A typical Irish breakfast is something many people who have visited Ireland like to romanticize about. For Brazilians this meaty morning meal is sometimes the greatest breakfast they have experienced, for others it’s something they rather avoid where possible, with baked beans in particular having no places in the food ladder for Brazilians. One thing is for sure, it’s one of those meals you will either love or hate, there’s no in between, absolutely no in between…
What’s in it?
- Sausages (2): Irish sausages are usually of good quality, owing to traditional production methods and strict standards. The addition of raw eggs and breadcrumbs differentiates Irish sausages from standard sausages.
- Rashers (Bacon – 2): Rashers, as they are known in Ireland as a type of bacon. Unlike American bacon (made only from pork belly) Irish bacon is cut to include the pork belly and loin. This makes it much thicker and one of Ireland’s most popular and unique meats.
- Pudding – White / Black or both: Black and white pudding are a sausage type of meat usually cut into cylinder type blocks. They are produced using meat, fat, oatmeal potato fillers. Black pudding is uses animal blood, which gives it a darker colour. This type of meat is native to Ireland and Great Britain.
- Egg (2): Scrambled, boiled or preferably fried! Whatever way you like, but it’s essential to a full Irish breakfast.
- Baked Beans: In a full-on insult to Brazilian food baked beans is something you are going to have to get use to in Ireland. Baked beans are not as simple as one might think, they are tinned, sweet and orange in colour – mixed with some concoction of tomato sauce. An acquired taste indeed, but the sweet taste makes and usual but perfect fit for an Irish breakfast.
- Fried Tomato: No description needed here, a half tomatoe fried in the same pan as the meats, giving it a dark edged colour and wonderful taste.
- Toast & Coffee/Tea: If you’re doing toast – do toast! Not just bread half toasted! And tea is a perfectly good replacement to coffee, but definiitely one or the other.
Optional Extras:
- Mushrooms for many Irish are a must, but you won’t get much rooms with every Irish breakfast unfortunately.
- Hash browns have become part of an Irish breakfast of late. They are a mix of potatoe and onion into flat slabs, which taste great when cooked properly.
Is it easy to cook?
It doesn’t take much more than a frying pan and some cooking oil to make an Irish breakfast. The sausages, rashers, pudding, tomato, egg and mushrooms can all be fried, with baked beans and toast make separately.
Is it healthy?
Is it what! Hell no, a full Irish breakfast is something that should be enjoyed in moderation. Ask your doctor, with all those meats and greasy extra’s it’s almost a heart attack waiting to happen for diners with poor cholesterol levels! Eitherway it’s something Irish people and visitors alike can’t get enough up, a nice healthy meal to set you up for the working day.
Anything else we should know about the Irish Breakfast?
These days many people also eat all the elements of an Irish breakfast in the form of a baguette, making it convenient and also affordable, with many grocers and deli counters serving the popular “Breakfast Roll” treat.
There are also variations such as the veggie Irish breakfast and a half Irish breakfast.
The English and the Scottish have their own versions of the Irish Breakfast, with slight alterations. Known as “The full English” or “The full Scottish” you can rest assured the battle will rage on about who invented the original treat.
Where can you get the best Irish Breakfast in Ireland?
That’s for another days reading! Check back at www.oi.ie in due course, as we eat our way across Irish rating the best establishments to cook the best fry!
