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Welsh onion recipes are sought after for their flavor, heartiness, and straightforward cooking methods. These dishes incorporating yellow or white onions have been handed down for generations in Cymru (Wales). They are still enjoyed today in North and South Wales as well as the world over.
Welsh onion recipes take simple ingredients and turn them into beloved traditional meals and snacks. However, many recipes gathered from the past often paint a picture of what those in wealthy circles liked to eat rather than ordinary townspeople. In Wales’ past, for example, the educated people who wrote down recipes mostly copied English cooking. That means that few people got a chance to impart their knowledge of the proper Welsh way of preparing meals.
True Welsh food is more about what average working-class people could make or buy. They passed recipes to family members by talking about them together and showing their children, not writing them down.
Meat and cheese were very popular in traditional Welsh food, while vegetables and herbs were harder to come by. The Welsh mostly used cabbages, leeks, thyme, savory, and mint. Later on, additional types of vegetables became accessible, so people added more to their meals, like the savory onion.
This post is about Welsh onion recipes with potatoes.
Welsh Onion Recipes
What is the Word “Onion” in Welsh?
“Onion” translates to Welsh as “nionyn” or “winwnsyn.” Plural forms of the word are “wynwns,” “nionod,” “winionod,” “winwns,” and “wynwyn.” This versatile vegetable first appeared in the British Isles when the Romans brought it between 43 and 400 AD. Since then, onions found their way into traditional Welsh onion recipes enjoyed for generations.
Welsh Onion Vs. Leek: What’s the Difference?
While the recipes below don’t call for Welsh onionsorleeks, we’re including some information about them here as the above question is a common one. Even though these slender green onions are called “Welsh onions,” they don’t originate from Wales. They’re actually from Asia. Their name stems from the German term “welsche,” signifying “imported.”
Leeks, while also not native to Britain, are said to have been introduced by Phoenician traders. This means they would have made their first appearance in what is now Wales somewhere between 1550 and 300 BC. Since that time, leeks have been elevated to the status of the national emblem of Wales along with the daffodil.
Culinarily speaking, Welsh onions are closer in taste to scallions. They do resemble small-scale leeks without bulbs. Again, despite the name, they’re not especially popular in Welsh cooking. Leeks, on the other hand, are very popular in Welsh dishes. They have a milder flavor and aroma than the Welsh onion. They also take longer to cook and cannot be eaten raw – both facts of little matter when you consider some of the fantastic Welsh leek recipes this plant has contributed to over the years!
Welsh Onion Cake Recipe
Welsh Onion Cake, known as “Teisen Winwns” or “Teisen Nionod” in Wales (or “Cacon Nionod” in North Wales), is a traditional dish made of affordable ingredients that’s simple to prepare. This dish is not only among the best Welsh onion recipes, but it’s also a great starter recipe for those wanting to try their hand at Welsh food!
This uncomplicated comfort food recipe involves layering potatoes and onions with butter in a baking tin, pie pan, or casserole dish and baking it to sticky, golden perfection.
For this recipe, using a mealy potato like Maris Piper or Desiree (or Russet if you’re in the US) is key. The texture helps absorb the butter and packs in the flavor.
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Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 1 hour hr 45 minutes mins
Course Main Course, Side Dish, Snack
Cuisine Welsh
Servings 6
Calories 550 kcal
Ingredients
- 2 large yellow or white onions cut into thin slices
- 750 g/1lb10oz baking potatoes such as Maris Piper potatoes peeled and thinly sliced (a mandoline makes the job easier)
- 100 g/3½oz butter
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 fresh bay leaves
- 1 rosemary sprig left whole
- 2 thyme sprigs left whole
- 150 ml/5½fl oz chicken stock
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 180C/160C Fan/Gas 4 (320F US).
Begin by heating 2 tbsp (about 29 ml) of the butter and 1 tbsp olive oil in a large frying pan.
Once melted, add the onions and herbs, cooking them gently until the onions turn soft and begin to brown. Remove the rosemary and thyme sprigs.
Melt the rest of the butter by heating it in a small saucepan.
Using approximately one-fourth of the sliced potatoes, create a layer at the base of a shallow ovenproof dish (1.5 liters/2½ pints), overlapping the slices. Brush this layer with melted butter and season it with salt and pepper.
Spread one-third of the onion mixture evenly over the potatoes, reaching the edges of the dish. Repeat the sequence: layer the buttered potatoes, onions, and seasoning, making the final layer with potatoes.
Tuck the bay leaves beneath the top section of the potatoes and slowly pour the stock over the entire layer. Let it seep through the layers of potato and onion and down to the bottom.
Bake the Welsh Onion Cake for 1–1¼ hours until the potatoes are tender and golden brown on top.
Keyword Welsh Onion Recipes
Welsh Corned Beef Rissoles Recipe
The precise origin of this dish is uncertain, but the prevailing belief is that it dates back to the Middle Ages. A favorite among Welsh potato cakes recipes incorporating onions, these rissoles are packed with potatoes, corned beef, and tender, golden onions. This popular comfort food is easy to make with just a few essential ingredients. It’s satisfying as either part of a meal or snack. You can also swap out the corned beef for minced/ground beef, pork, or lamb if you prefer. It may quickly become one of your favorite Welsh potato recipes!
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Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr
Course Main Course, Snack
Cuisine Welsh
Servings 6
Calories 420 kcal
Ingredients
- 1.4 kg/3 lbs baking potatoes such as Russet or Maris Piper, peeled and diced
- 1 medium yellow or white onion peeled and diced
- 350 g/0.75 lb corned beef minced
- olive oil
- 1 tsp thyme
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 140 g/0.30 lb golden breadcrumbs
- 3 eggs beaten
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
Peel and dice the potatoes.
Boil them in a large pot for 15 – 20 minutes until tender. Drain and set aside.
While the potatoes are boiling, dice the onions and garlic. Mince the corned beef.
Next, heat a few tbsp of olive oil in a shallow frying pan. Fry the diced onions until they turn golden brown and soften.
Add the minced garlic and stir with the onions for about 1 minute.
Place the potatoes in a large mixing bowl and gently mash them until just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Then, add the fried onions and garlic, diced corned beef, thyme, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue mashing until thoroughly mixed.
Form the mixture into balls about 6 cm in diameter.
Next, roll the potato balls in plain flour.
Place the eggs in a bowl and beat with a whisk. Roll the floured rissoles in the beaten egg.
Finally, roll the rissoles in the breadcrumbs.
Fry until the breadcrumb coating turns a deep orange and becomes crispy. Fry for 5 minutes in a deep fryer or 10 minutes if you’re pan frying.
Notes
Serve the Welsh rissoles hot alongside chips or a green salad. You can also enjoy them cold as a snack or as part of an easy lunch.
Keyword Welsh Onion Recipes
This post was about two Welsh onion recipes with potatoes and clarified the difference between the Welsh onion and the leek.
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