Breakfast is a very big deal in Ireland. And you can see why with dishes like potato farls, slow-cooked oatmeal, and soda bread muffins on offer. From boxty to blaas, breakfast is anything but boring with these meals. You might want to save some of them for a St. Patrick’s Day menu, and others may become year-round favorites. But before diving into this list of delicious Irish breakfast recipes, let’s talk about the “full Irish.” This legendary platter isn’t just a meal, it’s a cultural tradition. If you want to recreate it, you’ll have to know what you’re in for.
What Is Included in a Full Irish Breakfast?
The full Irish breakfast was created for farmers heading out to the fields for a day of back-breaking work. Also known as a ‘fry-up’ or, if you’re in the North, an ‘Ulster fry, this is a heavy breakfast that hits all the food groups. Protein-rich egg and meats provide the energy, bread and beans bring the filling fiber, and mushrooms, tomatoes, and potatoes give you your daily serving of veggies. A traditional full Irish includes:
Bacon (known as rashers in Ireland)SausageFried eggBlack or white puddingMushroomsTomatoesPotatoes – usually in the form of pancakes or hash brownsBaked beansSoda bread
Oh, and don’t forget the cup of tea!
1. Full Irish Breakfast
If you have a busy day ahead, eat like a farmer with this classic recipe for a full Irish. This pan-fried platter has all the traditional ingredients for an authentically Irish meal. It’s made with black pudding, hash browns, and all the other ingredients that make a full Irish fully flavorful and filling. Done properly, a full Irish takes a bit of time to throw together, but it’s well worth the effort, especially on lazy weekends when you have a serious brunch craving.
Other Irish Breakfast Recipes
2. Farls (Irish Potato Bread)
Farls are a soft, buttery, flatbread made from cooked potato. They’re ideal if you have any leftover mash, and they work really well with fried eggs and bacon. Also known as fadge, farls are a breakfast staple in Ireland. There are a couple of non-negotiable farl rules if you want to eat like a local, though. They have to be served piping hot. You need lots of butter. And always use good quality potatoes (preferably an Irish variety!).
3. Irish Oatmeal
This slow cooker oatmeal is a set-it-and-forget-it kind of breakfast. It’s perfect for winter mornings when getting out of bed is a struggle. Just toss everything in the Crockpot the night before and wake up to a warm bowl of nourishing porridge. Drizzled with plenty of maple syrup, it’s an appetizing antidote to sluggish mornings.
4. Irish Soda Bread
Nobody makes soda bread better than Irish grandmothers. So you know this recipe, inspired by the author’s granny, is the real deal. Soda bread is a no-yeast quick bread that’s perfect for beginner bakers. You won’t have to hang around waiting for dough to rise with this easy recipe that comes together in just 10 minutes. The result is a perfectly buttery bread that’s thick and hearty with a dense, but soft, crumb.
5. Irish Soda Bread Muffins
Once you’ve mastered soda bread, it’s time to move on to soda bread muffins. These moist muffins are perfect for breakfast, or a mid-morning snack. Crammed with juicy raisins and flecked with caraway seeds, they’re sweet, savory, and delicious, especially when generously spread with creamy butter.
6. Corned Beef Boxty
Boxty is a fried potato pancake, stuffed with different fillings. There area few different versions of this classic Irish snack, but this boxty recipe knocks it out of the park with a corned beef and swiss cheese filling. It’s meaty, melty, and mouth-watering.
7. Waterford Blaas
Waterford is known for its fine cut-glass crystal, and its blaas. Blaas is a soft, floury bread roll similar to a hamburger bun. If you want to get really Irish, make your dough the day before and let it ‘rest’. The naturally fermented dough and long proofing time give you an airy, fluffy roll that’s perfectly light and squishy. Having blaas for breakfast? Serve warm, with plenty of butter, and a few rashers of thick Irish bacon.
8. Irish Scones
Scones are an essential part of life in Ireland. They’re enjoyed with a cup of tea in the afternoon, served after dinner for a supper snack, and gobbled up at breakfast for a quick bite. This recipe is easy, quick, and gives you foolproof scones every time. Toss in dried fruit like raisins to make your scones sweeter, or stick to plain and smear with butter and jam.
9. Irish Brown Bread
At the turn of the century, you were more likely to find brown bread than white in Irish homes as white flour was more expensive. And thank goodness for that. Without those inventive, thrifty bakers, we wouldn’t have this delicious recipe for a grainy, thick, whole wheat loaf. With its crunchy crust and scrumptiously soft crumb, this is a fantastic quick snack for busy mornings. Grab a slice, smear with raspberry jam, and go!
10. Irish Eggs
If you love scramble for breakfast, you’ll love this hearty recipe. Comfort food meets morning meal here with fluffy scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, and green bell pepper. Throw some sausage or bacon in there if you want more protein-rich fuel for the day ahead.
11. Irish Flapjacks
These flapjacks are a quick, tasty, and nutritious breakfast option. Loaded with fiber and energy-boosting oats, they’ll keep you going until lunch while satisfying your sweet tooth. And if you’re wondering what a flapjack is, it’s basically the Irish equivalent of granola bars. Rolled oats are mixed with brown sugar, maple syrup, and butter then baked until golden and crispy.
12. Potato Apple Bread
This breakfast also works for dessert, so make a big batch and enjoy it as you both start and end your day. This is a soft potato cake with a fluffy crumb that hides chunks of tart apple. Flavored with a hint of vanilla and cinnamon, it’s sweet without being sickly and very versatile. You can enjoy a slice on its own, spread with butter, or dress it up with a dollop of whipped cream and lemon curd.
13. Green Pancakes
Every day can be St. Patrick’s Day in your house with these green pancakes for breakfast. Homemade pancake batter is given an Irish makeover with the addition of a few drops of green food coloring. Fry them up and serve with your favorite toppings for a kid-friendly Irish breakfast.
14. Green Oatmeal
Fair warning – this oatmeal contains spinach. But don’t let that put you off, it’s just there for color and you’ll barely taste it. Honest! Made with rolled oats, bananas, milk, chia seeds, and, yes, spinach, this is an eye-catching bowlful of nutritious Irish-themed porridge. Perfect for St. Paddy’s, it’s festive and healthy.
15. Baileys French Toast
There’s an old Irish saying – “what butter and whiskey won’t cure, there is no cure for.” By that logic, this Irish-French fusion will cure whatever ails you, as there’s plenty of both in this delightfully decadent breakfast. Baileys Irish Cream is used to make both the custard and the topping here, so its sweet creamy flavor carries through in every bite. Whipped with cream and eggs and poured over toasted sourdough bread, this boozy breakfast is not for the faint-hearted. Be sure you wake up hungry for this one.
16. Chocolate Chip Irish Soda Bread
If you’ve a sweet tooth in the morning, start your day with a chunky slice of this irresistible chocolate chip loaf. The classic soda bread recipe is taken up a notch here with a liberal helping of chocolate chips scattered throughout the batter. There’s brown sugar in there too, giving the bread a subtle caramel taste. And if that doesn’t sound sweet enough for you, the author includes a recipe for homemade salted honey butter to serve on the side.
17. Fruit Salad
Irish breakfasts don’t have to involve potato, or bread. If you’re looking for something lighter, this St. Patrick’s Day fruit salad is a great option. As you may have guessed, we’re going green for this one. Green apples, grapes, kiwis, and pears. All your favorite green fruits are tossed in a sweet orange syrup to highlight their natural sweetness and complex flavors. If you’re craving a sundae more than salad, simply pile it into a bowl and layer it with creamy Greek yogurt and mandarin orange slices. Click on a star to rate it!
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