Entree: United Kingdom – Northern Ireland – Ulster Fry (Hearty Northern Irish fried breakfast plate combining bacon, sausages, eggs, black pudding, soda bread and potato farls)

Serving Size: 4

Approximate Time

Prep 30 min

Cook 30 min

Total 1 hr

Ingredients

For the fry:
- 8 rashers back bacon, approx. 1 lb (450 g)
- 4 pork sausages, approx. 1 lb (450 g) total
- 8 oz (225 g) black pudding, sliced into 8 slices
- 4 large eggs
- 2 medium tomatoes, halved (about 12 oz / 350 g)
- 4 slices soda bread (or 4 soda farls if available), about 12–14 oz (350–400 g) total
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) vegetable oil or beef dripping for frying
- 2 tbsp (30 g) butter, for frying and serving
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
For potato farls:
- 1 lb (450 g) potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
- 1 1/2 cups (190 g) self-raising flour
- 1 tsp (5 g) fine salt
- 2 tbsp (30 g) butter, melted, plus extra for frying
- 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) milk if needed to bind

Instructions

1. Make the potato farls: boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12–15 minutes. Drain and mash well while hot, leaving them slightly dry. Cool briefly so they’re easy to handle.
2. Mix mashed potatoes with 1 1/2 cups (190 g) self-raising flour, 1 tsp (5 g) salt and 2 tbsp (30 g) melted butter. Add 2–3 tbsp (30–45 ml) milk only if the dough is too dry. Form into a ball, flatten to a 3/4-inch (2 cm) thick round and cut into 4 wedges.
3. Heat a large frying pan or griddle over medium heat and add 1 tbsp (15 ml) vegetable oil and 1 tbsp (15 g) butter. Fry the potato farls until golden and crisp on both sides, about 6–8 minutes per side. Keep warm.
4. In the same pan, add remaining 1 tbsp (15 ml) oil. Fry the sausages over medium heat, turning regularly, about 10–12 minutes until cooked through. Remove and keep warm.
5. Add bacon rashers to the pan and fry until crisp to your liking, about 3–5 minutes per side. Remove and keep warm.
6. Add black pudding slices and fry 2–3 minutes per side until crisp at the edges. Remove and keep warm.
7. Halve the tomatoes, season with salt and pepper and place cut-side down in the pan for 2–3 minutes until slightly charred; remove and keep warm.
8. Reduce heat to low, add remaining butter if needed, and fry eggs to your preference (sunny-side up or over-easy), cooking 2–4 minutes.
9. Lightly toast or fry the soda bread or soda farls in the pan for 1–2 minutes per side until warmed and slightly crisp.
10. Assemble the Ulster Fry on warmed plates: divide bacon, sausages, black pudding, eggs, tomato, potato farls and soda bread among four plates. Serve immediately with butter and black pepper.