25 Green Food And Drink Recipes For St. Patrick's Day

Marking St. Patrick's Day involves choices. You can choose to go out and raise a glass to Ireland's patron saint with friends at the closest Irish pub. But if you want to stay in instead, Tasting Table has you covered with a variety of green-tinged apps, mains, and desserts.

Our selection of green dishes works beautifully when it's served alongside more traditional St Patrick's day fare — be it corned beef and potatoes or Guinness and steak pie. Our green Jell-O shots are not only fuss-free since they can be made ahead of time, but they're also given a delicious upgrade. And our dessert options range from classic St. Patrick's Day cupcakes dressed up with a pot of gold to trendy treats such as pistachio macarons and matcha avocado cheesecake.

When you serve up these recipes, the only other thing you'll need for the perfect party is to dress up your space with shamrocks and leprechauns — and then you can let the merriment begin!

If you're looking for a fun St. Patrick's Day side, here's a dish that delivers both greens and protein. This green bean almondine allows for the use of hearty green beans or the more slender haricots verts. The legumes are sautéed in butter with lemon juice and black pepper before they're topped with sliced toasted almonds and Parmigiano Reggiano. 

Recipe: Fresh Green Bean Almondine

We bless the day someone discovered you could take an avocado and serve it on top of generously buttered slices of sourdough. This version of avocado toast gets a full-service upgrade with the addition of blanched asparagus, delicately poached eggs, and sprinkles of chives and sumac — a spice that is popular in Middle Eastern cooking and delights with a pop of color and tartness.

Recipe: Sourdough Avocado Toast

There are few things that sound as wonderfully refreshing as this frozen mint lemonade. The drink may be dressed for St. Patrick's Day, but it's actually limonana — a beverage that's popular in Middle Eastern countries such as Israel, where a fake advertising campaign ended up turning this mouth-watering mint and lemon combo into a go-to summer sip. If the recipe sounds like too much trouble for just one or two servings, don't worry — it yields six cups of this refreshing cooler.

Recipe: Frozen Mint Lemonade

If you're looking for a St. Patrick's Day appetizer idea, try this twist on avocado toast, which features the fruit smashed with sour cream, lime juice, and fava beans — creating a flavorful green schmear that complements the crisp corn tortilla base beautifully. It's then topped with charred snap peas, toasted coconut flakes, Aleppo pepper, and a drizzle of coriander- and cumin-infused olive oil for added texture and flavor.

Recipe: Avocado Tostadas with Charred Snap Peas and Fava Beans

You may have memories of taking Jell-O shots that make you shudder, but recipe developer Melissa Oliveri says these aren't your garden-variety shooters. Made with pistachio-flavored pudding, milk, and amaretto, these shots are creamy and go down smoothly. They are fuss-free because they can be made up to two days before your St. Patrick's Day party.

Recipe: Pistachio-Amaretto Jell-O Shots

You may have enjoyed avocado whole, sliced, and smashed, but if you haven't had it pureéd and served as a mousse, then you might discover a whole new way to enjoy this versatile fruit. This savory mousse is dressed for St. Patrick's Day and incorporates the flavors of lemon, parsley, sea salt, and Worcestershire sauce for a mouth-watering spread that's reminiscent of avocado toast but with a bit more oomph. It can be used as an appetizer, dip, or side dish.

Recipe: Savory Avocado Mousse Recipe

The dandelion could well be the plant version of a Rorschach test. Some see it as a flower, and others see it as a weed, but recipe developer Susan Olayinka says dandelions are so much more than that. Its greens — which can be purchased at a farmer's market, grown at home, or plucked from anywhere free of pesticides — become a great side dish when they are sautéed with olive oil and then seasoned with salt, garlic powder, and black pepper. As a finishing touch, the dandelion greens are topped with shredded Parmesan — resulting in an ideal accompaniment for a meal of corned beef and boiled potatoes.

Recipe: Simple Dandelion Greens

Many store-bought pistachio puddings may get their green color from food coloring, but this version of the dessert gets the green smoothie treatment, thanks to the addition of spinach, which lends color and boosts nutrition. Its verdant hue makes it wonderful to enjoy on St. Patrick's Day, but it could also be delightful as an Easter or spring-themed treat too.

Recipe: Pistachio Pudding

Ricotta cheese is a versatile ingredient that can act alone as a substitute for cream cheese, but it's also happy to play a supporting role in a dish like pea pesto, where this soft cheese is swirled with a yummy combination of blended peas, basil, mint, Parmesan cheese, and garlic. An optional addition of tarragon or chives can provide extra pops of flavor to this dish, which is best enjoyed with crusty bread as an app or a main course.

Recipe: Pea Pesto With Ricotta

Most green bean dishes called for the vegetable to be sautéed or cooked up in a casserole. We thought we'd shake things up a bit by first grilling them, then tossing them with a flavorful helping of curry yogurt, crisped-up chickpeas, and cilantro. This recipe is great as a side dish with a lamb roast or a traditional Guinness and steak pie.

Recipe: Grilled Green Beans with Chickpeas and Yogurt

You've probably never seen avocado and matcha come together in a cheesecake like this before, but we promise you: This dessert will make a great addition to any green-themed meal. Just remember to give yourself an extra day if you're making this sweet, velvety treat for your St. Patrick's Day meal, since it needs to set in the refrigerator overnight before it's ready to be served.

Recipe: Matcha Avocado Cheesecake

Fresh green beans with butter and garlic could be the little black dress of any meal. It goes with everything, it's understated, and it's ready to wow guests. These beans are blanched before they are cooled down and tossed in hot butter, garlic, and lemon juice for a vegetable dish that can be served with a roast and a side salad for a mouthwatering meal.

Recipe: Lemon Garlic Green Beans