February 12, 2025

What makes up the Full Irish Breakfast?

It’s time to serve a breakfast like the Irish do!

An Irish breakfast or a Full Irish Breakfast as it is known, is a traditional breakfast that originated in Ireland. When you make it at home they might call it a fry-up. It typically includes several components plus or minus an item or two. It’s a meaty breakie so you best be hungry!

Eggs: Fried or scrambled eggs are a frequent part of any Irish breakfast.
Bacon: Irish bacon is similar to ham, and it’s another key piece of this meal.
Sausages: Irish breakfast sausages are often made from pork and can vary in flavor and seasoning. Denny’s, Truly Irish and Galtee.
Black pudding: A type of blood sausage made from pork blood, fat, and oatmeal or barley, seasoned with herbs and spices. It may not sound great but they are delicious when prepared correctly. A popular brand you’ll see in stores is Clonakilty.
White pudding: Similar to black pudding but without blood, made with pork meat, fat, and oatmeal or barley. Again, these can be really nice if prepared well.
Grilled tomatoes: Halved tomatoes are often grilled or fried as part of the breakfast. These are lovely.
Baked beans: Beans in tomato sauce are a common accompaniment, adding a savory element to the meal. Typically in the U.S. this is something served at lunch or a BBQ but it works as a gravy here and it’s wonderful.
Fried mushrooms: Sliced mushrooms are often fried and served alongside the other components.
Fried potatoes: Sometimes referred to as “hash browns” or “boxty,” fried potatoes are a popular addition to an Irish breakfast.
Toast or soda bread: Slices of bread, often toasted, or traditional Irish soda bread may be served on the side.
Butter and/or marmalade: These are the typical condiments to accompany the toast or bread. Marmalade is popular but you can swap this for any type of jam as you like.

A popular option would include Potato Pancakes – These are called ‘boxty’ or pan-fried potato flatbread. Sometimes left over mashed potatoes fried up in the pan will do. Many local stores like Dunn’s will have them.

Now having said all this a Full Irish Breakfast is something my Irish mother-in-law would not prepare at every breakfast. My wife’s immediate family live in the heart of the Irish countryside and when we arrive they typically roll out the red carpet with a Full Irish Breakkie the first morning we’re together. The following days we’ll have something less caloric like a slice of Irish Soda Bread with coffee or tea. My wife’s Mother usually puts on a big roast at dinner with all the fixings along with a deliciously cold Guinness to rinse it down.

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