Irish Spice Bag Recipe

The Irish spice bag is a popular takeaway fast food dish in Ireland. It consists of crispy fried chicken and chips with an amazing blend of spices that taste savory and mouthwatering. Though it is an Irish food item, we have created an easy homemade version of the Irish spice bag recipe after much research and experiments.

This article presents a perfect guideline for preparing the Irish takeaway spice bag including the history, essential ingredients, and step-by-step preparation process. So, you can follow our easy recipe to make a delicious Irish spice bag at home.

Moreover, at the end of this article, you will get tips for preparing this famous dish with healthier options. So, we recommend reading the article from beginning to end with proper attention to learn the recipe quickly.

History & Origin

The Irish spice bag is a modern dish gaining vast popularity in Ireland. Its origin is not clear, but people believe it was inspired by the Chinese style. There are various Chinese restaurants around Ireland.  Crispy fries and chips with spices are familiar food items in Chinese restaurants. Besides, they have a takeaway food culture for these dishes. Later, the spice box becomes famous around Ireland.

The exact time of the invention of the Irish spice bag is unclear. Yet, from history, we get to know the approximate year of the invention. According to our research, the Irish salt and pepper bag was invented in the early 2010s.

At present, the Irish spice bag is a perfect fast food item in Ireland. The specialty of this dish is its perfect combination of salty, spicy, and savory flavors. We also can call it Irish fusion food as we get a classic Irish flavor and a touch of Asian cooking into the Irish spice bag.

Irish Spice Bag Essential Ingredients

To make the Irish Spice bag, we need to prepare crispy chicken fries, chips, spice mix, and sautéed vegetables. This section will explain all the required ingredients for the homemade spice bag.

Ingredients for Spice Mix

1. Kosher salt – ½ teaspoon
2. Coarse black pepper – ½ teaspoon
3. Chinese 5 spice powder – 1 teaspoon
4. Red pepper flakes – ½ teaspoon
5. Sugar (Optional)  – ½ teaspoon

Ingredients for Sautéed Vegetables

1. Onion – 1 medium size
2. Fresh green chili – 2 medium-size
3. Fresh jalapeno (Red) – 2  medium size
4. Spring Onion – 2 pieces
5. Vegetable oil – 1 teaspoon 

Ingredients for Crispy Chicken

1. Boneless chicken (Breast or Thai) – 250 g
2. Soy sauce – 1 tablespoon
3. Sesame oil – ¼ teaspoon
4. Garlic Paste – 1 teaspoon
5. Egg white – 1 egg 
6. Corn Flour – 1 tablespoon
7. Vegetable oil for deep frying

Ingredients for Chips

1. Potatoes – (2 – 3 large pieces)
2. Salt to taste
3. Vegetable Oil for deep frying

How to Prepare Irish Spice Bag Recipe: 6 Simple Steps

We are here to tell you the easy spice bag recipe. You need to follow our steps to get the authentic taste of the Irish spice bag.

Step 1: Prepare the Spice Mix

The spice mix is the actual magic behind the unique taste and flavor of the Irish spice bag. Let us tell you how you can prepare the salt and chili seasoning.

• Take a dry, clean, and small bowl.
• Add the Chinese five-spice powder, red pepper flakes, coarse black pepper, kosher salt, and sugar in the required quantity, in the bowl.
• Mix the ingredients properly using a whisk or a spoon.
• Then keep the bowl of spice mix aside. 

Step 2: Prepare the Crispy Chicken

The second step is to make crispy chicken, which is the main item of this chicken spice bag. 

• First, cut the boneless chicken into medium slices.
• Put the chicken into a large bowl.
• Then, add soy sauce, sesame oil, and garlic paste to the chicken.
• Combine them properly.
• Keep the chicken for 10 – 15 minutes in the marinating process.
• Then, add egg white, and corn flour to the chicken.
• Coat the chicken nicely.
• Then, deep fry the chicken over medium to high heat for 5 – 10 minutes until it is golden in color.
• Crispy chicken is ready.

Note: Make sure the chicken pieces are equal in size otherwise thick pieces of chicken will take a long time to cook, meanwhile, thin pieces of chicken will be burnt.

Step 3: Prepare the Chips

Preparing spicy Irish chips is easy and quick.

