Northern Ireland Farl (Soda Bread)

Northern Ireland’s Farl are quick and easy skillet Soda Bread quarters, the perfect recipe for when you need fast, hearty bread to go with dinner. 

Northern Ireland Farl: Irish Soda Bread

If you like Irish Soda Bread, you’ll love the version of soda bread from Northern Ireland. In this part of the country, the term ‘soda bread’ always refers to skillet-cooked farl, not the oven-baked loaf of the southern regions.

The word ‘Farl’ comes from the Scots word ‘fardel’ which refers to a three-cornered cake or the fourth part of a round.

While this term can be used for any flatbread that is made by cutting a round into four equal quarters, typically it is used to refer only to soda bread or potato cakes that are made this way.

(You will find soda farl recipes most commonly using either oat flour or wheat flour.) 

Northern Ireland vs Southern Ireland (The Republic of Ireland)

When we think of Ireland, we’re probably thinking of the larger, southern portion of Ireland (properly called The Republic of Ireland and often referred to as simply “The Republic”). 

By geographical area, Northern Ireland is much smaller than The Republic of Ireland.

Northern Ireland is a part of the UK (the “United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”) which also includes England, Wales, and Scotland. (If you’re interested, learn more history and food facts about the United Kingdom.)

Popular foods in Northern Ireland include boxty, pasties, and Irish stew. In The Republic you find different dishes take center stage, like black pudding, coddle, and bacon and cabbage. (Find out more food facts about Ireland.)

Potato Farl vs Soda Farl

Sometimes you will find recipes for farl called “potato farl” or simply “potato bread”. This bread uses mashed potatoes in the dough, making it almost more of a cross between a biscuit and a potato pancake.

As we mentioned earlier, the name farl simply refers to the way the cakes are cut, in triangles. So, both potato farl and soda farl recipes are quite common. 

Farl for Breakfast in Ireland

Both potato farl and soda farl are served in Northern Ireland with their full breakfast, called an “Ulster Fry“.

This hearty breakfast contains eggs, bacon, sausage, mushrooms, and tomatoes. It is the inclusion of soda bread and potato bread that make the Ulster Fry specific to Northern Ireland and different from the “full Irish breakfast” served in the Republic.

It is also common to find a “filled soda” in Northern Ireland. This is a breakfast sandwich of sausage, bacon, and eggs between two triangles of soda farl.

How to Make Skillet Irish Soda Bread

The skillet gives the bread a crisp crust and a soft, dense, moist interior.

It is important to cook your farl over medium heat (or just under medium).

The important thing when cooking these skillet breads is to not brown the outside too quickly. We want them to take around 15 minutes per side to cook. This way the heat can make its way to the center of these dense breads to cook them all the way through.

How to Serve Farl

Once cooked, this soda farl recipe is delicious for breakfast with butter or jam. (Or alongside some eggs, bacon, and sausage.)

But, they are equally as good served alongside a hearty dinner stew.