Soda Farls Recipe

Introduction

Soda farls are a traditional Irish bread that’s simple to make and wonderfully comforting. With a crispy outside and soft, fluffy inside, they’re perfect served warm with butter. This quick recipe uses basic ingredients and no yeast, making it ideal for a cozy breakfast or snack.

Ingredients

• 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda
• 225ml buttermilk

Instructions

1. Step 1: Tip the flour into a large bowl and stir through the salt, sugar, and bicarbonate of soda.
2. Step 2: Make a well in the centre and pour in the buttermilk, then swiftly stir to combine.
3. Step 3: Tip the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead briefly until smooth.
4. Step 4: Roll the dough into a roughly 20cm circle and cut it into four equal quarters.
5. Step 5: Heat a skillet or heavy-based frying pan over low to medium heat.
6. Step 6: Add the farls to the pan and cook for 8-10 minutes on each side, until golden brown and cooked through.
7. Step 7: Remove from the heat and leave the farls to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
8. Step 8: Split open and serve warm, spread with butter.

Tips & Variations

• For extra flavor, add a pinch of dried herbs like thyme or rosemary to the flour mixture.
• If you don’t have buttermilk, mix 225ml milk with 1 tbsp lemon juice or vinegar and let it sit for 5 minutes as a substitute.
• Serve soda farls with jam or honey for a sweet twist.

Storage

Store cooled soda farls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. To keep longer, freeze them wrapped in foil, then thaw and reheat in a toaster or oven for best results.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular milk instead of buttermilk?

You can substitute buttermilk by mixing 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar with 225ml of milk and letting it sit for a few minutes. This creates a similar acidity needed for the bicarbonate of soda to work properly.

Why are my soda farls tough instead of soft?

Over-kneading the dough or cooking on too high heat can make farls tough. Knead just until combined and cook gently on low to medium heat to keep them soft and tender inside.

Soda Farls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 105 reviews

• Author: Hailey
• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 soda farls 1x
• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

Soda farls are traditional Irish griddle breads made with simple ingredients like flour, buttermilk, and bicarbonate of soda. These hearty quarter-circle breads are cooked on a skillet until golden brown and served warm with butter, making them a perfect accompaniment to any meal or a comforting snack on their own.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dry Ingredients

• 250g plain flour, plus extra for dusting
• ½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• 1 heaped tsp bicarbonate of soda

Wet Ingredients

• 225ml buttermilk

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Instructions

1. Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the plain flour, salt, sugar, and bicarbonate of soda by stirring thoroughly to ensure even distribution of the leavening agent and seasoning.
2. Add Buttermilk: Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour the buttermilk into it. Quickly stir the mixture with a spoon to bring the dough together.
3. Knead the Dough: Transfer the dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead it briefly until smooth and just combined.
4. Shape and Cut: Roll out the dough into a rough 20 cm diameter circle. Then, cut the circle into four equal quarters to form the farls.
5. Cook on Skillet: Heat a skillet or heavy-based frying pan over low to medium heat. Place the farls in the pan and cook each side for 8 to 10 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through.
6. Cool Slightly and Serve: Remove the farls from the heat and leave them to cool in the pan for 10 minutes. Split them open and serve warm, ideally with butter for a classic taste experience.

Notes

• Use a heavy-based frying pan or skillet to ensure even cooking and prevent burning.
• Maintaining low to medium heat is important to cook the farls through without burning the outside.
• Buttermilk adds a slight tang and helps activate the bicarbonate of soda for leavening; if unavailable, use milk mixed with a little lemon juice or vinegar.
• Farls can be enjoyed plain or with toppings such as butter, jam, or honey.
• Store any leftovers wrapped in foil or an airtight container and reheat in the skillet before serving.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Bread
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Irish

Keywords: Soda farls, Irish bread, skillet bread, traditional Irish recipe, quick bread, buttermilk bread