Wales isn’t known for its cuisine, which is a shame because it has some fantastic dishes and ingredients. From traditional Welsh food to modern recipes with an emphasis on the unique ingredients that can only be found in the country, there are plenty of different ways to enjoy your trip to Wales. Here are five traditional Welsh foods you must try while visiting the country.
1) Cawl
This broth is made with whatever meat and vegetables are on hand, then flavoured with vinegar, leeks, and thyme. The word cawl comes from a Celtic word for hot or soup. When people think of Welsh food, they often mistakenly picture cawl as a thick stew-like concoction that contains lots of potatoes and other hearty ingredients. However, the traditional Welsh cawl doesn’t contain any potato at all—it’s simply a broth with bits of meat and veggies in it. That said, some modern recipes do include potatoes, so if you like them feel free to add them in!
2) Bara Brith
Bara Brith, which means speckled bread in Welsh, is a sweet bread containing raisins, apples and spices. The baked bara brith gets cut into thin slices and served with melted butter for breakfast or as an afternoon snack. Bara Brith is a famous welsh food delicacy in Wales and is a healthier alternative to many cakes you will find in bakeries. The main ingredients of Bara Brith are wheat flour, sugar, raisins, currants (or sultanas), apple sauce (puréed apples), eggs, yeast, salt and mixed spice. It also contains nutmeg, but it is optional.
To make Bara Brith at home start by mixing together your dry ingredients (flour, sugar, mixed spice). Then add in your yeast along with one egg yolk.
3) Faggots
This traditional Welsh dish is a favourite. A lot of people are put off by the idea of eating offal (which, admittedly, isn’t for everyone), but Faggots have been enjoyed in Britain for centuries and can be found at almost any pub serving traditional British fare. They consist of pig or sheep intestines filled with either beef or pork and savoury herbs. Traditionally eaten at Christmas, many pubs and restaurants now offer them all year round!
4) Pibyn
Pibyn is a traditional Welsh food made from sheep stomach. Think about that for a moment. If you’re not into offal or odd cuts of meat, pibyn might not be for you. However, if you do enjoy a bit of variety with your meals, you’ll love pibyn. Similar to haggis in Scotland and black pudding in England, it’s commonly served on Burns Night with champit potatoes and other delicious treats.
Welsh Rarebit
Originally developed by Welsh chef Robert Carrier in 1867, Welsh rarebit is often thought of as comfort food. This traditional dish features a grilled cheese sandwich topped with melted cheddar cheese, butter and ale. Add some Worcestershire sauce and mustard, plus maybe a few dashes of Tabasco for extra spice, and you’ve got a gourmet-level meal right at home. Sometimes Welsh Rarebit can be thought of as weird Welsh food, but it is thoroughly enjoyed by those who give it a try, and locals all over Wales!
