St Patrick’s Day On The Auspit: Cook The Irish Way Over Fire

St Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and while it is often associated with green drinks and shamrocks, the heart of the celebration has always been about food, family, and gathering together. For many Australians, the connection runs even deeper.

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics,Ireland is the third most popular ancestry in Australia with 9.5% of our population reporting Irish ancestry.

This strong Irish heritage influence means St Patrick’s Day is not just a novelty celebration in Australia, it is a genuine cultural link for many families.

So if you are looking for a meaningful way to celebrate this year, why not do it the Auspit way, over coals, surrounded by mates, cooking something hearty and traditional.

Why Irish Food Suits Fire Cooking

Traditional Irish festive food is built around hearty comfort dishes. Think slow cooked meats, root vegetables, cabbage, and rich gravies. These are meals designed for gathering, sharing, and long afternoons around the table.

That style of cooking pairs perfectly with open fire and spit roasting. Slow rotation over charcoal brings out deep flavour, caramelisation, and texture that suits Irish inspired dishes beautifully.

Instead of green themed snacks, focus on bold, rustic flavours cooked properly.

Corned Beef And Cabbage, Done The Auspit Way

Corned beef and cabbage is one of the most recognisable St Patrick’s Day meals. While it is traditionally boiled, cooking it over coals transforms the experience.

Try this approach:

• Soak and prepare your corned beef as usual
• Mount it securely on the Auspit skewer
• Cook slowly over medium coals for even heat
• Baste lightly with a mustard glaze toward the end

Serve alongside cabbage wedges roasted in a basket cage. The rotating heat softens and lightly chars the cabbage edges, giving you a smoky depth you simply cannot achieve in a pot of water.

Guinness Style Beef Over Coals, Cooked Properly In A Camp Oven

Another classic festive favourite is Guinness beef stew, and this is where your Auspit setup becomes more versatile than most people realise.

Instead of adapting stew into a roast, cook it the traditional way, low and slow, in a proper camp oven over coals.

We stock a range of quality camp ovens that are perfect for this style of cook, including cast iron and Bedourie style pots that handle heat beautifully. Pair one with our billy can holder over your fire and you have a steady, controlled cooking setup that sits perfectly alongside your Auspit.

Here’s how to do it:

• Brown beef chunks directly in your camp oven over hot coals
• Add stout, garlic, onion, thyme, carrots and potatoes
• Place the lid on and build coals underneath and on top
• Let it simmer gently for two to three hours

The result is rich, tender beef that falls apart with deep stout flavour running through every bite.Cooking this way keeps everything authentic, hearty and built for sharing, exactly how it should be.

Shepherd’s Pie Inspired Fire Roast

Shepherd’s pie is built on lamb, and lamb is where the Auspit shines.

Cook a lamb shoulder or leg over coals until tender. Meanwhile, roast potatoes in the basket cage until crisp. Instead of layering them in a baking dish, serve carved lamb topped with crushed roasted potatoes and a spoon of buttery mash.

It keeps the spirit of shepherd’s pie while embracing fire cooking.

Colcannon And Boxty Over The Fire

Traditional Irish sides such as colcannon and boxty are built around potatoes, cabbage, and simple ingredients.

For colcannon, roast potatoes in the basket until soft, then mash with butter and fold through lightly charred cabbage.

For boxty style potato cakes, pre prepare the mixture and cook on a flat grill plate over coals for a crisp outside and fluffy centre.

These sides bring authenticity without complexity.

A True Celebration Of Irish Spirit, Aussie Style

St Patrick’s Day is about tradition, gathering, and shared food. With millions of Australians connected to Irish heritage, it makes sense that the celebration feels right at home here.

Cooking over coals honours that tradition in a way that feels both authentic and uniquely Australian. Hearty meat, roasted vegetables, simple ingredients, and time spent together.

This year, skip the gimmicks. Light the coals, mount the roast, and celebrate St Patrick’s Day the Auspit way.