetable is so well established as part of Welsh culture that wearing a leek to signify you come from Wales is noted as an 'ancient tradition' in William Shakespeare's Henry V, first performed in the 16th century.