We're always told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and when you experience a typical traditional Irish breakfast, you'll see for yourself how important it is.
A Full Irish Breakfast is often referred to as 'a full Irish' or a 'fry-up' and it's a traditional style breakfast enjoyed all over Ireland.
What is a full Irish breakfast?
The main part of the Irish breakfast consists of meat, eggs, pudding, bread, and vegetables, that are all shallow fried in a pan. In addition would include, slices of toast, a pot of tea, and glasses of orange juice.
The fantastic thing about the traditional Irish breakfast is how it varies from one family home to another, but the basic fry-up usually remains the same.
Ingredients for a full Irish breakfast
The following ingredients are what make up the full Irish. We highly recommend buying Irish made wherever possible, it's a taste thing.
- Bacon
- Sausages
- Black & White Pudding
- Fried or scrambled Eggs
- Fried Tomatoes
- Mushrooms (optional)
- Wheaten bread
- Tea & Toast
How to make a traditional Irish Breakfast
- Shallow fry the bacon, sausages, eggs, and Black & White pudding until cooked.
- Cut the tomatoes in half and lightly fry them. Usually one half is served per person.
- Lightly fry the mushrooms until cooked.
Serve up on a plate along with some wheaten bread or Soda bread, toast, Irish butter (Kerry Gold), jam, marmalade. A cup of tea and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice is also recommended.
Controversy of the Irish Breakfast
Do you know there is a controversy behind the Irish breakfast regarding what ingredients it should include? This controversy has been argued all over the island and we wouldn't be surprised if it caused families to break apart over this highly debated topic. So what is the controversy? Baked Beans, yes, beaked beans.
Baked beans is a personal preference for some but when you throw them onto a plate with an Irish breakfast you start crossing a line into the Ulster fry territory. An Irish breakfast does not usually contain baked beans and lets be honest, there is no real harm in adding them. The choice of serving baked beans with a full Irish is more popular than ever before.
