Soda Farls (Northern Irish Griddle Bread)
In short: Soft, slightly tangy griddle breads from Northern Ireland, raised with buttermilk and baking soda. No yeast and ready in about 20 minutes. It takes about 24 min in total and makes 4 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 14 min
- Total
- 24 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 245 kcal
Soda farls are triangular griddle breads from Northern Ireland, raised with baking soda and buttermilk instead of yeast, which means no kneading, no rising time and bread on the table in about 20 minutes. The name comes from an old word for a fourth part, since the round of dough is cut into four wedges. Served warm with butter, they are soft and slightly tangy, and they are a key part of the Ulster fry.
Instructions
- Sift the flour, baking soda and salt into a large bowl and make a well in the center. Heat a dry heavy skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
- Pour most of the buttermilk into the well and mix with a fork, then with your hand, until you have a soft, slightly sticky dough. Add a splash more buttermilk if there are dry patches.
- Tip the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead very briefly, only 4 or 5 turns, until smooth. Pat it into a round about 1.5 cm (5/8 inch) thick and 18 cm (7 inches) across.
- Cut the round into 4 wedges and brush off any loose flour.
- Cook the farls in the dry pan for 6 to 7 minutes on each side, until pale golden with floury freckles and cooked through. Stand them on their cut edges for a minute to dry the sides.
- Wrap them in a clean tea towel to keep them soft. Serve warm, split and buttered.
Tips
- Handle the dough as little as possible, because kneading toughens soda breads. Flour your hands and the board, not the dough.
- Farls are best on the day, but you can split and freeze them, then toast or fry them in butter. Fried in bacon fat or butter, they are the classic partner to eggs and sausages.
Questions and answers
What are soda farls?
Soda farls are flat, triangular breads from Northern Ireland, cooked on a griddle and raised with baking soda and buttermilk. The word farl comes from an old term for a fourth part.
Can I make soda farls without buttermilk?
Yes. Stir 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into 175 ml (3/4 cup) of milk, leave it for 5 minutes, and use it in place of buttermilk.
What do you serve with soda farls?
Serve them split and buttered with jam, or fry them with bacon, sausages and eggs as part of an Ulster fry.
How long does it take to make Soda Farls (Northern Irish Griddle Bread)?
About 24 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 14 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Soda Farls (Northern Irish Griddle Bread)?
About 245 kcal per serving, with 8 g of protein, 50 g of carbohydrates and 1 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 245 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 8 g |
| Carbohydrates | 50 g |
| Fat | 1 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 3 g |
| Sodium | 470 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