• Wash 2 – 3 large-size potatoes and remove the peel.
• Then, cut the potatoes into thick fries.
• Make sure the potatoes are equal in size otherwise thick potatoes will take a long time to cook, meanwhile, thin potatoes will be burnt.
• Rinse the cut potatoes in cold water to remove excess starch content. It will help avoid getting black color in potatoes. 
• Now, boil the water and put the pieces of potatoes into the hot water.
• Boil them for 5 – 10 minutes until potatoes become quite soft.
• Then drain the water and allow the cut fries to become dry.
• In the meantime, heat the oil.
• Put the boiled potato pieces into the oil and fry them at medium to high temperature for 5 minutes.
• Repeat the frying process for one more time.
• When you get a golden brown color, the fries are ready.
• Spread salt to taste over the hot fries.

Note: Make sure the potatoes are equal in size otherwise thick potatoes will take a long time to cook, meanwhile, thin potatoes will be burnt.

Step 4: Prepare the Sautéed Vegetables

Sautéed vegetables bring a fresh flavor to this spice bag.

• First, remove the peel of the onion and cut the stem of the chilies, jalapenos, and spring onion.
• Then, wash them nicely.
• Now, chop the onion, chilies, and spring onion into thin slices.
• Keep them on the chopper board.
• Now, take a pan at medium heat.
• Put 1 teaspoon of oil.
• Add the chopped onion, chilies, and spring onion.
• Sauté for 5 minutes until the onion becomes soft.

Step 5: Assemble the Spice Bag 

After preparing the spice mix, crispy chicken, potato chips, and sautéed vegetables, it’s time to assemble all of them.

• Add the crispy chicken and potato fries to the sautéed vegetable.
• Now, add the spice mix.
• Toss the chicken and fries with the spice mix and sautéed vegetables nicely.

Step 6: Serve

This is the last but very important step. To serve the Irish spice bag do the following;

• Take a clean and useable paper bag.
• Put the prepared chicken, fries, and sautéed vegetables in the bag.
• Your homemade Irish spice pouch is ready to enjoy.

Magical Tips to Modify the Recipe into a Healthier Version

We need an excess amount of oil to prepare the takeaway spice mix bag which is very unhealthy for us. Though it is delicious, the traditional preparation process is not good enough to make the dish healthy. Therefore, we will provide you with 3 magical tips for healthier options.

Tips 1: Air Fry the Chicken and chips

Air frying is a good option to prepare healthy food. Air fryer takes very little amount of oil and also provides crispiness. So, you can air fry chicken and potatoes. 

Tips 2: Bake the Chicken and chips

Baking is also helpful in reducing the amount of oil. You can bake the chicken and chips instead of deep frying. 

Tips 3: Use Less Oil

The last tip is to use less amount of oil. Use little oil throughout the whole process. You should keep the temperature low while frying the chicken and chips with a little oil. Try to cover the pan during drying, it will help to keep the temperature and will reduce cooking time.

Furthermore, you should use olive oil or sunflower oil. Olive oil is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids which are healthier than other vegetable oil and butter.

FAQs

What is an Irish Spice Bag?

Irish spice bag is an Irish fusion fast food item that has an Irish-Chinese fusion background. It includes some crispy chicken fries, potato chips, and sautéed vegetables which are tossed in a special spice blend. This item is served in pepper bags and you can get this dish as a takeaway.

How Can I Make a Spice Bag at Home?

You can make the spice bag at home by following simple 6 steps. They are;

1. Prepare the spice mix
2. Prepare the crispy chicken
3. Prepare the chips
4. Sauté the vegetables
5. Assemble the spice bag
6. Serve in a pepper bag

For more details, you can read the article from beginning to end.

Can I Make a Spice Bag in an Air Fryer?

Yes, you can make a spice bag in an air fryer. Air frying is a healthier option to prepare the Irish spice bag. Experts recommend air frying the chicken and chips to avoid excess oil.

Conclusion

The takeaway spice mix bag is a comfort food because it is perfect for lunch as well as dinner. If you want to satisfy your hunger with an Irish spice bag very easily. Always it is not possible to buy a spice bag. Besides, the spice bag from restaurants is not good for health.Professionals recommend learning the homemade Irish spice bag recipe. We hope, after reading this article, you learn the whole process effortlessly. Though this fast food item is calorie-dens, we have provided special tips for a healthier version. You can use these tips to make it lighter maintaining the iconic crispiness of the fries.