10 things that are essential on the plate of every Irish summer salad

Fiona Frawley

salad on a plate with hard boiled eggs, spring onion, lettuce, tomatoes, ham. beetroot and grated cheese

It’s that time of year again.

Where the Good Casserole Pot is given a few weeks off (but still permanently left on top of the hob for visual effect, obviously), and packets of ham and wilted lettuce leaves come together as part of what I believe to be a uniquely Irish phenomenon – the summer salad.

Another reason to visit Ireland. Ham salads throughout the summer ☀️
I present to you, the irish summer salad pic.twitter.com/MwhngEayIT

— Pursuit of balance (@HealthyBalance8) May 27, 2023

With temperatures sitting firmly in the early 20s for the rest of the week, it’s summer salad o’ clock in households all over the country. We all know how it goes – your mother announces in her version of a casual tone “I put together some bits for a salad tonight, it’s too hot to cook”, and the magic is initiated.

It goes without saying that by tonight, she means 3pm (the official dinner time of the Irish) and by “some bits” she means a kilo of coleslaw and the pickled onions that have been in the press since before the pandemic. Accompanied, of course, with a steaming mug of tea.

If you’re now living away from home and wondering how possibly to put a dish of such culinary renown together for yourself, fear not. We’ve put together a handy list of things that absolutely must be on an Irish summer salad plate.

An artisanal take on the classic summer salad from Daddy’s in Rialto, Dublin 8

Hard boiled eggs

And we mean hard. They should be able to double as a weapon, if needs be.

Slices of ham

Intricately folded for visual effect. You’re best off using a full packet of ham for every plate, just so the extent of your ham-folding skills can be fully appreciated.

Coleslaw

Dolloped artfully in the middle of the plate, tying everything together like only shredded carrot drenched in mayo can.

Scallions

The most elegant of all the onions.

Iceberg lettuce

The longer it’s been sitting sadly in the fridge, the better.

Raw Tomatoes

To bring a bit of colour to the plate, as your mother would say.

Pickled onions

The only time you will see these used in Ireland.

Salad cream

Dollop her on good and thick.

Sliced beetroot

If you’ve got notions.

Sliced pan to accompany

Or, in certain parts of the country, a bowl of boiled potatoes, skin on.

Ray has been inspired by every Irish Mammy's classic take on the "summer salad" for his lunch

What would you add or remove? pic.twitter.com/mfWmaAeeQ0

— Ray D'Arcy Radio (@RadioRayRTE) June 1, 2021